Gift Aid
What is Gift Aid?
The Inland Revenue introduced Gift Aid on 6 April 2000 and it enables charities to claim back the basic tax paid on our supporters donations, as long as they are a UK taxpayer. It is an excellent way for us to claim an extra 25% on your donations - without costing you a penny. This means that for every £10 you donate the RNLI gets an extra £2.50!
Higher rate taxpayers
There is an extra benefit for our higher rate taxpayers as you are able to reclaim relief on the amount you have donated. We, as a charity, can claim the basic rate tax on the value of your gift, and you can reclaim the difference between higher and basic rate tax.
For example, if you give £100 to RNLI, we can reclaim Gift Aid of £25 making your total gross donation worth £125. Being a higher taxpayer, you can reclaim on the gross donation another 20% (difference between the two tax bands), which is £25. This means your £125 gift to the RNLI would have cost you £75.
All you need to do is provide the details of your gift aid donations on your tax return or self-assessment form. What's even better, there are no limits so you gift to us can be as small or large as you wish. If you prefer, instead of claiming back the 20% difference for yourself, you can donate it to us. Simply select RNLI as your chosen charity if you are doing it online, otherwise please quote HAB 3999 on your tax form.
Did you know?
The RNLI received Gift Aid income from HM Revenue & Customs totalling £4.1 million in 2007 - we need your support to make this figure higher!
How can I Gift Aid?
All we need is a single Gift Aid declaration, which will not only cover your future donations, but also on past donations you have made for the six years prior, (but no earlier than 6 April 2000). There are several ways for you to make your declaration. You can either:
- complete it through our online donation form
- call our Supporter Care team on 0845 121 4999
- download the RNLI Gift Aid declaration form, complete it and
send it to:
Royal National Lifeboat Institution,
West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1HZ
Please remember to inform us if you have changed your name and address; 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.