What is Gift Aid?

Gift Aid is a scheme run by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) which enables the parish to reclaim the tax you may have paid on donations made to the parish. This forms an important part of parish income and contributed a valuable £3,549 to parish funds for the 2009/2010 tax year.

What Donations are covered?

Any regular donation or "one off" gifts that you decide to give to the parish. It will also cover any donations you make to charities through parish collections.  It is important that any donations you make are always clearly identified as having come from you; see "important key facts & information" below

But I don't work

You do not have to be working to pay tax.  Apart from tax paid on earnings, it could include savings interest, State Pension, investment or rental income or Capital Gains Tax.

Where do I start?

If you wish to give donations to the parish or to charities through second collections, then you need to complete a Gift Aid Declaration Form with us - even if you have completed a Gift Aid Form before with another organisation.   Please contact Gerry - Gift Aid organiser, or Gareth - Treasurer. It is easy to complete and we are happy to assist.

Important Key Facts & Infomation

• You must complete a Gift Aid Declaration Form if you wish us to claim the tax back

• It is important that any donation you make to the parish or other charities through us is correctly identified as having come from you: 

  • If you give donations via envelopes, you will have received a set of these with a unique number on them. It is important that any donations you give is either in these envelopes or placed in an envelope clearly marked with your intention and either your unique number or your name and address.
  • If you give donations via standing order, when completing a standing order mandate and completing the payee reference, please ensure that it clearly indentifies you. e.g. if your name is John A Smith then MR J A SMITH or SMITH JA is more helpful than just SMITH.
  • If you wish to make "one off" donations, then place your donation in an envelope clearly marked with your name, address, intention and say that it is a gift aid donation.
     
• You must have paid tax at least equal to the amount that will be reclaimed from HMRC. An easy check to find if you have paid enough tax in the tax year the donation is made is to divide your donation by 4. For example, if you give £100 you will need to have paid £25 tax. (£100 / 4 = £25).
   
• If you claim any of these: age-related Personal Allowance, age-related Married Couple’s Allowance or tax credit claims, let HMRC know about your Gift Aid donations. This may have the effect of increasing these allowances or credits if your income was above the Relevant ‘income limit’ that applies.
   
• You can request to backdate Gift Aid donations as being paid in the previous tax year if you paid enough tax that year to cover both years’ Gift Aid payments.

For further information on gift aid - please see the HMRC website or please do not hesitate to contact

Gerry - Gift Aid organiser   or   Gareth - Treasurer