Gift Aid Guide

What is Gift Aid?

Donating through Gift Aid means charities and community amateur sports clubs (CASCs) can claim an extra 25p for every £1 you give. It will not cost you any extra.

Charities can claim Gift Aid on most donations, but some payments do not qualify.

When you donate, you’ll be asked to confirm whether or not you are a UK taxpayer. Please note that Gift Aid can only be reclaimed on donations made by individuals who pay UK income or capital gains tax at a rate at least equal to the amount reclaimed on their donations in the current tax year

Benefits to higher and additional rate taxpayers

If you pay tax at the higher/additional rate, you can reclaim tax relief on your gross donation at 20%/25% (i.e. the difference between the higher/additional rate of tax at 40%/45% and the basic rate at 20%).

Gift Aid should NOT be claimed when:

1. A donation is given in return for a ticket – to a raffle, event or an auction, as well as in return for goods and services. This is because you’re receiving something in return for your donation. If we decide a donation has been incorrectly ticked as eligible for Gift Aid, we cannot submit it.
2. A donation is made on behalf of someone else or a group of people. – so if you do a collection in your local pub or group of friends which you donate to your event using your own card and details. Even if your donors were UK taxpayer, the donation is not eligible because HMRC needs to know the details of the person/people actually contributing the funds.
3. Making a donation on behalf of a company. You can only make Gift Aid declarations on your own taxpayer status when spending your own money. However, a company can claim tax relief on the donation when donating directly to the charity.
4. Making a donation to a relative who's chosen charity is contributing to the cost of them taking part in the fundraising event. For example, if you're donating to a family member who’ll be climbing a mountain overseas and the charity is paying for the cost of their trip.

Why has Gift Aid been removed from my donation?

Not every donation is eligible for Gift Aid. To remain in line with HMRC guidelines, you may notice that we remove Gift Aid from your donation retrospectively when it isn’t eligible. There are certain rules set by HMRC regarding Gift Aid eligibility. If any of the reasons listed below apply to your donation, it will not be eligible for Gift Aid:

• You’re a non-UK taxpayer

• You’re donating on behalf of someone else or a group of people

• You’re donating on behalf of a company

• The fundraiser you’re donating to is family member or friend who’s doing an event where the charity is contributing to their costs.

• You’re receiving goods, rights or services in return for your donation.

• The display name on your donation is different from your donor name

• Your address is a non-residential address

If you believe your donation should still be eligible for Gift Aid according to the rules above we would need to refund the donation for you so that you can re-donate and add Gift Aid as appropriate.

I am not a UK taxpayer – can I still claim Gift Aid?

The Gift Aid scheme is unique to the UK. If you are not a UK taxpayer, you can still make a donation on the Sponsor Me site, but your donation will not be eligible for Gift Aid.

I don’t live in the UK – can I still claim Gift Aid?

As long as you are a UK taxpayer and can satisfy the Gift Aid declaration in the donation process you can Gift Aid whilst living overseas.

Gift Aid advice for charities

Charities can claim Gift Aid on donations from individuals.

The donor must:

• have paid the same amount or more in Income Tax or Capital Gains Tax in that tax year

• make a Gift Aid declaration that gives you permission to claim it

You must be recognised as a charity or community amateur sports club (CASC) to claim Gift Aid.

More information on Gift Aid for charities can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/claim-gift-aid/what-you-can-claim-it-on