The Institute of Fundraising is urging members to sign an online petition to the Prime Minister in support of its current lobbying work around higher rate taxpayers and Gift Aid. Members are requested to sign the petition on the 10 Downing Street website by the end of November 2009.
Members are also encouraged to adapt and send a letter to their MPs, to bring about the changes to Gift Aid for higher rate tax payers the Institute is currently campaigning for. They have also been requested to show in clear terms the impact the additional money brought in by reforming the system could have on their constituencies.
The Institute is lobbying Government to introduce modifications to the existing system which would allow higher rate taxpayers to donate the full amount of tax relief which they are eligible to reclaim back to charities. The Institute’s proposals would simplify the existing scheme, thereby enabling smaller charities to benefit more easily. Such a step would underpin confidence and support for Gift Aid and is likely to increase the take up by charities.
Under the current system, higher rate tax relief can only be reclaimed by the minority of donors who complete a self-assessment form, which means in practice that very few people claim back higher rate tax relief on anything but the largest donations.
Louise Richards, Director of Policy and Campaigns at the Institute, comments:
'As preparations get underway for the political party conferences, the Institute is stepping up its campaigning activities and is asking all its members to make a stand about Gift Aid.
'Now is the time to make Government listen and demand that changes to Gift Aid for higher rate tax payers to benefit fundraising organisations are brought to light in the pre-budget report this autumn in preparation for Budget 2010.'
The Institute is also continuing to work with other sector organisations including the National Council of Voluntary Organisations, Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations, Charity Finance Directors Group, Charity Tax Group and Charities Aid Foundation, to press for the further simplification of Gift Aid through the introduction of an ‘opt out’ rather than an ‘opt in’ system.
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For further information please contact:
Diana Mackie Tel. 020 7840 1027 / 07793 802 852
Institute of Fundraising
