If you pay tax, Gift Aid is a scheme by which you can give a sum of money to charity and the charity can reclaim from the Inland Revenue basic rate tax on your gift. That increases the value of the gift you make to the charity.
For example, if you donate £10 using Gift Aid to Whitechapel in a tax year, that gift is worth £12.50 to us.
You can make payments by cash, cheque, postal order, direct debit, standing order, debit or credit card or even in a foreign currency. Subject to a few rules, you can give any amount, large or small, regular or one-off and Whitechapel can reclaim the tax.
If you are a higher rate taxpayer, you can claim relief on the difference between the basic rate and higher rate of tax.
If you do not pay tax, you should not use Gift Aid.
How does my gift qualify for Gift Aid?
You must:
pay at least as much tax as the charities will reclaim on your gifts in the tax year in which you make them (tax credits on dividend income will count towards the tax paid). The tax year runs from 6 April in one year to 5 April in the next.
make a declaration to Whitechapel that you want your gift to be treated as a Gift Aid donation
not receive excessive benefits in return for your gift.
Gift Aid Notes:
You can cancel your gift declaration at any time by notifying Whitechapel
Please notify Whitechapel if your circumstances change and you no longer pay any amount of tax, or if you change your name or address.
To be eligible to Gift Aid you must pay an amount of income tax and/or capital gains tax (including tax you may pay on your savings) at least equal to the tax that the charity reclaims on your donations in the tax year (currently 25p for each £1 you give). Unless you're donating thousands of pounds that's very unlikely!
Remember to notify us if you no longer pay an amount of income tax or capital gains tax equal to the tax we reclaim on your donations.
If you pay at the higher rate you can claim further tax relief in your self assessment tax return.
If you are unsure whether your donations qualify for Gift Aid tax relief please ask your local tax office for leaflet IR65 Gift Aid.
Visit the Inland Revenue website to find out more Gift Aid and tax efficient ways to give to charity.If you are unsure about anything, please email or call Whitechapel on 0151 207 7617
