How does a charity register for Gift Aid?

Peter E asked:

We are a registered charity and would like members’ subscriptions to be treated as Gift Aid. Who needs to be contacted? Which forms to fill?

If anyone knows of a good reference site that I can refer my members to I would be grateful.

Thanks for your help.

¡Que molleja! commented on: May 15th, 2006 at 9:42 pm
The Inland Revenue has online guidance at the following webpage. I don’t believe that members’ subscriptions can be treated as though they were donations, but the Inland Revenue will be able to advise you.
saarandom commented on: May 16th, 2006 at 12:56 pm
Definately check the link to the Inland revenue that’s already been given. Your charity should already be registered with HM Revenue and Customs as a charity for tax purposes and you’ll have a reference number (different to your registered charity number) When they issued that number they would have included the forms neccessary to claim back gift aid. There are two forms, one listing the donations and one detailing the total amount claimed, and the claim can be sent in at any time although they request you wait til you have £100 due.

If members subscriptions can be treated as Gift Aid (which as I recall is complicated, and depends on what they “get out” of being members, I didn’t go far into it when setting up ours as our membership is free) you’ll need to get members to complete a Gift Aid declaration, allowing you to claim gift aid on their subscriptions and donations. The Inland revenue website will have details of that, and a proforma declaration you can edit for your charity.