Tick the box for Gift Aid - why it's important

What is gift aid?

Simply put, Gift Aid is a government scheme that allows charities to claim additional funds— boosting each donation without costing donors a penny extra.

When CAUSE receives a donation from a UK taxpayer, the charity is entitled to claim an extra 25% paid on that donation from HMRC.

So, a £20 donation to CAUSE processed with Gift Aid becomes a £25 donation!

Gift Aid is important for us! Each time an eligible taxpayer donates and forgets to tick the Gift Aid box, the money stays with HMRC and the charity misses out.

Gift Aid Awareness Day 5 October 2023

Every October, charities across the UK take to social media for Gift Aid Awareness Day to encourage their donors to #TicktheBox.

This is your chance to spread the word and let your donors know the importance of Gift Aid to your charity.

It takes donors seconds to do, and they only have to do it one time.

And once a donor has completed the Gift Aid declaration form, we can even claim Gift Aid retrospectively on donations of more than £30 for up to 4 years from the end of the financial period in which we received it.

Am I eligible for Gift Aid? 

You are eligible if:

  • you are a UK taxpayer
  • the tax you pay that year is at least equal to your donations to charity.

I'm retired 

You can Gift Aid donations if you pay income tax or capital gains tax, provided you have paid enough tax during the year to cover the amount we are reclaiming on your donations.

If you live on your pension alone and don't pay tax, you won't be eligible.

I'm a higher rate taxpayer 

If you pay a higher rate of tax (40% or above), you can claim the difference between the higher and basic rate on the total value of your donation. Individuals can claim the additional tax relief through their self-assessment tax return or by asking HMRC to amend their tax code.

To receive the additional tax relief you must:

Example for higher rate taxpayer

You donate £100 to CAUSE–  we claim Gift Aid to make your donation £125. You pay 40% tax so you can personally claim back £25.00 (£125 x 20%).

I’m unemployed

Even if you are not currently employed you are eligible to make Gift Aid payments so long as, at some point in the tax year in which you make the donation, you pay enough tax on any of the following:

  • Personal or occupational pension
  • Stocks or shares
  • Bank or building society savings accounts
  • Rental income
  • Overseas or UK investment dividends

What information do we ask for? 

There is no standard format for the Gift Aid declaration, but it should contain a space to describe your gift and who will receive it. For example:

“I want to Gift Aid my donation of £______________ to CAUSE

The declaration will also ask for the:  

  • donor’s full name
  • donor’s home address (at least their house number or name and postcode)

The declaration should also include a statement that the donor (you) has paid the same amount or more in Income Tax or Capital Gains Tax in that tax year. For example:

“I am a UK taxpayer and understand that if I pay less Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax in the current tax year than the amount of Gift Aid claimed on all my donations it is my responsibility to pay any difference.”

It's important that you let US know if you stop paying tax or if you change your name or address, so that they can update our records.

Is my donation eligible? 

Gift Aid can be claimed on donated items and money provided they are gifts. As a UK taxpayer, you can claim as an individual on:

  • One-off or monthly cash donations 
  • Donate goods to charity shops ­
  • Personal donations made in celebration or memory
  • Donations to sponsored events

What donations are not eligible?

Certain donations are not eligible for Gift Aid.

Fundraising events that require purchasing tickets (e.g., prize draws, raffles, tombolas) 

When it comes to Gift Aid, the only way for donations from fundraising events to qualify is if any payments made by the attendees are completely voluntary.

If you have to make a donation in order to attend the event, for example to purchase a ticket or slice of Victoria sponge, then the payments are not optional and therefore do not qualify for Gift Aid.

This is because the donations are seen as payments being placed in return for something else.

If you would like a Gift Aid form, please call us on 028 90 650 650 or email: [email protected]

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