Finance Act 1990

25 Donations to charity by individuals. U.K.

(1) For the purposes of this section, a gift to a charity by an individual (“the donor”) is a qualifying donation if—

(a) it is made on or after 1st October 1990,

(b) it satisfies the requirements of subsection (2) below, and

(c) the donor gives [F1 an appropriate declaration] in relation to it to the charity.

(2) A gift satisfies the requirements of this subsection if—

(a) it takes the form of a payment of a sum of money;

(b) it is not subject to a condition as to repayment;

F2 (c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(d) it does not constitute a sum falling within section 202(2) of the Taxes Act 1988 (payroll deduction scheme);

(e) neither the donor nor any person connected with him receives a benefit in consequence of making it or, where the donor or a person connected with him does receive a benefit in consequence of making it, the relevant value in relation to the gift does not exceed [F3 the limit imposed by subsection (5A) below] and the amount to be taken into account for the purposes of this paragraph in relation to the gift does not exceed £250;

(f) it is not conditional on or associated with, or part of an arrangement involving, the acquisition of property by the charity, otherwise than by way of gift, from the donor or a person connected with him;

F2 (g) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F4 (h) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F5 (i) either—

(i) at the time the gift is made, the donor is resident in the United Kingdom or performs duties which by virtue of section 132(4)(a) of the Taxes Act 1988 (Crown employees serving overseas) are treated as being performed in the United Kingdom; or

(ii) the grossed up amount of the gift would, if in fact made, be payable out of profits or gains brought into charge to income tax or capital gains tax.]

[F6 (3) The reference in subsection (1)(c) above to an appropriate declaration is a reference to a declaration which—

(a) is given in such manner as may be prescribed by regulations made by the Board; and

(b) contains such information and such statements as may be so prescribed.

(3A) Regulations made for the purposes of subsection (3) above may—

(a) provide for declarations to have effect, to cease to have effect or to be deemed never to have had effect in such circumstances and for such purposes as may be prescribed by the regulations;

(b) require charities to keep records with respect to declarations given to them by donors; and

(c) make different provision for declarations made in a different manner.]

(4) For the purposes of subsections (2)(e) above and (5) below, the relevant value in relation to a gift is—

(a) where there is one benefit received in consequence of making it which is received by the donor or a person connected with him, the value of that benefit;

(b) where there is more than one benefit received in consequence of making it which is received by the donor or a person connected with him, the aggregate value of all the benefits received in consequence of making it which are received by the donor or a person connected with him.

(5) The amount to be taken into account for the purposes of subsection (2)(e) above in relation to a gift to a charity is an amount equal to the aggregate of—

(a) the relevant value in relation to the gift, and

(b) the relevant value in relation to each gift already made to the charity by the donor in the relevant year of assessment which is a qualifying donation for the purposes of this section.

[F7 (5A) The limit imposed by this subsection is—

(a) where the amount of the gift does not exceed £100, 25 per cent of the amount of the gift;

(b) where the amount of the gift exceeds £100 but does not exceed £1,000, £25;

(c) where the amount of the gift exceeds £1,000, 2.5 per cent of the amount of the gift.

(5B) Where a benefit received in consequence of making a gift—

(a) consists of the right to receive benefits at intervals over a period of less than twelve months;

(b) relates to a period of less than twelve months; or

(c) is one of a series of benefits received at intervals in consequence of making a series of gifts at intervals of less than twelve months,

the value of the benefit shall be adjusted for the purposes of subsection (4) above and the amount of the gift shall be adjusted for the purposes of subsection (5A) above.

(5C) Where a benefit, other than a benefit which is one of a series of benefits received at intervals, is received in consequence of making a gift which is one of a series of gifts made at intervals of less than twelve months, the amount of the gift shall be adjusted for the purposes of subsection (5A) above.

