HOW TO INCREASE YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO ST LAWRENCE’S WITHOUT INCREASING YOUR DONATION.
You can if you are a UKtax payer by using the GIFT AID scheme. The Gift Aid scheme is a way that Parishes can claim a refund of the Tax you paid on the donations you make. Your donation will be increased by 25% with no extra cost to you.
You can if you are a UKtax payer by using the GIFT AID scheme. The Gift Aid scheme is a way that Parishes can claim a refund of the Tax you paid on the donations you make. Your donation will be increased by 25% with no extra cost to you.
If you give weekly |
This is the annual total |
Tax the parish can reclaim @ 25% |
Total real donation |
£1.00 |
£52.00 |
£13.00 |
£65.00 |
£3.00 |
£156.00 |
£39.00 |
£195.00 |
£5.00 |
£260.00 |
£65.00 |
£325.00 |
£7.50 |
£390.00 |
£97.50 |
£487.50 |
£10.00 |
£520.00 |
£130 |
£650.00 |
£20.00 |
£1040.00 |
£260.00 |
£1300.00 |
Question: How much Tax do I need to pay?
Answer: You must have paid at least an amount of Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax equal to the amount of the Gift Aid to be reclaimed.
In the above example,
if you donate £20 per week/£1040 per year, you must have paid at least £260 Income/Capital Gains Tax in that tax year for the Parish to claim the Gift Aid.
You must take into account all charitable donations which you have Gift Aided.
Please note, if you do not pay the equivalent amount of tax you will be responsible to pay the difference.
Question: Do I have to make my earnings known?
Answer: No
Question: How do I make contributions using Gift Aid?
Answer: It couldn’t be simpler, all you have to do is sign a Gift Aid Declaration Form, available from you Gift Aid Co-ordinator.
You can also download a form at the foot of this page and hand it in at church any Sunday.
Question: How do I make my donation?
Answer: The easiest way is to set up a Standing Order with your Bank. This can be done online if you do internet banking or by completing a Standing Order Form available from your Gift Aid Co-ordinator, and handing this into your Bank. By donating in this way, you do not have to look for money every week to put into an envelope and the Parish will automatically get your donation even if you are away.
You can also download a standing order form at the foot of this page and hand it in any Sunday
An alternative way is to put your donation into an envelope, provided by the Parish, which will be printed with your unique number and the Sunday date. The Parish’s expenses don’t stop even if you don’t attend, so if you are away for any reason, please put your missed donation/s in the following week’s envelope. There is no need to submit your missed envelopes. You can also donate by cheque but, if you do, please put it in your envelope.
NB1) The members of the Parish who count the donations don’t know to whom the envelopes belong.
2) The Parish has to pay for these envelopes, so they are only distributed to those who Gift Aid their donations.
Question: Can I Gift Aid my donation to both the 1st and 2ndcollections?
Answer: Yes, you can. If you donate by envelope, please write the two amounts separately on the front of your envelope saying how much you are contributing to the 1st and 2ndcollections.
If you donate by Standing Order just complete another Standing Order form with the second collection account details and hand this into your bank as before. If you do internet banking just set up another order with the 2ndcollection bank account, details of which are available from your Gift Aid Co-ordinator.
Question: How does the Parish know how much to claim back?
Answer: Your Gift Aid Co-ordinator records the donations made by individuals and sends this information to Aberdeen at the end of every Tax Year. Please note, all records are kept in the strictest confidence.
Question: Can I vary my contribution throughout the year?
Answer: Yes, just put a different amount in your envelope or change the amount of your Standing Order/s.
Question: What happens if my circumstances change and I do not pay sufficient tax?
Answer: The Gift Aid scheme is extremely flexible. If you do not pay sufficient tax just let your Gift Aid Co-ordinator know and they will modify your claim. If you no longer pay any Tax, then your donations will not qualify for Gift Aid and you can withdraw from the scheme – simply inform your Gift Aid Co-ordinator.
Question: What about couples?
Answer: A Gift Aid Declaration can only be made by an individual Parishioner since the Income/Capital Gains Tax is claimed back against his/her own tax. If both Partners pay Income/Capital Gains Tax they can both sign individual Gift Aid Declaration forms and if donating by envelope, separate envelopes should be issued. If donating by Standing Order, separate orders should be set up.
Question: What if we have a joint bank account?
Answer: The Parish will presume that the donation is from the person who has signed the Gift Aid Declaration Form.
Question: What if I pay higher rate Income Tax?
Answer: If you pay tax above the basic rate, you can claim the difference between the rate you pay and basic rate on your donation.
