Is Gift Aid tracked and added to my tax relief?

[agathacrisps]

I donate to a number of charities, often through Just Giving etc, and always add Gift Aid. I’m a higher tax payer and also get taxed on my savings. Do my Gift Aid contributions get taken into account automatically for tax or would I have to complete a self assessment etc?

Anyone know?

I think you have to complete a self assessment.

Frim memory if you have your own limited company you need to put them on a self assessment.my accountant used to ask me what gift aid donations I'd made over the year.

You need to complete a tax return if you want to claim higher rate gift aid relief.

Limited companies are irrelevant to your question.

You need to keep track of it yourself and add it to your self assessment

I’ve never done a self assessment but might need to as probably all adds up

Iirc SA asks about gift aid donations and subscriptions

If you are hr tax payer you probably should, even if paye.

You really should!

HMRC do also keep track. I got caught out in 2020 when I forgot to add a number of large charity donations to my SA. I'd made them in April following an end of year bonus and was almost immediately made redundant due to covid, so I didn't earn enough to cover the tax. The SA that year was really complicated due to the self employment grant, and I forgot to include the donations. I got a letter from HMRC with the gift aid amounts set out and had to pay back the amount that they had already given to the charities.

I'm a higher rate taxpayer and adjust for charitable donations each year - you don't have to do a self assessment to get the adjustment but you do need to inform HMRC of the amount so they can adjust for it. Make sure you keep evidence of the amount every year so you are ready in case they ask for it. Easiest way to inform is by ringing them up or you can contact them by letter

@agathacrisps you may not have to do a self assessment but you can use your tax account to update your tax record.

Starting point is to go into your online HMRC account and find your 2024/2025 tax assessment. Check it including gift aid. If the rates are wrong there is a facility to change them from a date I.e. current tax year, last tax year etc. update your record and it’s then changed for this tax year.

Its hard to explain on here as its easier with your account open in front of you.

Thank you, that’s really helpful