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Gift Aid explained

Your donation could make an even bigger impact at no extra cost to you.

Gifts from UK taxpayers qualify for Gift Aid. This means that for every £1 you give to Farm Africa, we can claim an extra 25p. For example, a gift of £20.00 means we can reclaim £5.00 making your gift worth £25.00.

It won’t cost you a single penny more, but it will help more farmers to grow a future free from poverty.

Do I qualify for Gift Aid?

To qualify, you must be a UK taxpayer who has paid income or capital gains tax equal to the tax that will be claimed on your donation.

For example, if you donate £100 in the current tax year, you need to have paid £25 in tax to match the amount that Farm Africa will claim in Gift Aid.

You are a UK taxpayer if:

  • tax is taken from your wages at source (ie PAYE)
  • you fill out a self-assessment form
  • you have any taxable savings (in a building society, for instance), or a pension plan, or investment income
  • you have paid capital gains tax, or expect to pay it in the near future.

How do I sign up to Gift Aid?

It’s very easy – all you have to do is make a Gift Aid declaration. A Gift Aid declaration is a statement by an individual taxpayer that they want a charity to receive the tax paid on their donation back from the government.

If you are donating online, just tick the Gift Aid box on the donation form. Or download a Gift Aid Declaration (PDF) form and post it to us at FREEPOST RUCX-RZRA-RRZC, Farm Africa, 3 - 5 Bleeding Heart Yard, Off Greville Street, London EC1N 8SJ.

If it is more convenient, you can call us on 020 7430 0440 to give us your declaration.

What does the Gift Aid declaration commit me to?

Nothing – it just ensures that if you choose to donate to Farm Africa, we can claim an extra 25% back from HM Revenue & Customs.

What if I pay the higher rate of income tax?

If you are taxed at the higher rate of 40%, Farm Africa can still only reclaim tax at the basic rate of 20%.

However, higher rate taxpayers can also claim the difference between the higher tax rate (40%) and the basic rate (20%) on the total (gross) value of a donation made.

If you pay Income Tax at the higher or additional rate and want to receive the additional tax relief due to you, you must include all your Gift Aid donations on your Self-Assessment tax return or ask HM Revenue and Customs to adjust your tax code.

What do I do if I my tax status changes or I want to cancel my declaration?

As long as the total amount of tax you pay each year is more than or equal to the tax that Farm Africa and other charities reclaim, your gift will still qualify for Gift Aid.

Please advise us as soon as possible if your circumstances change, you stop paying tax or you wish to cancel your declaration. Call us on +44(0) 20 7430 0440 or email using our contact us form.

What if I move house?

To help us keep our records up to date, please let us know if you move house or any of your details change. Call us on +44(0) 20 7430 0440 or email using our contact us form.

Can Gift Aid be claimed retrospectively?

We can claim Gift Aid on donations made up to four years ago, so long as you have paid enough tax to cover the amount we are reclaiming. If you have any questions about this, please call +44(0) 20 7430 0440 or email using our contact us form.

Can I claim Gift Aid on funds I have raised for Farm Africa?

Yes, in most cases.

To claim Gift Aid on your fundraising, we must have the first name or initials, last name, full home address and postcode of each individual donor or sponsor, and they must have ticked the Gift Aid box on the sponsorship form or Gift Aid envelope to confirm that they are a UK Income or Capital Gains taxpayer – so please encourage them to do so! Without these details we legally cannot claim Gift Aid.

Please contact our Supporter Services Team on +44(0) 20 7430 0440 or through our contact form for Gift Aid envelopes, or download our sponsorship form.

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