FAQs - Gift Aid Donations
How can I give to the Festival?
The best method of making a donation is by completing a regular payment promise for the term of the Festival, and a Gift Aid declaration which, if you are a UK taxpayer, will currently enhance your donation by at least 25%. These donations will receive an attractive rate of interest through the Relief Chest Scheme which will be credited in the name of the donor and of the Lodge or Chapter which the donor has nominated. Personal donations can also be Gift Aided, assuming the donor is a UK tax payer. ONLY UK TAX PAYERS CAN TICK THE BOX FOR GIFT AID RECLAIM. Assistance to obtain and complete forms for all donation methods can be obtained from your Lodge/Chapter Festival Representative.
I have seen Gift Aid envelopes used in Lodges, how do we use them?
By completing a Gift Aid envelope when undertaking a charity collection, a UK tax paying donor’s contribution is currently enhanced by 25%, which will also reflect in the Lodge’s overall total.
ONLY UK TAX PAYERS CAN TICK THE BOX FOR GIFT AID RECLAIM
Can we use the Gift Aid Envelopes as raffle tickets and then the money collected be credited to the individual donor?
They should NOT be used as raffle tickets. This would breach Inland Revenue Gift Aid rules.
On the "envelope/donor verification schedule", it clearly states that my cheques which represents the sum of the cash that was in the envelopes should be made payable to "The Grand Charity". Everywhere else, the information says cheques should be made payable to "EL 2015 Festival." Can you confirm that the correct instruction is the one for EL 2015 Festival please?
ALL CHEQUES irrespective of what is on the documentation from the Grand Charity are payable to EL 2015 Festival
Does tax reclaim from Gift aid Envelopes go into Brethrens’ personal total?
Yes it does - provided that the donor is a UK Tax Payer.
Can Lodges and Chapters make payments via Regular Payments and by Gift Aid?
Only individuals can 'pledge' money to the Festival via a regular payment promise or any other form of Gift Aid. Lodges, Chapters or other organisations [ladies committees etc] can only make payments referred to as a 'Miscellaneous Payment' which is a one off payment as and when they wish to make a donation. Your Festival Representative holds the relevant forms.
Is it OK for casual donations to be made in Gift Aid envelopes even if the donor isn't a tax payer or isn't Gift Aiding their donation?
Yes - that's fine, they just don't tick the Gift Aid box on the envelope. Lodge and Chapter Festival Representatives can obtain more Gift Aid envelopes from the Festival Office or through their District Festival Representatives.
As the majority of the information on the Gift Aid Verification Schedule is duplicated on the self-carbonating remittance slip, is it really necessary to complete the verification schedule?
Yes it is really necessary to complete both forms as the schedule is sent to the Grand Charity along with the enclosures of the Gift Aid envelopes and the remittance slip is retained in the Festival Office. Verification Schedules will be supplied with Gift Aid envelopes when the latter are requested.
I am a higher rate tax payer. Can I claim additional tax relief?
Higher rate tax payers can claim tax relief equal to the difference between the higher rate and basic rate of tax on all donations made. You also have the option of donating your tax rebate to the Charity as well, by simply completing the appropriate Gift Aid box on your Self Assessment Tax Return. You must include the Freemasons' Grand Charity HM Revenue and Customs Reference Number which is PAK03BG.