Retail Gift Aid explained
If you are a UK taxpayer, you can make even more money for Amnesty International by Gift Aiding your donations. The Gift Aid scheme allows the charity to claim an extra 25p on every £1 raised through the sale of your donated items, at no cost to yourself or the charity. All you need to do is sign up to the scheme and let us know you are a Gift Aider whenever you drop a donation off at your local shop.
How it works
By signing up to the scheme, you authorise Amnesty International UK Section to act as your agent, to sell your donated goods on your behalf and turn them into a cash gift.
Once the donated goods are sold, Amnesty International United Kingdom Section Charitable Trust (AIUK Charity) can then reclaim tax on that money raised. This means that for every £1 your items make, we receive a further 25p from the HMRC.
Our obligations to you
As your agent, and to comply with HMRC requirements, Amnesty must contact you as a member of this scheme to:
- tell you if the net* proceeds raised exceed £1000 in any tax year, to give you the opportunity to decide whether to donate the proceeds in excess of £1,000
- provide an annual end of tax year statement showing the Gift Aid claimed against your donations
* To be compliant with financial regulations, we need to apply a commission charge on the amount raised from the sale of your items, which is deducted before we write to you about what has been raised. This commission charge is 2%.
Frequently asked questions
Am I eligible for Retail Gift Aid?
We are able to claim Gift Aid on your donations if you are a UK taxpayer and have paid income and/ or capital gains tax at least equal to the amount that we claim.
How do I know if I am a UK taxpayer?
You are a UK taxpayer if one or more of the following applies:
- tax is taken from your wages or pension before you receive them
- you fill in a self-assessment tax form
- you have any taxable savings, or a pension plan, or investment income
- you have recently paid capital gains tax or expect to pay it in the near future
Where does Gift Aid money come from?
Gift Aid is a government scheme that allows registered charities to claim back tax that you have paid to the UK government. The Retail Gift Aid claimed on your donation is therefore tax that you have already paid, which the government allows us to reclaim.
What if I already Gift Aid with Amnesty?
Retail Gift Aid is different to the Gift Aid sign-up for financial donations. This is because you are authorising Amnesty International UK Section to act as your agent, to sell your donated goods on your behalf and turn them into a cash gift. Only then can the Gift Aid claim be made.
Is there a minimum donation value?
No, Retail Gift Aid can be applied to all donations, big or small.
What if my contact details change?
Please email our Supporter Care Team at sct@amnesty.org.uk or call them on 020 7033 1500 with any changes and we will update our records. This way, we can continue to claim Gift Aid on your donations.
What if I stop paying tax?
Please contact our Supporter Care Team at sct@amnesty.org.uk or call them on 020 7033 1500 to let them know and we will pause or stop claiming Gift Aid on your donations.