Gift Aid Policy

1. What is Gift Aid?

Gift Aid allows UK registered charities to reclaim the basic rate of tax on donations from UK taxpayers. For every £1 you donate, Hands of Mercy can claim an additional 25p from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) at no extra cost to you, enabling us to reach even more children, widows, and families in crisis.

2. Eligibility

You can make a Gift Aid declaration if:

• You are a UK taxpayer paying Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax.
• The tax you pay in each tax year is at least equal to the amount Hands of Mercy and other charities reclaim on your donations.
• The donation is your own money and not on behalf of someone else or a company.
• You provide your full name and home address so we can submit a valid claim to HMRC.

Council Tax, VAT, and other taxes such as National Insurance do not qualify.

3. Making a declaration

You can complete a Gift Aid declaration when you donate online, set up a Direct Debit, or by requesting a paper form. A single declaration covers the donation you make today, any donations in the previous four tax years, and future gifts unless you tell us otherwise.

4. Changing or cancelling your declaration

Please contact us if:

• Your tax status changes and you no longer pay enough tax to cover the Gift Aid we claim.
• You change your name or home address.
• You wish to cancel your declaration.

Email: [email protected]  |  Phone: +44 (0)20 7123 4567

5. Higher-rate taxpayers

If you pay Income Tax at the higher or additional rate, you can claim the difference between your tax rate and the basic rate on the gross value of your donation. This can be done through your Self Assessment tax return or by asking HMRC to adjust your tax code. For example, a £100 donation becomes £125 for Hands of Mercy through Gift Aid, and you can claim up to £31.25 back depending on your tax band.

6. Corporate donations

Gift Aid only applies to individual donations. Companies and charitable trusts can claim tax relief through their corporation or income tax returns. We are happy to issue receipts to support your records.

7. Record keeping

We retain Gift Aid declarations for a minimum of seven years in line with HMRC guidance. Records are stored securely and only accessed by authorised personnel for auditing or claim purposes.

8. When Gift Aid cannot be claimed

We cannot claim Gift Aid on donations that:

• Are made by a company, trust, or using CAF vouchers or other charity cheques.
• Are made in return for goods, services, or the purchase of event tickets.
• Are from collections where we cannot identify the individual donor.
• Come from community fundraising where the donor receives a material benefit exceeding HMRC limits.

9. Need more information?

Visit www.gov.uk/donating-to-charity or contact our Supporter Care team for assistance.

10. Contact us

Gift Aid Team, Hands of Mercy
Unit 12, Jubilee House, 45 Riverbank Way, London SE1 7QL, United Kingdom
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7123 4567