Giving to Charity

Gift Aid

Gift Aid is the main vehicle for tax efficient giving to charities. It applies to any donation whether large or small, regular or one-off.

Simply by confirming that they are taxpayers, donors can ensure that their chosen charities can reclaim the basic rate of income tax on all their donations, equal to 28% of the amount donated. Charities remain entitled to reclaim 28% (which was based on an income tax rate of 22%) until 2011.

This confirmation has only to be completed once for each charity (it can even be done by telephone or internet) and remains valid for as long as the donor remains a taxpayer.

As an added boost for donors, higher rate taxpayers can claim for themselves the difference between basic and higher rates of tax (20% for 2008/09) against their own income tax or capital gains tax liabilities, reducing further the net cost of the donation.

This relief may be carried back to reduce the tax payable for the previous tax year.

Example

You give to charity	£1,000.00
Charity reclaims tax	£ 282.05
Total value of your gift	£1,282.05

Tax reduction for higher rate taxpayer £250.00

So a gift worth £1,282.05 to the charity could cost you as little as £750.00

CAF charity card account

This is a very flexible scheme organised by CAF (Charities Aid Foundation). You can open an account with as little as £10 a month by direct debit or with a single payment of £100.

The account is in effect a 'charity chequebook and debit card' and can be used to make donations easily - spontaneously or regularly - by phone, by post or online - to your favourite charities.

Tax is recovered at the basic rate and added to your account. As with Gift Aid, higher rate taxpayers can reclaim the difference between the basic and higher rates of tax.

Because CAF deduct 4% for running most accounts, a £100 donation to CAF equals £123.08 to donate to chosen charities.

Payroll giving

This scheme allows you to make gross donations to charity (deducted from your salary before tax is calculated). There is no statutory minimum or maximum limit, although individual schemes may impose a lower monthly donation limit.

Example

You give from your gross pay	£50
Charity receives	£50
Actual cost to basic rate taxpayer	£40
Actual cost to higher rate taxpayer	£30

Tax refunds

Self-assessment tax payers may nominate a charity to receive all or a specified amount of an anticipated tax repayment. The donation will be passed direct to the charity by HM Revenue & Customs once the tax return or claim is processed.

Gifts in land

Gifts of certain shares and securities, land and buildings to a charity attract income tax relief as well as capital gains tax (CGT) relief.

Example

You give shares valued at		£1,000
Income tax saving	basic rate taxpayer	£200
	higher rate taxpayer	£400
Potential CGT saving		£180

There is a similar corporation tax relief for gifts by companies.

Deeds of covenant

With the enhancement of Gift Aid, there is no longer a separate tax relief for payments made under a deed of covenant. Covenanted payments by individuals are now dealt with under the Gift Aid measures.