Gift Aid FAQs

FAQs

• What is Gift Aid?

  Gift Aid is a government scheme which means we can claim an extra 25p for every £1 you give. Gift Aid on donations can raise millions every year. And it doesn’t cost you any extra.

  To donate through Gift Aid, all you have to do is:

  1. Check if you’re eligible
  2. Sign up – you’ll only need to do this once
  3. Let us know if your circumstances change

• Am I eligible for Gift Aid?

  You’re eligible for Gift Aid if both of the following are true:

  • You’re a UK taxpayer
  • Your total donations are not more than 4 times what you’ve paid in tax, that tax year (6 April to 5 April), including income or capital gains tax

  For example, you’ve donated £10. You’ll need to have paid at least £2.50 in tax during the current tax year to qualify for Gift Aid.

  This includes your donations to us and any other charities you support.

• What if I haven’t paid enough tax?

  If you haven’t paid enough tax to cover Gift Aid on your donations, HMRC will ask you to pay this back.

  So if you stop paying enough tax to qualify for Gift Aid, let us know as soon as possible, by emailing hello@breastcancernow.org or phoning 0333 20 70 300.

  If you haven’t signed up for Gift Aid, this doesn’t apply.

• I’m eligible for Gift Aid. How do I sign up?

  There are 4 ways you can sign up for Gift Aid:

  1. Tick the Gift Aid box on the donation form when you make a donation
  2. Fill in the Gift Aid declaration on our website
  3. Print and fill in a paper Gift Aid declaration and post it to the Freepost address on the form. If you prefer, scan or photograph the completed form and email it to hello@breastcancernow.org
  4. Sign up over the phone by calling 0333 20 70 300 between Monday and Thursday, 9am to 5pm and Friday, 9am to 4pm

• I’ve signed up for Gift Aid. What else do I need to do?

  Thank you! You only need to sign up for Gift Aid once. We’ll be able to claim Gift Aid on donations you’ve made in the past 4 years, as well as any future donations.

  If your contact details or circumstances change, you’ll need to let us know by emailing hello@breastcancernow.org or phoning 0333 20 70 300.

• What if my contact details or circumstances change?

  Once you’ve signed up for Gift Aid, it’s your responsibility to let us know if there’s a change in:

  • Your contact details, such as your name or address
  • Your circumstances, for example if you no longer pay enough tax to qualify for Gift Aid

  Contact our supporter care team by emailing hello@breastcancernow.org or by phoning 0333 20 70 300.

• I’m a higher rate taxpayer. What else do I need to do?

  We claim Gift Aid at the basic rate of tax. If you pay tax at a higher rate, you can claim back the difference between the tax you’ve paid and what we claim. You can do this:

  • Through your Self-Assessment tax return
  • By asking HMRC to adjust your tax code

  Get more information on the HMRC website or ask your accountant.

• How do I cancel Gift Aid?

  You can cancel Gift Aid by emailing hello@breastcancernow.org, phoning 0333 20 70 300 or writing to Supporter care team, Breast Cancer Now, 5th Floor Ibex House, 42 - 47 Minories, London, EC3N 1DY.

• How do I cancel Gift Aid for someone I have power of attorney for?

  You can cancel Gift Aid by emailing hello@breastcancernow.org, phoning 0333 20 70 300 or writing to Supporter care team, Breast Cancer Now, 5th Floor Ibex House, 42 - 47 Minories, London, EC3N 1DY.

• Are all my donations eligible for Gift Aid?

  Some donations aren’t eligible for Gift Aid.

  Gift Aid doesn’t apply if:

  • You're passing on someone else’s money, for example if they’ve donated to your fundraiser (the other person can claim Gift Aid – please see the question below!)
  • You’re passing on money from a company
  • You’re paying for something, like a raffle ticket or entry to an event
  • You're buying something for a fixed price, like an item at a charity car boot sale
  • You're donating with payroll giving or through a third party that has already claimed Gift Aid, like the Charities Aid Foundation

• Are donations I’ve collected from other people eligible for Gift Aid?

  We can claim Gift Aid on donations you’ve collected from other people. But we can’t use your personal Gift Aid declaration for this.

  Instead, everyone who donates will need to sign up individually for Gift Aid.

  If you’re raising money through JustGiving, the Gift Aid process is automatic. You don’t need to do anything.  

  If you’re using a sponsorship form, ask donors to tick the Gift Aid box when they fill it in.

  If you need a sponsorship form, email hello@breastcancernow.org or call 0333 20 70 300.