Gift Aid is the simplest way to grow your donation. The Diocese reclaims from HMRC the basic-rate tax you have already paid on the amount you give. £100 with Gift Aid becomes £125, and you do nothing extra.

Who can use Gift Aid

You can use Gift Aid if you pay UK Income Tax or Capital Gains Tax, and the amount you have paid in the tax year is at least equal to the amount the charity will reclaim on all your charitable donations that year. If you do not pay enough UK tax, do not sign a declaration, because HMRC may ask you to pay the difference.

What counts

• Cash donations to the Diocese, parishes or named diocesan funds.
• Standing Order or cheque donations.
• Online donations via MyDona, where you can tick the Gift Aid box at the time.
• Donations made under the Parish Gift Aid scheme using envelopes.

What does not count

• Cash put in the loose collection at Mass that is not in a Gift Aid envelope.
• Payments for goods or services, like Mass stipends, repository purchases, or tickets to events where you receive a benefit.
• Donations from a company. Companies have their own Corporation Tax relief route.

How to sign up

You only need to sign one declaration. It can cover this donation, all donations from now on, and donations made in the previous four years. Once you have signed, the Diocese can claim Gift Aid on every eligible gift you make.

To set up a declaration, either tick the Gift Aid box when you donate online, or email the Planned Giving Office for a paper form: pg@dioceseofshrewsbury.org.

If your circumstances change

Tell the Diocese if you stop paying enough UK tax, change your name or home address, or want to cancel the declaration. You can do all of this with a quick email.

Higher-rate taxpayers

If you pay tax above the basic rate, you can claim back the difference between the rate you pay and the basic rate on your donations. This is done through your Self Assessment return. The Diocese still receives the full Gift Aid claim either way.