(1)A person (“the donor”) who makes a gift that is a qualifying donation within section 25 of the Finance Act 1990 (c. 29) (gift aid) may elect to be treated for the purposes of that section as if the gift were a qualifying donation made by him in the previous year of assessment.
(2)Any such election must be made by notice in writing to an officer of the Inland Revenue—
(a)on or before the date on which the donor delivers his return for the previous year of assessment under section 8 of the Taxes Management Act 1970 (c. 9) (personal return), and
(b)not later than the 31st January next following the end of that year.
(3)No such election may be made unless in the previous year the grossed up amount of the gift would, if made in that year, be payable out of profits or gains brought into charge to income tax or capital gains tax.
(4)The effect of an election under this section is that the provisions of section 25(6) to (9A) of the Finance Act 1990 (c. 29) have effect in relation to the donor as if the gift were a qualifying donation made in the previous year of assessment.
(5)An election under this section does not affect the position of the recipient of the gift.
The reference in section 25(10) of the Finance Act 1990 to the relevant year of assessment shall be construed accordingly as a reference to the year of assessment in which the gift is actually made.
(6)This section has effect in relation to gifts made on or after 6th April 2003.