What is Gift Aid and who can join?
Gift Aid is a method, approved by HMRC, of substantially increasing the value of your offerings at absolutely no cost or inconvenience to you, if you are a UK taxpayer.Your donations are whatever you feel you can afford and need not be a fixed commitment. Whatever you give is gratefully received as your personal support to the Parish. Gift Aid can be applied to all your donations whether regular or occasional and you can stop, start or vary what you pay whenever you decide; and no one will ‘chase’ you for money.
What are the benefits of Gift Aid?
Our Parish, as a registered charity, is allowed to reclaim all of the basic rate income tax which you have paid on any funds given to us under the Gift Aid Scheme.
How much is this worth to the Parish?
Currently we can reclaim from the Government an extra 25p for every pound you give. For example, if your donation was £5 per week, the Parish would be able to claim an extra £65 thus boosting your annual gift of £260 to £325 at absolutely no cost to you. Similarly a gift of £1000 per annum will be transformed into £1250.
How will this affect my tax return?
If you pay Income Tax at either the Lower or Basic Rate then Gift Aid will not normally affect you, unless the amount we seek to reclaim from HMRC exceeds or is likely to exceed the total tax you will pay in the tax year. Your total ‘Tax Paid’ for the year includes both Income Tax and any Capital Gains Tax paid on the sale of shares or investments.
What if the amount of tax to be reclaimed is more than the tax I paid?
In the unlikely event that you will not pay enough tax, just contact the Gift Aid Coordinator.
I am a higher rate tax payer, how will this affect me?
As a higher rate taxpayer you are allowed to reclaim for yourself the difference between the Basic and Higher Rates of Tax (currently 20%). Thus, an offering of £260, less your tax refund, would actually cost you only £208, but the Parish would still have received £325.
How will I know how much I have given the parish each year?
If you wish, the Gift Aid Coordinator can send you a letter each year with details of your donation.
If I join Gift Aid and cease to be a taxpayer, can I cancel easily?
Yes. You can contact the Gift Aid Coordinator at any time.
Will the amount of my offerings be known to anyone in the parish?Y
ou will be allocated a Personal Identification Number known only to you and to the Gift Aid Coordinator. The amounts you give can only be identified by the Gift Aid Coordinator who keeps all such information strictly confidential.
How do I make my offerings?
Every gift whether large or small is greatly valued, but if you feel able to make a regular monthly donation, you can do this by standing order or internet banking. Any envelope labelled with your membership number, may be used for regular or extra donations.Personalised weekly envelopes with your membership number, will be issued and blank envelopes are also available in the church foyer. Your Christmas & Easter donations for the Clergy can also be Gift Aided.
What about second collections and Easter and Christmas offerings?
If you are not using the Official Gift Aid Envelopes, you can still use the envelopes kept in the church foyer. Please add your Personal Number (or your name if you have not yet signed up to the Gift Aid Scheme) on the envelope so that we can identify it for tax purposes.
Your Gift Aid Coordinator: Anthony Collins – anthony.collins53@ntlworld.com
Use any of the below methods to sign up to the Gift Aid scheme.
Gift Aid Declaration Forms: Download the Gift Aid Declaration Form to sign up. To print it out, right click and select copy. Then drop it into Word or similar and fill it in!
At Church – You can pick up the forms to fill in from the church foyer. Once completed, please return the Gift Aid Declaration Form to the Parish Office.
Bless you in anticipation!