Charities Search
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About the charities search
This search provides details of all UK charities and similar bodies registered with the Inland Revenue to accept the donation of a tax repayment via the Self-Assessment tax return.
Every organisation registered to receive your donation in this way has a unique reference code for this purpose.
If you do not know the unique reference code given to an organisation registered for this scheme then the charities search will help you to find the code.
The code is an essential requirement for processing your request to donate part or all of your tax repayment to charity and must be entered onto your tax return form.
Tips on how to use the search
The charities’ search contains the details of all participating organisations. This can be searched using all or part of any name that the charity or exempt body has notified to the Inland Revenue. The following tips will help you find your chosen charity or exempt body quickly.
- Be specific
If you are searching for a particular charity or exempt body, enter as much of its name into the search box as you can remember. This will help to limit the results of the search.
- Avoid common words
Avoid searching using only common words such as ‘church’ as this will result in a very large number of results being returned. Try to be more specific.
- Avoid using punctuation
You should avoid using full stops, commas or quotation marks in the search as these have been removed from names on the list. Apostrophes and hyphens will be recognised.
- Avoid gaps between initials
Where a name contains initials for example ‘A J charitable trust’ avoid gaps between the initials. This will help the search to identify the correct charity or exempt body without returning a large number of results.
- Specific guidance on churches
There are some specific changes that we have made to make the search easier to use. Parochial or parish church councils have been abbreviated to ‘PCC’, likewise district church councils are abbreviated to ‘DCC’. All church names have had the location added to make it easier to differentiate between churches. For example Holy Trinity Church Bedford.
Frequently asked questions
- What if I do not know what charity to give to?
- I cannot find the result I want
- My chosen charity or exempt body is not on the list
- I need more help. Whom should I contact?
- How do I know my payment will not go to the wrong charity?
Q. What if I do not know what charity to give to?
A The charities search is not designed to help you choose a suitable charity to donate to.
If you wish to find out more information about specific charities registered
with the charity commission their website www.charity-commission.gov.uk
may help.
Q. I cannot find the result I want
A If you cannot find the organisation you are looking for then there are a number of things that you can do.
1) Try searching on alternative names – many charities are known by
more than one name
2) Try searching on part of the name
Of course it may be that your charity is not on the search list because it
has not registered with the Inland Revenue.
Q. My chosen charity or exempt body is not on the search list
A If your chosen charity is not on the search list it may not have registered for the scheme. The list will be updated quarterly during the year. We advise you not to delay submitting your tax return as this could result in you having to calculate your own tax liability or being charged a penalty for late submission.
You may decide to contact your charity to encourage them to register for
the scheme. Alternatively you might wish to receive your tax repayment and
make a gift to the charity directly.
Q. I need more help. Whom should I contact?
A If you are having trouble using the search, or need assistance you can ring our Self-Assessment Helpline on 08459 000 444 or contact your local Inland Revenue office.
Q. How do I know my payment will not go to the wrong charity?
A The unique reference code contains certain checks to ensure that typing errors do not result in your repayment going to the wrong charity. Where a code has been entered incorrectly, the repayment will be made directly to you.
