Dear Darling…
Howard Lake | 13 March 2008 | Blogs
Why oh why are we all so pleased that Alastair has decoupled Gift Aid from the rate of tax?
Yes, charities can now reclaim a small amount more tax back than expected, but an important principle has been broken, and politicians can now move the amount of tax we can reclaim both up and down as they see fit.
One thing we know is that if that given the chance they will take it. The pattern is to make a small positive step somewhere else to soften criticism, and at the same time take a large step back. The road is now open for Gift Aid to suffer this fate.
Lowering the tax rate was a major step forward for many families, but the sector was not content with that and took its chance to lobby the chancellor. I hope we do not live to regret it.
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.