Gift Aid Terms and Conditions

What is Gift Aid?
Gift Aid is a government initiative that allows donations given to charity to be tax-effective. As soon as you give your permission, by completing our Gift Aid declaration form, we can claim the tax back on your donation. This means that for every £1 you donate to us we will receive £1.25 in total, without costing you any extra.

This scheme helps our charity and social enterprise do more with our social and environmental objectives so please support us by donating with Gift Aid.

How can I sign up?
On our website: When filling in our Donation Request Form, simply tick the box for 'Yes, I am a UK taxpayer and I would like to Gift Aid my donation' - we will take care of the rest.

By post: Download and complete a Gift Aid declaration form and send it to: SOFA Project, 48-54 West Street, Bristol BS2 0BL

In store: If donating goods, our staff will help you to complete a Gift Aid declaration in store.

How does it work?
You need to complete a Gift Aid declaration either online through our Donation Request Form, in store when you are donating goods, or by using our paper form (see above). We can then claim Gift Aid on all your donations in the last four years and on all future donations.

The declaration confirms that you're a UK taxpayer and that your charitable donations to us do not exceed the amount of tax you've paid during the tax year. If you pay less income tax and/or capital gains tax than the amount of Gift Aid claimed on all your donations in that tax year, it's your responsibility to pay any difference.

Who can contribute to Gift Aid?

You're eligible if you're a UK taxpayer and the tax you pay that year is at least equal to your donations to charity.

If you are retired, you can Gift Aid donations if you pay income tax or capital gains tax, if you've paid enough tax during the year to cover the amount we are reclaiming on your donations. If you live on your pension alone and don't pay tax, you will not be eligible.

If you pay a higher rate of tax (40% or above), you can claim the difference between the higher and basic rate on the total value of your donation. To receive the additional tax relief you must include all your Gift Aid donations in your Self-Assessment tax return and ask HMRC to adjust your tax code

What am I agreeing to by signing up?
Your Gift Aid declaration confirms that:

You wish SOFA Project to sell your donated goods on your behalf and agree to a commission of 1% for this service. Any items not sold will be appropriately recycled or disposed of and cannot be returned. At the same time, you agree to us keeping the net proceeds of the sale of the goods.

You're a UK taxpayer and you wish SOFA Project to reclaim the tax on all donations you have made in the last four years and any future donations you may make.
You're not acting as a business in selling your goods.

When your items are sold, we'll let you know how much you've raised, under the Standard Gift Aid Method A, and confirm that you're happy for us to treat the money as a Gift Aid donation. A 20% admin charge will apply if the Donor wishes a refund.

Let us know if anything changes
It's important that you let us know if you stop paying tax or if you change your name or address, so that we can update our records. If you need to notify us of any such changes, please get in touch. You can either visit us in store, or email us about these changes on info@sofaproject.org.uk