Make your donation go further—at no extra cost to you!


What’s Gift Aid?

Gift Aid is a simple way to boost your donation. If you’re a UK taxpayer, we can claim an extra 25p from the government for every £1 you give. So, a £10 donation becomes £12.50—without you paying a penny more. 

Usually Gift Aid can be added to donations you’ve made in the last four years. However, as the Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth was restructured as a charitable incorporated organisation on 1 January 2023, your Gift Aid can only be backdated to that date.  

You can Gift Aid donations to as many charities as you like, if you’ve paid enough tax to cover it.   

Want to sign up?


Does Gift Aid cost me anything? 

No! It’s completely free. The extra money comes from tax you’ve already paid. If your tax situation changes and you’re no longer paying enough, just let us (and any other charities you support) know. 


Am I eligible? 

If you pay Income Tax or Capital Gains Tax in the UK—and it covers the amount we’ll claim back—you’re good to go.
Just a heads-up: VAT and Council Tax don’t count. And if you stop paying tax, please let us know so we can update our records.


I’m a pensioner—can I still Gift Aid? 

You might be able to! If you pay tax on a pension, savings interest, or capital gains (like selling property or shares), you could still qualify. 
Tip: Check your P60 – it’ll show if you’ve paid any tax.


Do I need to fill in a form every time I donate? 

No! One form covers all your donations to the Diocese (including your parish) for the past four years—and any future ones too. 


Are there any donations that don’t qualify? 

Yes, a few. We can’t claim Gift Aid on: 
Raffle tickets or competition entries 
Event tickets (like concerts or sports)
Donations made on behalf of someone else or a group 
Company donations 
Donations from non-UK taxpayers 


          Why do you need my address? 

          HMRC needs us to keep your full name and home address on file to validate your Gift Aid. If anything changes—like your name or address—just let the office know


          I’m no longer a UK taxpayer. What should I do? 

          Just let us know in the office! We’ll update your records and stop claiming Gift Aid on your donations. 


          How long does my declaration last? 

          It covers donations from the past four years and continues until you tell us otherwise. So if anything changes, just give us a heads-up. 


          I donate to other charities too—can I Gift Aid with them? 

          Absolutely! Just sign a Gift Aid form for each charity. As long as you’ve paid enough tax to cover all the claims combined, you’re good. If not, you’ll need to repay the difference to HMRC. 

           
          What if I’m a higher-rate taxpayer? 

          Good news! You can claim back the difference between the basic rate and your higher rate on your donations. You can do this through your Self-Assessment tax return or by asking HMRC to adjust your tax code.