Last year we recovered £10,400 from the Inland Revenue as a result of gift aided contributions. This money makes a significant contribution to the general maintenance and upkeep of the church and enables us to pay for various improvements and fund various activities.
Last year we were able to build an extension to the Hall which has added a meeting room which is proving to be very useful in relieving congestion with sacramental preparation and provides a useful room for parish meetings. The cost of this was £35,500. We were able to meet this cost in full from parish funds, of which a major source is the tax recovered from your gift aided donations. So you can see how useful the gift aid scheme is to the parish.
In addition to these improvements we have been able to meet our contribution to the Diocesan Development Fund, currently at £8,000 per annum and were also able to make donations to a number of good causes such as:
The Gift Aid scheme is painless. All you need to do is complete a simple declaration with your name, address and postcode. There is no need to make a commitment to a pre-declared amount. Any payments made during the tax year can be included.
We need to be able to show proof of payment to the Inland Revenue in order to recover the tax you have already paid on your income. Cash contributions need to be made in numbered envelopes, or alternatively contributions can be by cheque or by standing order.
Remember – you don’t have to be working to pay tax. Tax is levied on pension and investment income. All that is required is that you to pay sufficient tax to cover any amount we recover. Additionally, if you use the numbered envelopes for second collections that go to the diocese, (this includes Christmas and Easter offerings), then we can collect the tax on these contributions as well. This also applies if you give by standing order or pay by a single annual cheque.
We would especially welcome any new parishioners to the scheme. A box of numbered envelopes will then be issued so that all donations can be recorded and the tax you have already paid can then be added to your offering without any extra cost to yourselves.
I would ask all gift aiders to try to remember to use their envelopes each week and for second collections. In this way you will enable the parish to recover the tax on every penny you contribute. Every little helps!
David Smith
Gift-aid organiser