(5D) Where the value of a benefit, or the amount of a gift, falls to be adjusted under subsection (5B) or (5C) above, the value or amount shall be multiplied by 365 and the result shall be divided by—

(a) in a case falling within subsection (5B)(a) or (b) above, the number of days in the period of less than twelve months;

(b) in a case falling within subsection (5B)(c) or (5C) above, the average number of days in the intervals of less than twelve months;

and the reference in subsection (5B) above to subsection (4) above is a reference to that subsection as it applies for the purposes of subsection (2)(e) above.

(5E) In determining whether a gift to a charity falling within subsection (5F) below is a qualifying donation, there shall be disregarded the benefit of any right of admission received in consequence of the making of the gift—

(a) to view property the preservation of which is the sole or main purpose of the charity; or

(b) to observe wildlife the conservation of which is the sole or main purpose of the charity;

but this subsection shall not apply unless the opportunity to make gifts which attract such a right is available to members of the public.

(5F) A charity falls within this subsection if its sole or main purpose is the preservation of property, or the conservation of wildlife, for the public benefit.

(5G) In subsection (5E) above “right of admission” refers to admission of the person making the gift (or any member of his family who may be admitted because of the gift) either free of the charges normally payable for admission by members of the public, or on payment of a reduced charge.]

[F8 (6) Where any gift made by the donor in a year of assessment is a qualifying donation, then, for that year—

(a) the Income Tax Acts and the M1 Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 shall have effect, in their application to him, as if—

(i) the gift had been made after deduction of income tax at the basic rate; and

(ii) the basic rate limit were increased by an amount equal to the grossed up amount of the gift;

(b) the provisions mentioned in subsection (7) below shall have effect, in their application to him, as if any reference to income tax which he is entitled to charge against any person included a reference to the tax treated as deducted from the gift; and

(c) to the extent, if any, necessary to ensure that he is charged to an amount of income tax and capital gains tax equal to the tax treated as deducted from the gift, he shall not be entitled to relief under Chapter I of Part VII of the Taxes Act 1988;

but paragraph (a)(ii) above shall not apply for the purposes of any computation under section 550(2)(a) or (b) of that Act (relief where gain charged at a higher rate).

(7) The provisions referred to in subsection (6)(b) above are—

(a) section 289A(5)(e) of the Taxes Act 1988 (relief under enterprise investment scheme);

(b) section 796(3) of that Act (credit for foreign tax); and

(c) paragraph 1(6)(f) of Schedule 15B to that Act (venture capital trusts).

(8) Where the tax treated as deducted from a gift by virtue of subsection (6) above exceeds the amount of income tax and capital gains tax with which the donor is charged for the year of assessment, the donor shall be assessable and chargeable with income tax at the basic rate on so much of the gift as is necessary to recover an amount of tax equal to the excess.

(9) In determining for the purposes of subsection (8) above the total amount of income tax and capital gains tax with which the donor is charged for the year of assessment, there shall be disregarded—

(a) any tax charged at the basic rate by virtue of—

(i) section 348 of the Taxes Act 1988 (read with section 3 of that Act); or

(ii) section 349 of that Act (read with section 350 of that Act);

(b) any tax treated as having been paid under—

(i) section 233(1)(a) of that Act (taxation of certain recipients of distributions);

(ii) section 249(4)(a) of that Act (stock dividends treated as income); or

(iii) section 547(5)(a) of that Act (method of charging life policy gain to tax);

(c) any relief to which section 256(2) of that Act applies (relief by way of income tax reduction);

(d) any relief under—

(i) section 347B of that Act (relief for maintenance payments);

(ii) section 788 of that Act (relief by agreement with other countries); or

(iii) section 790(1) of that Act (unilateral relief);

(e) any set off of tax deducted, or treated as deducted, from income other than—

(i) tax treated as deducted from income by virtue of section 421(1)(a) of that Act (taxation of borrower when loan released etc); or

(ii) tax treated as deducted from a relevant amount within the meaning of section 699A of that Act (untaxed sums comprised in the income of an estate) except to the extent that the relevant amount is or would be paid in respect of a distribution chargeable under Schedule F; and

(f) any set off of tax credits.