Do this either:
Question: Is there anything else I need to do?
Answer: Please let your Gift Aid Co-ordinator if you change your name or address.
Question: What can I do if I don’t pay Tax?
Answer: If you are a non-Tax Payer, the best way you can make your donation is by cash, in the collection basket.
In this way the Parish will be able to claim under the Gift Aid Small Donation Scheme (GASDS) which simply applies to cash donations – it is not valid for cheque or Standing Order payments.
Answer: You must have paid at least an amount of Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax equal to the amount of the Gift Aid to be reclaimed.
In the above example,
if you donate £20 per week/£1040 per year, you must have paid at least £260 Income/Capital Gains Tax in that tax year for the Parish to claim the Gift Aid.
You must take into account all charitable donations which you have Gift Aided.
Please note, if you do not pay the equivalent amount of tax you will be responsible to pay the difference.
Question: Do I have to make my earnings known?
Answer: No
Question: How do I make contributions using Gift Aid?
Answer: It couldn’t be simpler, all you have to do is sign a Gift Aid Declaration Form, available from you Gift Aid Co-ordinator.
You can also download a form at the foot of this page and hand it in at church any Sunday.
Question: How do I make my donation?
Answer: The easiest way is to set up a Standing Order with your Bank. This can be done online if you do internet banking or by completing a Standing Order Form available from your Gift Aid Co-ordinator, and handing this into your Bank. By donating in this way, you do not have to look for money every week to put into an envelope and the Parish will automatically get your donation even if you are away.
You can also download a standing order form at the foot of this page and hand it in any Sunday
An alternative way is to put your donation into an envelope, provided by the Parish, which will be printed with your unique number and the Sunday date. The Parish’s expenses don’t stop even if you don’t attend, so if you are away for any reason, please put your missed donation/s in the following week’s envelope. There is no need to submit your missed envelopes. You can also donate by cheque but, if you do, please put it in your envelope.
NB1) The members of the Parish who count the donations don’t know to whom the envelopes belong.
2) The Parish has to pay for these envelopes, so they are only distributed to those who Gift Aid their donations.
Question: Can I Gift Aid my donation to both the 1st and 2ndcollections?
Answer: Yes, you can. If you donate by envelope, please write the two amounts separately on the front of your envelope saying how much you are contributing to the 1st and 2ndcollections.
If you donate by Standing Order just complete another Standing Order form with the second collection account details and hand this into your bank as before. If you do internet banking just set up another order with the 2ndcollection bank account, details of which are available from your Gift Aid Co-ordinator.
Question: How does the Parish know how much to claim back?
Answer: Your Gift Aid Co-ordinator records the donations made by individuals and sends this information to Aberdeen at the end of every Tax Year. Please note, all records are kept in the strictest confidence.
Question: Can I vary my contribution throughout the year?
Answer: Yes, just put a different amount in your envelope or change the amount of your Standing Order/s.
Question: What happens if my circumstances change and I do not pay sufficient tax?
Answer: The Gift Aid scheme is extremely flexible. If you do not pay sufficient tax just let your Gift Aid Co-ordinator know and they will modify your claim. If you no longer pay any Tax, then your donations will not qualify for Gift Aid and you can withdraw from the scheme – simply inform your Gift Aid Co-ordinator.
Question: What about couples?
Answer: A Gift Aid Declaration can only be made by an individual Parishioner since the Income/Capital Gains Tax is claimed back against his/her own tax. If both Partners pay Income/Capital Gains Tax they can both sign individual Gift Aid Declaration forms and if donating by envelope, separate envelopes should be issued. If donating by Standing Order, separate orders should be set up.
Question: What if we have a joint bank account?
Answer: The Parish will presume that the donation is from the person who has signed the Gift Aid Declaration Form.
Question: What if I pay higher rate Income Tax?
Answer: If you pay tax above the basic rate, you can claim the difference between the rate you pay and basic rate on your donation.
Do this either:
- Through your Self Assessment tax return
- By asking HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) to amend your tax code.
Question: Is there anything else I need to do?
Answer: Please let your Gift Aid Co-ordinator if you change your name or address.
Question: What can I do if I don’t pay Tax?
Answer: If you are a non-Tax Payer, the best way you can make your donation is by cash, in the collection basket.
In this way the Parish will be able to claim under the Gift Aid Small Donation Scheme (GASDS) which simply applies to cash donations – it is not valid for cheque or Standing Order payments.
( Forms coming soon
You can download the forms below and hand them back to Father Niski