Gift Aid FAQs
- You can donate 25% more to the Texel Sheep Society at no extra cost to you.
- Gift Aid allows UK charities, such as the British Texel Sheep Society to claim back the basic rate tax of 25%, from HMRC, that has already been paid on donations by members.
- This means the Society can claim 25p for every £1 donated, from HMRC, boosting the value of your donations by a quarter.
- Gift Aid is important for charities and means millions of pounds extra go to the charity sector. Each time an eligible tax payer donates and doesn’t agree to their donations being treated as Gift Aid, the charity misses out.
How does it work?
For every £1 you give The Texel Sheep Society, we can claim back 25p in tax.
It doesn’t cost you anything – all you have to do is fill in a short, simple form giving us permission to reclaim this tax.
Your membership subscription is a form of donation which we can claim gift aid against.
How do I sign up for Gift Aid?
Complete our short Gift Aid Declaration form at texel.uk/gift-aid.
If your membership subscription is paid through a business account, such as a Ltd business or through a farm partnership business account then we are not able to claim gift against your membership subscription.
What is Gift Aid?
Gift Aid is a government scheme that allows charities to reclaim the tax that you have already paid on your donations through income tax or capital gains tax. Most donations from individuals made in the last four years are eligible for the scheme, unless made using an alternative tax effective scheme such as Payroll Giving, or via the Charities Aid Foundation or a similar agency. Regular donations such as standing orders and direct debits can be included in Gift Aid claims made by charities.
Why do I need to make a declaration?
The declaration gives The Texel Sheep Society authority to reclaim tax from Inland Revenue on your donation. By making the declaration, you are confirming you understand this.
How do I know if I am a UK taxpayer?
You are a UK income tax payer if:
- Tax is taken from your wages or pension before you receive them.
- You have to fill in a self-assessment form.
- You have any taxable savings (in a building society, for instance), or a pension plan, or investment income.
- You have recently paid any capital gains tax, or expect to pay it in the near future. This could be on the sale of a property or some shares, for example.
If any of these apply to you, please complete and submit your declaration today.
What if I pay tax at a higher rate?
Charities can only claim back tax at the basic rate, but that is still worth 25% to us, so please complete and return the declaration anyway.
As a higher-rate taxpayer you have the right to reclaim tax on your donations. All you have to do is remember to include details of your charitable gifts on your self-assessment tax form to claim your additional personal tax relief of 20%. Furthermore, since April 2003, higher-rate taxpayers have been able to reclaim tax relief from donations paid to charity both during the previous tax year and during the current tax year, which means that the relief is paid that much more quickly.
If you would like a receipt for eligible donations that you have made, then please contact the Society office
What if I am a pensioner?
You may still be paying tax on a private pension plan or a savings account, or pay capital gains tax if you sell either a property or shares. You are still eligible if you have paid enough tax during the year to cover your donations (e.g. 25% of the value of your donations).
I am not a taxpayer but my partner is, and our donations are made jointly. Are our gifts still eligible?
Yes, your donations are still eligible for Gift Aid, but we need to keep your personal details separate for our records. Please contact the Society office via email at registrations@texel.co.uk and they will either confirm these details with you or send you a form to complete.
What if I have agreed to Gift Aid to another charity?
You can support as many UK charities as you like through Gift Aid. All you need to do is to return a declaration to each charity that you support and ensure that you are paying enough tax during the year to cover your total annual donations.
What’s the catch?
There’s no catch. It really is that easy. Just complete the declaration at texel.uk/gift-aid to enable us to make your donation worth more without costing you a penny.
Do I have to make a declaration with every donation?
No. You just need to tick the box on the declaration once and it will cover donations you have already made to The Texel Sheep Society in the last four years and donations you make in the future.
Can I withdraw a declaration on a particular donation?
If, for any reason, you decide that your donation should not be included in Gift Aid – for example, if you think that you will not be paying enough tax to cover the tax reclaimed by us – then simply contact the Society via email at registrations@texel.co.uk and ask for the declaration to be withdrawn.
Can I stop giving?
Completing a Gift Aid declaration does not put you under any obligation to give again – it merely ensures that we can reclaim tax on the donations that you have already made and any you may make in the future so that your gifts go further at no extra cost to you.
If you have any further questions about Gift Aid or think you might be eligible, please contact the Texel Sheep Society.