Gift Aid - what is it and how does it work...
 Gift Aid is one of the simplest and most effective ways of giving to charity. Using Gift Aid means that for every pound you give, the charity you are supporting will receive an extra 28 pence from the Inland Revenue. This means that a £10 Gift Aid donation, is worth £12.80 to the charity - imagine what a difference that could make to the charity you support, and it doesn't cost you a thing.
On top of this, higher rate taxpayers are eligible to reclaim as much as £23 from the taxman for every £100 donated to charity, by including details of their Gift Aid donations on their Self Assessment form.
Next time you give a donation to charity, make sure you use Gift Aid. Look out for the Gift Aid It logo or tick box on the donation from or appeal, complete the declaration and send it off. Alternatively, download a declaration form here and now, fill it in and send it off to the charity or charities you wish to support
Gift Aid is surprisingly easy to use. Gift Aid can apply to donations of any amount, large or small, by cash, cheque, postal order, direct debit, standing order, debit or credit card or even in a foreign currency (including the euro).
If you are a UK taxpayer, all you have to do is give the charity a simple Gift Aid declaration. This might involve completing a short form or just giving basic details to the charity over the phone or the internet.
What's more - one single Gift Aid declaration can apply to all past donations you have made (since April 2000) and to all future donations you make.
As a higher rate taxpayer looking to reclaim tax from your donation, all you have to do is remember to include details of your charitable gifts on your tax form. Also, from April 2003, higher rate taxpayers will be able to reclaim tax relief from donations paid to charity both during the previous tax year and during the current tax year, that means the relief is paid that much quicker
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