Gift Aid is a scheme introduced by the government in 2000 which simplifies tax-efficient giving to charities.
1. If you make a Gift Aid declaration (which you can do online) we will be able to claim a tax rebate at the basic rate on all gifts you make from this point on.
2. The tax we recover is from the Income or Capital Gains tax that you pay, so you must pay at least as much UK Income or Capital Gains tax as we recover from your gift during the same tax year (currently 28p per £1 given). If your circumstances change and you are no longer paying sufficient tax, you must notify us, and it is a condition of making a Gift Aid declaration that you agree to do so.
3. If you are required to complete a Self Assessment tax return for the Inland Revenue, you will be asked to declare how much you have given to charities under the Gift Aid scheme, so it is important that you keep a record. In addition, if you are a higher rate taxpayer, you will receive a tax rebate for the difference between the basic and higher rate.
4. We can recover tax from any gifts you make to the church, whether to the Restoration Appeal or by regular giving methods such as weekly envelopes or a standing order, as long as these gifts are identified as coming from you. It is not possible to recover tax from anonymous donations. Therefore if you are putting a gift in the collection plate or in one of the wall boxes you must place it in an envelope (special envelopes are available for this purpose) and add your name and address. If you are not using a special envelope, you should write on the envelope 'Gift Aid declaration already made' so that we know to reclaim the tax.
Note: St Thomas' is an 'excepted charity' under the 1993 Charities Act and therefore does not need or have its own charity number. We also function as part of the Diocese of Chelmsford which is Registered Charity No. 249505.
Please do make a Gift Aid declaration if you are a UK taxpayer, as it allows your gift to go further, but please remember to tell us if your gifts are no longer eligible for tax recovery.