Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the cost to the public purse has been of (a) Gift Aid and (b) tax relief on charity donations declared on tax returns in each of the last five years for which figures are available.
Column (a) in Table 1 below shows the estimated cost to the public pursue of Gift Aid. Gift Aid is paid directly to charities on donations by Income Tax taxpayers.
Column (b) in Table 1 represents the estimated cost to the public purse of the claims for tax reliefs on charitable donations by higher and additional Income Tax payers, primarily declared through the Self Assessment tax return.
Table 1: Estimated of Income Tax reliefs for Gift Aid:
£m | (a) | (b) |
Tax Year | Gift Aid paid to charities | Higher / Additional rate relief on Gift Aid donations paid to individuals |
2012-13 | 1040 | 450 |
2013-14 | 1050 | 410 |
2014-15 | 1190 | 480 |
2015-16 | 1260 | 500 |
2016-17 | 1270 | 520 |