Giving to charity: Tax reliefs you can use

Charitable giving is usually motivated by personal values, but understanding the tax rules can significantly increase the impact of donations. HMRC figures show that charity tax reliefs were worth around £6.7 billion up to April 2025, including £1.7 billion in Gift Aid repayments to charities. UK taxpayers can benefit from several reliefs — including Gift Aid, Payroll Giving, gifts of shares or property, and charitable legacies in wills — each with different tax outcomes depending on the type of donation, frequency of giving, and the donor’s tax position in the 2026/27 tax year.