Charities news and updates

Welcome to the Charities news and updates page where we keep you updated on current issues affecting charities and Community Amateur Sports Clubs.

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8 May 2013

Charities Online (PDF 166K)
HM Revenue & Customs has published an updated PDF version of the Charities Online web content following the launch of the new service on 22 April 2013.

22 April 2013

New Charities Online service launched
From today, charities and Community Amateur Sports Clubs can sign up to and make repayment claims online. The new guidance includes a demonstration of the new service and explains how to sign up and make a claim.

3 April 2013

Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme (GASDS)
HM Revenue & Customs has published guidance for charities and CASCs on the new GASDS. Eligible charities and CASCs can claim payments from HMRC on small cash donations of £20 or less that they receive from 6 April 2013.

15 March 2013

Tax agents and advisers: Charities for Agents Online
Read about using the new charities online service which will be launched on 22 April. This service will allow authorised agents to make Gift Aid or other tax repayment claims on behalf of charities and Community Amateur Sports Clubs.

Charities Online: using Gift Aid scheduled spreadsheets to make repayment claims
Guides on how to get, use and save the schedule spreadsheets you need to make repayment claims using the Charities Online Service are published today. The service will be available from 22 April 2013.

4 March 2013

Amendments to the Community Amateur Sports Clubs qualifying rules
The Government has announced it intends to amend the law to make the Community Amateur Sports Clubs qualifying conditions clearer for sports clubs. A HM Revenue & Customs consultation document will be published in the spring.

11 February 2013

Charities Online: making your Gift Aid repayments quicker and easier
HM Revenue & Customs has published more information about how charities and Community Amateur Sports Clubs will be able to make repayment claims electronically from April 2013. Find out how this will affect your charity.

25 January 2013

Consultation on Payroll Giving (Opens new window)
HM Treasury, the Cabinet Office and HM Revenue & Customs have published a consultation paper on improving Payroll Giving for comments by 19 April 2013.

17 January 2013

Charities Online: making your Gift Aid repayments quicker and easier
In April 2013 HM Revenue & Customs launches a way to claim Gift Aid and Small Donations Scheme payments online. Find out how this will affect your charity.

20 December 2012

Gift Aid Small donations Scheme becomes law
Gift Aid Small Donations scheme receives Royal Assent and becomes law.

30 November 2012

Get ready for Charities Online
In April 2013 HMRC launches a way to claim Gift Aid and Small Donations Scheme payments online. Find out what you need to do now.

28 November 2012

Impact Assessment for the Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme
The Small Charitable Donations Bill and Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme Third Reading.

27 November 2012

New 'screenshot' guides for charities forms now available
HM Revenue & Customs has developed simple guidance to help complete some of the most popular charity forms.

13 September 2012

The Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme: The Small Charitable Donations Bill - draft legislation
HM Revenue & Customs has published draft regulations for comments by 5 December 2012.

21 June 2012

The Small Charitable Donations Bill and Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme
Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme: Summary of responses to consultation June 2012.

1 June 2012

Use the correct Gift Aid repayment form - act now
How HMRC will respond to charities and Community Amateur Sports Clubs who have completed old style form R68(i).

18 May 2012

Using the correct Gift Aid repayment form
Reminder to charities and Community Amateur Sports Clubs to use form R68(i) to claim tax repayments on Gift Aid donations.

4 May 2012

The Gift Aid Small Donation Scheme: second public meeting
HM Revenue & Customs is organising a second meeting to discuss the Gift Aid Small Donation Scheme consultation document published on 27 March 2012.

16 April 2012

The Gift Aid Small Donation Scheme: Public meetings
HM Revenue & Customs is organising a meeting to discuss the Gift Aid Small Donation Scheme consultation document published on 27 March 2012.

27 March 2012

The Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme
HMRC has issued a consultation document on proposals for the Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme. The consultation runs from 27 March 2012 to 25 May 2012.

14 March 2012

New guidance on Gift Aid declarations: What charities need to do
Further information on the updated guidance on Gift Aid declarations and how charities should aim to use the new wording in declarations by 31 December 2012

New definition of a charity applies to all UK charity tax reliefs from April 2012
All charities that don't claim Gift Aid but claim other UK charity tax reliefs and exemptions administered by HMRC are affected by the definition. Charities should read the Fit and Proper Persons guidance if they haven't already done so.

24 February 2012

Updated guidance on Gift Aid and new declarations
HMRC Charities has updated Gift Aid declarations, guidance and provided new model declarations. There's also a new checklist of the minimum information to be included in a declaration if a charity decides to create and use its own declaration form.

22 February 2012

SA Donate will close in April 2012
From April 2012 Self Assessment taxpayers will no longer be able to donate any Self Assessment tax refund directly from their Self Assessment tax return to a charity of their choice.

25 November 2011

Draft legislation for The Finance Act 2010, Schedule 6, Part 1 (Further Consequential and Incidental Provision etc) Order 2012 and Explanatory Memorandum
Draft legislation is now published and external comments are invited.

Draft legislation for The Finance Act 2010, Schedule 6, Part 2 (Commencement Order) 2012
Draft legislation is now published and external comments are invited.

18 August 2011

School Charities – Gift Aid & Payroll Giving Guide
HM Revenue & Customs publish a Gift Aid and Payroll Giving guide for School Charities. This guide contains information and simple examples specifically related to funds received by school charities to help make the most of these donations.

12 August 2011

Gift Aid repayments will be made by BACS
HM Revenue & Customs will continue with the plans that were previously announced to make all Gift Aid repayments by BACS rather than by payable order.

3 August 2011

Charitable payments to overseas bodies
The detailed guidance on 'Payments to overseas bodies' found in the charities detailed guidance notes, has been updated.

29 June 2011

Gifts of pre-eminent objects and works of art to the nation (Opens new window)
HM Treasury announces a joint consultation to seek views on the policy detail and implementation of a scheme to encourage lifetime giving of pre-eminent objects and works of art to the nation. 

13 June 2011

A new incentive for charitable legacies
HM Revenue & Customs announces consultation on the policy detail and implementation of a lower rate of Inheritance Tax where people leave a charitable legacy of 10 per cent or more of their estate when they die.

31 May 2011

Revised guidance on Audits by HMRC Charities
The detailed guidance on Audits by HMRC Charities, in particular the section headed 'Putting Things Right', has been revised in response to feedback from customers.

13 April 2011

Gift Aid repayments
By 2012 HMRC will phase out repayments of Gift Aid by payable order. Charities and Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASCs) therefore need to provide their bank details on form ChV1 so that repayments are made electronically using the Bacs system.

7 April 2011

Improving HMRC guidance - next steps
An update on the key activities HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) will be taking forward in the next few months to improve its interaction with Charities.

30 March 2011

New Gift Aid forms
These replace the current forms on your 2009 Gift Aid Toolkit CD and the internet, including the repayment form R68. You can download the new forms from our website and complete them on your computer.

7 February 2011

Revised Fit and Proper Persons test guidance
The guidance on the fit and proper persons test for charity managers, including the basic guide for charity managers, has been revised in response to feedback from customers.

20 January 2011

Authorisation of agents for Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASCs)
CASCs can appoint tax advisers to deal with HMRC regarding their tax affairs. To authorise HMRC to deal with your agent complete and return form 64-8 to HMRC Charities by email or post.

Authorisation of agents for charities
Charities can appoint tax advisers to deal with HMRC regarding their tax affairs, including claims for repayment on Gift Aid donations. To authorise HMRC to deal with your agent complete and return form 64-8 to HMRC Charities by email/post.

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