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Q.
What is Gift Aid?
A.
Gift Aid is one of the simplest and most effective ways of giving to charity.
Using Gift Aid means that for every £1 you give to International Rescue, the
Charity will receive an extra 28p from the Inland Revenue. This means that a £10
donation under Gift Aid is worth £12.80 to the Charity – this makes a real
difference to us.
Q.
How can I sign up for Gift Aid so that the Charity receives an extra 28% from my
donation?
A.
All you have to do is sign a International Rescue Gift Aid Declaration form.
This form is a declaration by an individual taxpayer that they want the charity
to get back from the Inland Revenue the tax paid on their donation.
Q.
Am I qualified to sign a Gift Aid declaration form?
A.
Providing you pay as much tax as International Rescue will be entitled to
reclaim on your donations in the same financial year, you are entitled to sign a
Gift Aid form. For example, if you donate £100 to the charity in a financial
year, you will have to have paid at least £28 to the taxman that year.
Q.
What if I’m a pensioner?
A.
You may still pay tax on a private pension plan or a savings account, or pay
capital gains tax if you sell shares or property. If so, you can sign a Gift Aid
declaration form subject to the amount of your donation and amount of tax you
pay (see question above).
Q.
What if I am a higher rate taxpayer?
A.
International Rescue can claim tax back at the basic tax rate only if you sign a
Gift Aid declaration form. If you are a higher taxpayer, you can also declare
your donations on your own tax return and claim a rebate based on the difference
between the higher rate and the basic rate. For example, if a higher rate
taxpayer donated £100 during financial year, this equates to £128 when a Gift
Aid form signed. You can then claim another £23 from the taxman based on the
difference between basic tax rate and higher tax rate (22% and 40%), therefore,
£128 x 18% = £23
Q.
What does the Gift Aid declaration commit me to?
A.
Absolutely nothing, it just allows the charity to claim an extra 28% on top of
your donation.
Q.
If I sign a Gift Aid declaration form, are my details kept confidential?
A.
Yes, this information is not shared with anyone else.
Q.
How often do I need to sign a Gift Aid declaration form?
A.
Only once. As well as allowing the charity to claim tax relief on all future
donations you make, the signing of this form also allows the charity to make a
claim on all donations made since 6th April 2000.
