Question 1

What is Gift Aid?

Accepted Answer

Gift Aid is a government initiative which allows charities, such as MHA, to reclaim basic rate tax (25%) on donations made by UK taxpayers.

If you pay tax in the UK and you give your permission through a Gift Aid declaration form, we can claim 25p on every £1 you donate to us, making your gifts worth more to the older people MHA supports.

Question 2

Do I qualify for Gift Aid?

Accepted Answer

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).

Question 3

What if I pay a higher rate of tax?

Accepted Answer

If you pay a higher tax rate, you can claim the difference between the higher and basic rate on the total value of your donation, which you can pass on to the charity.

Please visit the HMRC website to find out more about claiming back higher rate tax.

Question 4

How do I Gift Aid my donations?

Accepted Answer

It’s simple - just complete our online Gift Aid declaration on this page.

All our online donation forms and printed donation forms also include a Gift Aid declaration.

Alternatively, you can contact our fundraising team and we’ll send you a form through the post.

Question 5

What is a Gift Aid declaration?

Accepted Answer

A Gift Aid declaration is a statement made by an individual taxpayer confirming that they would like MHA to reclaim tax on their donations.

Question 6

How long does the declaration last for?

Accepted Answer

A Gift Aid declaration covers past, present and future donations made to MHA. We can claim Gift Aid on past donations that have been made in the last four years and we can continue to claim Gift Aid unless you tell us otherwise.

Question 7

How can I change or cancel my Gift Aid declaration?

Accepted Answer

Please notify MHA if you want to cancel, change your name or home address, or no longer pay sufficient tax on your income and/or capital gains.

You can do so by completing the Gift Aid declaration form on this webpage.

Question 8

I’m a pensioner. Do my donations qualify for Gift Aid?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 9

Can I claim Gift Aid on my company's donation?

Accepted Answer

No, Gift Aid can only be claimed on donations from individuals. Company donations do not qualify for Gift Aid.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)