Recording gift aid on donations to a charity shop

Gers

I'm new to SA so engaged an accountant to do the one which was due by 31 January. Now I am looking ahead to the next one.

I know how much and to whom I send gift aid monies each month. However, how do I record the donation of unwanted household goods to charity shops, all of which I am registered with for gift aid?

I believe that in the past I sometimes received a letter telling me how much was raised and if I wanted to claim this for myself (have I imagined this?) but not recently.

jim1999

Yes, you need the letter explaining how much the items sold for.

Donating items in itself doesn't qualify for gift aid, it's the sale transaction that matters.

You might need to speak to the shop staff or head office to see why you haven't been receiving the letters.

subjecttocontract

Most gift aid donations that we make generate a piece of paper recording the fact. When my wife donates clothing some charities send a letter detailing what they sold for and the gift aid a few months later and some dont. We just keep our own records of financial contributions and only include clothing donations if we receive a letter back.

sheramber

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6654676/recording-gift-aid-on-donations-to-a-charity-shop

Maybe the items haven’t sold or their admin is not up to date.

My husband died 6 years ago but last year a letter addressed to him arrived from a local charity shop advising how much had been raised from selling items he had donated.

Purple_Jumper

According to British Red Cross they send an annual statement each year if sales are over £20 or every 3 years (whichever comes first), Age UK seem to send a letter more frequently from my experience

Slinky

We had a letter from British Heart Foundation, probably 6 months after tax year end. OH had already completed his tax return, he just went in and amended the return which made a minor change to his liability.

Gers

Thanks for all the replies - seems that charities haven't got one particular way of doing things. And perhaps the small amount won't make that much difference to my tax liability!

I will probably stop stressing this small thing.

born_again

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81878349#Comment_81878349

Admin costs in many cases will excede what they would make.

subjecttocontract

Make sure you cancel the gift aid if you ever become a non tax payer. We know someone who became a none tax payer, didn't cancel and HMRC sent him the bill for the gift aid. Ouch

Gers

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81878699#Comment_81878699

Unfortunately even my OAP status doesn't exempt me from paying tax. 😯