GIFT AID

You can increase the value of your support to IF, at no cost to yourself, by allowing us to claim the tax back on your donations. If you are a UK taxpayer, simply Gift Aid your donations and increase your support of IF’s work.

What is Gift Aid?

Who can Gift Aid their donations?

What if I am a higher rate taxpayer?

Can I count tax paid on my dividend income?

What about tax deducted from my savings?

What do I need to do?

Why do I need to give a declaration?

Can I withdraw a declaration?

Non taxpayers

What if I no longer pay tax or have moved house?


What is Gift Aid?

Gift Aid allows us to claim at least 25% extra on top of your donation from the HM Revenue & Customs. This means that for every £1 you donate, IF can claim an extra 25p (subject to current tax rates) direct from the Government.  In addition following the 2008 Budget, the Government will pay a transitional relief of 3 pence on every pound on every Gift Aid donation made from 6th April 2008 until 5th April 2011. This means that we can claim in total an extra 28% on top of your donation if you Gift Aid it.

Who can Gift Aid their donations?

A donor that is a UK taxpayer can use Gift Aid if the amount of tax they have paid in the tax year of the donation is sufficient to cover the amount of tax the charity will reclaim against the donation.  The tax year begins on the 6th April and runs until 5th April the following year.

You must pay at least the same amount of tax as the IF will reclaim in Gift Aid in any tax year. For example: if you make a donation of 10 pounds, IF will reclaim £2.50 in tax from HMRC so you must have paid £2.50 in tax during the tax year.

What if I am a higher rate taxpayer?

The charity reclaims the tax on your donation only at the basic rate, even if you are a higher rate taxpayer. If you are a higher rate taxpayer, you can claim the difference between the higher rate of tax of 40% and the basic rate of tax of 20% on your Self Assessment return.

Can I count tax paid on my dividend income?

Yes. Tax credits on dividend income can be used to cover tax reclaimed by the charity.

What about tax deducted from my savings?

If tax is deducted from bank or building society interest you receive, you can use that to cover the tax on the donation, provided you have not reclaimed it. If you have reclaimed that tax, then you must not use it to cover the tax on your gift.

What do I need to do?

All you need to do is make a simple Gift Aid declaration including your name and full residential address including postcode.  Click here to download a Gift Aid form, then just fill it in and return it to us at the address provided on the form.

If you are setting up a direct debit or making a single donation online, a gift aid option will be provided (Click here to make a donation).

Why do I need to give a declaration?

The declaration is our authority to reclaim tax from the Inland Revenue on your donation. By giving the declaration you are confirming that you understand this.

Can I withdraw a declaration?

If, for any reason, you decide that your donation should not be Gift Aided, you have 30 days from the date of the written record to tell us to withdraw it.

Non taxpayers

If you are not a taxpayer, then Gift Aid does not apply to you. 

What if I no longer pay tax or have moved?

If your circumstances change and you no longer pay enough income or capital gains tax to cover the amount claimed by IF, you can cancel your declaration by emailing us at info@ifcharity.com. Your declaration will then not apply to donations you make on or after the date of cancellation or such later date as you specify.

Please also contact us if you have moved address.