A list of FAQs about OSCR Online.
Please click on the
links below to find the answers to the questions:
1. What is
OSCR Online?
2.
When did the new system start?
3.
How is the new system being implemented?
4.
We're only a small charity - surely we don't need to take
part?
5. Will
online filing be compulsory?
6. When
will we be able to file our information or update our details
online?
7.
Will my name and contact details be shown on our charity's Register
entry?
8.
What if I don't want the public to see more information?
You should regularly visit this page, and ideally
subscribe to OSCR Reporter, to ensure
that you are kept up date.
1. What is OSCR Online?
OSCR Online is our new service that changes the way we work, and
the way in which charities report to us. It provides a much
shorter paper Annual Return and gives you the option to file
online, as well as make changes to some of your charity's
information published on the Scottish Charity Register - giving you
greater control and making the process easier. The public
also benefits from an enhanced Register, with additional financial
information about how larger charities spend their money.
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2. When did the
new system start?
Our online service began in June 2012, with over half of
Scotland's charities signed up. We began sending out our new,
shorter Annual Return form from 1 April 2012. To date, over
3,000 charities have used the OSCR Online to submit returns and
accounts, or make changes to their details.
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3. How is
the new system being implemented?
This depends on whether you have expressed an interest in filing
online, and provided us with a contact email address. If you
expressed an interest, we sent you a User Name and Password by
email in early Summer 2012. If you didn't express an
interest, you can still sign up here.
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4. We're only a
small charity - surely we don't need to take part?
Lots of small charities just like yours are already enjoying the
benefits of OSCR Online. But whether you've chosen to take part
online, or prefer to continue with our paper processes, you still
have a duty to report to us. Your charity will continue to
operate as normal. All that's happening is an improvement of
our systems to make it easier for you to report to us, and to
provide the public with clearer information.
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5. Will online
filing be compulsory?
No. Your charity will only be joining our electronic
service if you've expressed an interest. We would rather that
charities moved from paper to the new system, but there is no
requirement to do so.
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6. When will we
be able to file our information or update our details
online?
Our new online service has been available from June 2012.
Since then, we've been issuing User Names ans Passwords to
charities, and informing them when returns and accounts are due,
according to their normal reporting cycle.
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7.
Will my name and contact details be shown on our charity's Register
entry?
Where you submit a trustee's address to OSCR, we are required to
publish this along with the name of the Principal Contact.
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8. What if
I don't want the public to see more information?
You already have a responsibility to the public to provide
information, for example through your charity's accounts. Our
changes simply make this information more readily available.