Tax back on donations to charity
Gift Aid adds 25p to every £1 you give. If you pay tax above the basic rate, you can claim some back too.
Your answer
Enter what you give and your salary to see what Gift Aid is worth.
About this calculator
For anyone who gives to charity and pays UK tax. Higher earners can claim back the difference between their tax rate and the basic rate.
Between £100,000 and £125,140, Gift Aid also wins back some of the tax-free allowance you'd otherwise lose.
What happens to your answers
We don’t keep them. Your answers go to our server to do the sums and aren’t stored or logged. If you copy a link to your answers, they’re in the link itself, so only share it with people you trust.
How it’s worked out
Gift Aid treats your gift as if it were given after basic-rate tax, so the charity claims that tax back. If you pay more than the basic rate, the gift lowers the income your higher rates are worked out on, and you claim the difference.
Worked example
Your £1,000 becomes £1,250 for the charity, and you get £250 back, so it costs you £750.
2026/27 tax year · salary £70,000 · no other income
| You give | £1,000 |
|---|---|
| The charity claims back basic-rate tax (20% of the total) | + £250 |
| The charity gets | £1,250 |
| Higher-rate relief you claim back | £250 |
| So your gift really costs you | £750 |
Worked out using HMRC's published rates for the 2026/27 tax year (6 April 2026 to 5 April 2027).
Questions people ask
Do I need to pay tax to use Gift Aid?
Yes. The tax the charity claims has to have been paid by you. If you give more than four times the tax you pay, HMRC can ask you to pay back the difference.
How do I claim my part?
Through your Self Assessment tax return, or by asking HMRC to change your tax code.
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