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Gift Aid

What is Gift Aid?

Gift Aid is a fantastic scheme that allows Age UK to get more out of the money you generously donate, with absolutely no extra effort from you! Here's how it works:

  • Increased Impact: When you donate money to Age UK under Gift Aid, we reclaim the basic rate tax on your donation. This means we get an extra 25p for every £1 you give, making your £1 worth £1.25 if you are a UK taxpayer.
  • Effortless for You: All you need to do is confirm that you are a UK taxpayer and allow us to claim Gift Aid on your donation. Age UK handles all the paperwork.
  • Applies to All Donations: This benefit also extends to items you donate to our charity shops. For every £1 we make from selling your items, Gift Aid adds an extra 25p, enhancing the value of your contributions.

How do I make a Gift Aid declaration?

  1. In our shops:
    If you are donating items to our shops, all you have to do is complete our short Gift Aid form as you drop off your items. Ask in-store for more details.
  2. When donating online:
    If you are donating money online, remember to tick the Gift Aid declaration box on the form.
  3. If you are donating to us by cheque or cash, download the Gift Aid Declaration Form

Do I qualify for Gift Aid?

To qualify for Gift Aid:

  • you need to be a UK taxpayer
  • you need to have paid or expect to pay enough UK income/capital gains tax in the tax year your gift was received to cover all the Gift Aid donations you made to charity that year
  • you need to make a Gift Aid declaration
  • if you are completing an enduring Gift Aid declaration, you also need to be sure you paid enough tax to cover the donations you made in the previous four years.

The basic rate of tax we claim is currently 20% on the gross value of your gift (that’s the same as 25% on the net).

I'm a pensioner. Do my donations qualify?

Income from state pensions alone is unlikely to qualify as you’d need to earn above the personal allowance threshold to pay income tax.
If this is your only source of income, we advise that you check with your tax office before completing a declaration.

Do I need to renew my Gift Aid declaration each year?

No, you only need to make a declaration once. We’ll keep this declaration as your enduring permission to claim Gift Aid tax relief on all donations. It will cover the previous four years, the current year, and any donations you might make to us in the future until you notify us otherwise.