Charities get online Gift Aid service

Claiming gift aid repayments will be quicker and easier for charities from April, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) said today.

The department is writing to 110,000 charities and Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASCs) informing them that, from 22 April, they can enroll to make repayment claims online, through the HMRC website.

The new service, called Charities Online, is being introduced in response to feedback from charities.

They will be able to get information on how to use the system from the HMRC website: www.hmrc.gov.uk/charitiesonline.

Sajid Javid, economic secretary to the Treasury, said: “The charity sector, and the invaluable services it provides to millions of people across the country, is as important as it has ever been.

“Charities Online is a significant step towards reducing the administrative burdens that can be a weight on charities.

“Claims will be processed more quickly, as well as saving on postal costs and delays. The service will be more accurate, with built-in checks.”

Separately, the Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme (GASDS) is also being introduced in April.

This will allow charities and CASCs to claim top-up payments on cash donations of £20 or less without the need to collect Gift Aid declarations.

Charities will generally be able to claim payments on small donations of up to £5,000 each year.