(9A) For the purposes of sections 257(5) and 257A(5) of the Taxes Act 1988 (age related allowances), the donor’s total income shall be treated as reduced by the aggregate amount of gifts from which tax is treated as deducted by virtue of subsection (6) above.]

(10) The receipt by a charity of a gift which is a qualifying donation shall be treated for the purposes of the Tax Acts, in their application to the charity, as the receipt, under deduction of income tax at the basic rate for the relevant year of assessment, of an annual payment of an amount equal to the grossed up amount of the gift.

(11) Section 839 of the Taxes Act 1988 applies for the purposes of subsections (2) and (4) above.

(12) For the purposes of this section—

(a) “charity” has the same meaning as in section 506 of the Taxes Act 1988 and includes each of the bodies mentioned in section 507 of that Act;

F9 (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(c) “relevant year of assessment”, in relation to a gift, means the year of assessment in which the gift is made;

(d) references, in relation to a gift, to the grossed up amount are to the amount which after deducting income tax at the basic rate for the relevant year of assessment leaves the amount of the gift; F9 . . .

F9 (e) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 25(1)(c) substituted (28.7.2000 with effect as mentioned in s. 39(10) of the amending Act) by 2000 c. 17, s. 39(2)

F2 S. 25(2)(c)(g) repealed (28.7.2000 with effect as mentioned in s. 39(10) of the amending Act) by 2000 c. 17, ss. 39(3)(a), 156, Sch. 40 Pt. II(1) note 4

F3 Words in s. 25(2)(e) substituted (28.7.2000 with effect as mentioned in s. 39(10) of the amending Act) by 2000 c. 17, s. 39(3)(b)

F4 S. 25(2)(h) repealed(for gifts made on or after 19.03.1991) by Finance Act 1991 (c. 31, SIF 63:1), ss. 71(5)(6), 123, Sch. 19 Pt. V Note 12.

F5 S. 25(2)(i) substituted (28.7.2000 with effect as mentioned in s. 39(10) of the amending Act) by 2000 c. 17, s. 39(3)(c)

F6 S. 25(3)(3A) substituted for s. 25(3) (28.7.2000 with effect as mentioned in s. 39(10) of the amending Act) by 2000 c. 17, s. 39(4)

F7 S. 25(5A)-(5G) inserted (28.7.2000 with effect as mentioned in s. 39(10) of the amending Act) by 2000 c. 17, s. 39(5)

F8 S. 25(6)-(9A) substituted for s. 25(6)-(9) (28.7.2000 with effect as mentioned in s. 39(10) of the amending Act) by 2000 c. 17, s. 39(6)

F9 S. 25(12)(b)(e) and the word “and” immediately preceding paragraph (e) repealed (28.7.2000 with effect as mentioned in s. 39(10) of the amending Act) by 2000 c. 17, ss. 39(7), 156, Sch. 40 Pt. II(1) note 4

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 25 modified (31.7.1998) by 1998 c. 36, s. 48(1)(4)

S. 25 applied (31.7.1998) by 1998 c. 36, s. 48(1)(10)

C2 S. 25 modified (with effect as mentioned in s. 98(6) of the modifying Act) by Finance Act 2002 (c. 23), s. 98(1)-(5);

S. 25 modified (with effect as mentioned in s. 58(4) of the modifying Act) by Finance Act 2002 (c. 23), s. 58(1), Sch. 18 Pt. 3 para. 9(1)

C3 S. 25(2)(e) applied (31.7.1998) by 1998 c. 36, s. 48(4)(d)

C4 S. 25(3) (as substituted by 2000 c. 17, s. 39(4)): power to make regulations extended (28.7.2000 with effect as mentioned in s. 39(10) of the amending Act) by 2000 c. 17, s. 39(10)

Marginal Citations

M1 1992 c. 12.