This section contains information on charities and giving. Below you will find a summary of the topics included here. If you would like more information, click on the links located in the left-hand side of the page.

If you are thinking of making a gift to charity, you should consider the benefits of tax-efficient giving.

This can make it cheaper to donate to charity, or it can benefit your chosen charity by making your donation go further. Click on the articles in the left hand column of the page to access information on different tax-efficient ways of giving money to charity. Below is a quick overview of the schemes offered by HM Revenue & Customs.

If you pay tax in the UK, then Gift Aid is a simple way to increase the value of your gift to a charity. Making your donation using Gift Aid will enable the charity to reclaim the basic rate tax on your gift to them. This means that if you give £10 to charity using Gift Aid in the tax year 2005-06, that gift is worth £12.82 to the charity.

If your employer operates a Payroll Giving scheme, you can make donations to charity direct from your pay packet. It’s a simple way for you to give regularly to charity from your pay, and get tax relief on your gifts.

If your employer does not operate a Payroll Giving scheme, you might want to ask if they would be willing to start one. Your employer can find out how easy it is to run a scheme by calling 0845 3020203.