Gift Aid

Our Parish Gift Aid Organiser is Sandra Cowdrey

Tel – 01268 772998  Email – olorgiftaid@hotmail.com

What is Gift Aid and who can join?

Gift Aid is an Inland Revenue approved method of substantially increasing the value of your offerings at absolutely no cost or inconvenience to you. Your donations are whatever you feel you can afford and need not be a fixed commitment. Whatever you give is gratefully received as your personal support to the Parish. Gift Aid can be applied to all your donations whether regular or occasional and you can stop, start or vary what you pay whenever you decide.

If you are happy to confirm the following statement:

I am a UK taxpayer and understand that, if I pay less Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax in the current year than the amount of Gift Aid claimed on all my donations, it is my responsibility to pay any difference. Please treat as gift aid donation, all qualifying gifts of money made from the date of this declaration, or since ……………………………………

Then you are eligible to join the Gift Aid Scheme

How does the parish benefit from Gift Aid?

Our Parish, as a registered charity, is allowed to reclaim all of the basic rate income tax which you have paid on any funds given to us under the Gift Aid Scheme. Currently we can reclaim from the Government an extra 25 pence for every pound you give. For example, if your donation was £5.00 per week, the Parish would be able to claim an extra £65.00 thus boosting your annual gift of £260 to £325 at absolutely no cost to you. Similarly if you pay £1000 per annum your gift will be transformed into more than £1250.

How will this affect my Tax Return?

If you pay Income Tax at either the Lower or Basic Rate then Gift Aid will not normally affect you, unless the amount we seek to reclaim from the Revenue exceeds or is likely to exceed the total tax you will pay in the tax year. Your total ‘Tax Paid’ for the year includes both Income Tax and any Capital Gains Tax paid on the sale of shares or investments. In the unlikely event that you will not pay enough tax, just contact the Gift Aid Organiser,

As a Higher Rate taxpayer you are allowed to reclaim for yourself the difference between the Basic and Higher Rates of Tax (currently 20%). Thus, an offering of £260, less your tax refund, would actually cost you only £208, but the Parish would still have received £325.

How will I know how much I have given the parish each year?

If you wish, the Gift Aid Organiser will send you a letter each year with details of your donation.

What happens if I cease to be a taxpayer?

You can phone or email the Gift Aid Organiser at any time to let her know.

Will the amount of my offerings be known to anyone in the parish?

You will be allocated a Gift Aid Number known only to you and the Gift Aid Organiser who keeps all such information strictly confidential. All of your offerings will be allocated against your individual Gift Aid Number.

How can I make my offerings?

There are two options:

Every gift whether large or small is greatly valued, but if you feel able to make a regular monthly donation, a Bank Standing Order form is available. A small box of envelopes with your Gift Aid Number will also be issued for Special Collections. 

Weekly envelopes including Special Collections envelopes with your Gift Aid Number can be issued.

What about Easter and Christmas Offerings? 

Your Easter & Christmas donations to Father can also be Gift Aided.

What are the Yellow Envelopes in the church pews for? 

These envelopes are available should you forget your individual Gift Aid envelopes or are not part of the Gift Aid Scheme. Please print your Gift Aid number (or your name and address if you have not yet signed up to the Gift Aid Scheme) on the envelope so that we can identify it for Gift Aid purposes.

HOW DO I JOIN THE GIFT AID SCHEME?

Gift Aid Declaration Form

Please place completed form in the Gift Aid box on the Gift Aid table by the confessional or hand into the Presbytery or scan and email to olorgiftaid@hotmail.com

Bank Standing Order Form

Please take your completed form to your bank

Alternatively just ring or email the Gift Aid Organiser and give your details or pick up a form from the back of the church.