Gift Aid
What is Gift Aid?
Gift aid is a scheme from HM Revenue & Customs that allows us to reclaim an extra 25% on your kind donations made for the past four years as well as all future donations - without costing you a penny. This means that for every pound you donate to the RNLI, the charity gets an extra 25p.
Who is eligible?
To be eligible to sign up for Gift Aid you must be a UK taxpayer and pay an amount of income and/or capital gains tax – at least equal to the tax that the charity will reclaim in the tax year. This also applies if you pay tax on your savings, pension plan or investment income.
Are you a higher rate taxpayer?
There is an extra benefit for higher rate taxpayers as you are able to reclaim tax on the amount you have donated. We, as a charity, can claim the basic rate of tax on the value of your gift, and you can reclaim the difference between higher rate (40%) and basic rate tax (20%).
For example, if you give £100 to the RNLI, we can reclaim Gift Aid of £25 making your total gross donation £125. Being a higher taxpayer, you can reclaim on the gross donation a further 20% (difference between the two tax bands) which in this example, is £25. This means your £125 gift to the RNLI would have only cost you £75.
All you need to do is provide details of your Gift Aid donations on your tax return or self-assessment form and if you are doing it online, please quote the RNLI charity number HAB 3999 on your tax form.
How can I Gift Aid?
All we need from you is a single Gift Aid declaration which will not only cover your future donations but also on donations you have made for the past four years. To make your declaration, you can either:
- Call our Supporter Care team on 0845 121 4999
- Complete it through our online donation form
- Download the RNLI Gift Aid declaration form, complete it and send it back to: Gift Aid, RNLI, FREEPOST, BH173, West Quay Road, Poole, BH15 1HZ.
Please remember to inform us if you have changed your name and address or no longer pay sufficient tax on your income and/or capital gains tax; either by emailing supportercare@rnli.org.uk or call us on 0845 121 4999. Our Supporter Care team will answer any of your queries or provide you with any assistance.
"The RNLI reclaimed £4.5m in 2009 through Gift Aid. With your support, we can increase that amount and save even more lives at sea."
