"Ask us about Gift Aid at Perfect Pitch", says HMRC

Howard Lake | 15 June 2006 | News

HMRC have announced details of their two presentations at UK Fundraising’s one-day Perfect Pitch – Gift Aid event on 28 June in London. They are particularly keen for charities to ask them any niggling questions they might have about Gift Aid.

As at last year’s Perfect Pitch – Gift Aid, HMRC’s Andy Jones will present two sessions aimed at covering the key issues and concerns that charities still have about Gift Aid. There will be one in the morning and a different one in the afternoon.

Both will be slightly different to last year’s presentations, although both will aim to address the differing levels of knowledge and experience amongst attendees.

In the morning session Andy will cover what HMRC is and how its services have changed since HM Customs and the Inland Revenue merged, not least the creation of a “one-stop shop for charities.”

He will cover some positive developments for the sector as a result, but also some of the elements that have not gone so well.

He will also report on HMRC’s recent survey on charities’ views on how to improve its claim forms process.

This session will aim to ensure delgates understand the basic building blocks of Gift Aid, including how to claim.

In the afternoon session Andy will look at how the use of Gift Aid can be increased. He will explain the flexibility of Gift Aid in special circumstances such as sponsored events, and encourage charities to consider how best to market the tax breaks for the wealthy.

Since 2006 sees the first time limits on retrospective claims start to take effect, he will also remind delegates of the issues of retrospection and time limits. In short, he says: “Make sure you don’t miss out on your money by running out of time.”

Andy encourages charities to come to the event with their questions and to use the question and answer sessions that follow each of his presentations.

At last year’s Perfect Pitch Andy also dealt with dozens of charities’ queries and concerns throughout the day in the breaks, and he is happy to do so again at this month’s event: “I would like to personally invite people to approach me with questions as you never know where that could lead”, he told UK Fundraising.

An approachable and helpful VAT man? Come and meet Andy at Perfect Pitch – Gift Aid in London’s Inmarsat Conference Centre on 28 June 2006. Pre-registration is required.

About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale. He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.