The Charity Tax Group (CTG) has urged the government to use the forthcoming Autumn Statement to resolve a number of outstanding technical and practical difficulties charities currently face with the tax system. It calls for:
The Charity Tax Group (CTG) has urged the government to use the forthcoming Autumn Statement to resolve a number of outstanding technical and practical difficulties charities currently face with the tax system. It calls for:
an early review of the gift aid small donations scheme (GASDS) that would give serious consideration to relaxing the eligibility criteria;
improvements to the VAT system for charities, including the extension of VAT rebate schemes for emergency services charities and hospices;
reform of the gift aid declaration and the role of intermediaries, building on the positive work being done by HMRC’s gift aid working group;
reform of the gift aid donor benefit rules, including: improved guidance; revalorisation of the gift aid donor benefit thresholds; a review of the gift aid carry-back provisions; and the introduction of equivalent gift aid donor benefit rules for payroll giving; and
a measured approach to tackling abuse of charity tax reliefs, with HMRC encouraged to make the most of existing legislative safeguards.
CTG chairman, John Hemming, commented: ‘At a recent meeting with Priti Patel, the minister responsible for charity taxation, I welcomed her commitment to listen to the sector’s concerns and to take action to improve the tax system for charities. I urge Treasury ministers to accept the proposals made in our submission; they will save charities time, money and stress. Simple changes, such as the removal of the gift aid history requirement for the small donations scheme, could really help to increase take-up, by making access to the Scheme far easier, and should be given serious consideration. The limited VAT refunds for emergency service charities could – literally – save lives.’
The Charity Tax Group (CTG) has urged the government to use the forthcoming Autumn Statement to resolve a number of outstanding technical and practical difficulties charities currently face with the tax system. It calls for:
The Charity Tax Group (CTG) has urged the government to use the forthcoming Autumn Statement to resolve a number of outstanding technical and practical difficulties charities currently face with the tax system. It calls for:
an early review of the gift aid small donations scheme (GASDS) that would give serious consideration to relaxing the eligibility criteria;
improvements to the VAT system for charities, including the extension of VAT rebate schemes for emergency services charities and hospices;
reform of the gift aid declaration and the role of intermediaries, building on the positive work being done by HMRC’s gift aid working group;
reform of the gift aid donor benefit rules, including: improved guidance; revalorisation of the gift aid donor benefit thresholds; a review of the gift aid carry-back provisions; and the introduction of equivalent gift aid donor benefit rules for payroll giving; and
a measured approach to tackling abuse of charity tax reliefs, with HMRC encouraged to make the most of existing legislative safeguards.
CTG chairman, John Hemming, commented: ‘At a recent meeting with Priti Patel, the minister responsible for charity taxation, I welcomed her commitment to listen to the sector’s concerns and to take action to improve the tax system for charities. I urge Treasury ministers to accept the proposals made in our submission; they will save charities time, money and stress. Simple changes, such as the removal of the gift aid history requirement for the small donations scheme, could really help to increase take-up, by making access to the Scheme far easier, and should be given serious consideration. The limited VAT refunds for emergency service charities could – literally – save lives.’
