Gift Aid

At Crest, we’re committed to helping our local community. And the UK government is right behind us.

Gift Aid is a government scheme which allows UK based charities to claim an additional 25% on your donations.

So whatever items you donate to Crest, when they are sold in any of our community stores, the government will contribute an additional 25% on your behalf. Turning every £1.00 into £1.25, every twenty pounds into twenty-five, and every hundred into £125.00.

But the real difference is that with that extra 25%, we can help five people in the local community, rather than four. And the best news of all for you, is that it doesn’t cost you a single penny.

If you are a UK taxpayer, signing up for Gift Aid is quick and easy. We’ll give you a very simple form to fill in and sign – and that’s it, you’re all done.

It really does only take a minute or two.

From then on, every item you donate will be identified and tracked by a unique barcode, allowing us to claim the extra 25% when each item is sold. You never have to fill in any more paperwork.

So the next time you donate any unwanted items to Crest, sign up for Gift Aid and together we’ll be able to help more and more people in our local community.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Gift Aid?

Gift Aid is a government scheme that allows charities to reclaim the tax that you have already paid on your donations through UK Income Tax or Capital Gains Tax.

All donations (excluding any made through the Charities Aid Foundation, which are already subject to tax relief) are eligible for the scheme, including Standing Orders and Direct Debits.

Crest can claim Gift Aid on donations made in the last four years and on future donations once we receive your declaration.

What about Retail Gift Aid?

At Crest, every penny we make goes back into helping our local community through providing jobs, volunteering opportunities, work placements for adults with learning difficulties and much more. By allowing us to claim Gift Aid on the proceeds raised from the sale of your donations you will be helping us generate additional income at no extra cost to you.

For example, one bag of donated items could raise as much as £20, so with Gift Aid, this bag would now be worth £25.

To sign up for Retail Gift Aid, or if you have any queries please speak to a member of our Reception team on 01492 596783, email us [email protected] or visit your local Crest Community Store.

How do I know if I am a UK taxpayer?

You are a UK taxpayer if:

• Tax is taken from your wages or pension before you receive them.
• You have to fill in a self-assessment form.
• You have any taxable savings (example, in a building society), a pension plan or investment income, or if you have recently paid any Capital Gains Tax or expect to pay it in the near future. This may be on the sale of a property or some shares, for example.
• By signing up to Gift Aid, you are confirming that you are an eligible taxpayer who has paid sufficient tax (and that if you haven’t paid enough tax, you will be expected to pay the difference).

What if I’m a pensioner?

You may still pay tax on a private pension plan or a savings account, or pay Capital Gains Tax if you sell property or shares. You are still eligible if you have paid enough tax during the year to cover your donations (25% of the value of your gifts).

I am not a taxpayer but my partner is and the donations are made by us jointly. Are our gifts still eligible?

If the donations are made jointly and your partner is a taxpayer then they can be registered exclusively in their name. Please contact us on 01492 596783 and we will be able to arrange this for you.

What if I have agreed to Gift Aid to another charity?

No problem! You can support as many UK charities as you like through Gift Aid. You just need to return a declaration to each charity that you support and ensure that you’re paying enough tax during the year to cover your total annual donations.

Do I have to make a declaration with every gift?

No, you only need to do it once and covers donations you have already made to Crest in the last four years and donations you make in the future, until you let us know otherwise.

Can you claim Gift Aid on all types of donation?

Yes! All individual donations are eligible for Gift Aid. However, donations and collections from a group (e.g. office, department, local church or community group) are not eligible for Gift Aid – unless an individual sends us a collection form enclosing a list of each member’s name, address and full postcode, plus a clear indication that Crest can claim Gift Aid against their donations.

How would Gift Aid affect my tax?

Signing up to Gift Aid doesn’t affect the tax you pay. Crest makes the claim to HMRC on the tax you have already paid on your donations

Are there any hidden charges?

No, there are no hidden charges. Gift Aid is taken from tax you have already paid, so there is no charge to you, neither does it affect your tax status. 

Can I stop giving and cancel my Gift Aid registration?

Absolutely. Completing a Gift Aid declaration doesn’t put you under any obligation to give again, it simply ensures that Crest can Gift Aid on the donations that you have already made and any you may give in the future, so that your gifts go further at no extra cost to you.

Sounds great! How do I sign up for Gift Aid through Crest?

Please call 01492 596783 and speak to our staff, or simply pop in to any of our Community Stores. It only takes a few minutes of your time.