Gift Aid Scheme

Did you know that you could help the parish financially if you pay any form of Income Tax?

When parishioners make donations to the parish the amount donated includes an element of tax which is normally kept by the Inland Revenue. The Gift Aid Scheme is simply a way that parishes can reclaim the tax that you paid on the donations you make.

If you would like your donations to be covered by the Gift Aid Scheme, all you need to do is to sign a Gift Aid Declaration, stating that you want the parish to treat all your donations as Gift Aid donations and reclaim the tax accordingly.

Donations can be made  monthly, quarterly or annually, by standing order, and there is no lower limit on the size of any one-off donations. The parish Gift Aid organiser, Dave Garnish, will keep a record of all payments that you make and then reclaim the tax directly from the Inland Revenue.

Please join the scheme at the earliest opportunity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the most Frequently Asked Questions please take the time to read through them and hopefully complete a Gift Aid Declaration form. 

Q. How much Income Tax must I pay to be able to take part in Gift Aid?
A. You can join the Gift Aid Scheme if you are an Income Taxpayer and pay tax at either the basic or higher rate, providing you pay an amount of tax at least equal to the amount of any refund claimed by the parish (see table below).

Q. Do I have to make my earnings known?
A. No

Q. Can I change the amount I give?
A. Yes. You can increase or decrease the amount you give at any time without having to complete a fresh declaration. Gift Aid allows us to reclaim tax on all amounts given (no matter how small or large).

Q. What if I stop paying Income Tax?
A. Let us know and we will cancel your declaration.

Q. Is the Gift Aid Scheme confidential?
A. Yes. The parish has to keep accurate records of receipt but only our parish organiser has access to details.

Q. What methods of giving are allowed by the scheme?
A. One-off cheques or by a Standing Order Mandate. 

Q. What about High rate Taxpayers?
A. High rate Taxpayers will benefit through additional tax relief if they declare their Gift Aid Declaration on their tax return.

Q. How does the scheme work?
A. The standard rate of Income Tax is 20p in the pound. If a person earns £1.25 the tax off is 25p (20% of £1.25). This leaves the person with £1.00 ‘in the pocket’. If the £1.00 is then given to the Church and the parishioner signs a Gift Aid Declaration form the parish can claim back the 25p. 

Q. What about couples?
A. A Gift Aid Declaration can only be made in the name of an individual parishioner since Income Tax is claimed back against his or her own tax. If both spouses pay tax they may wish to make separate declarations for the individual amounts that they give. This enables accurate records to be kept.

Q. Who do I contact to join the scheme?
A. You can print a Gift Aid Declaration Form and a Standing Order Mandate , fill them in and send the standing order form to your bank and pass the gift aid declaration form to our parish organiser, Mr Dave Garnish via the presbytery.

Diocesan Gift Aid Organiser: Beverley Warrington

Finance Assistant: