Make your donations go further
HMRC operates a scheme called Gift Aid that allows charities to claim the basic rate tax on every pound donated. So if you donated £100 to Charity, it means that you could actually be giving £125. Giving under Gift Aid means that so much more money can be raised at no extra cost to the donor.
Gift Aid – the facts
Gift Aid Declaration Forms
Any charity has to be able to provide, when requested, a valid declaration through which Gift Aid has been claimed, so it’s incredibly important that any forms completed are accurate and complete. All Gift Aid Declaration Forms should include the following:
Higher Rate Tax Payers and Gift Aid
If you pay higher rate tax, you can claim the difference between the higher rate of tax you pay and the basic rate of tax (currently 20 per cent) on the total 'gross' value of your donation. If you want to receive the additional tax relief you must include all your Gift Aid donations on your Self-Assessment tax return or ask HM Revenue and Customs to adjust your tax code. The SA Donate Scheme ceased from April 2012. This means that donors can no longer send a tax refund to a charity straight from their tax return. Donors can still donate their tax refund to any charity themselves and claim Gift Aid if the qualifying conditions have been met.