# Donations declared in tax returns rise to £3.18 billion - Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2019/07/09/donations-declared-in-tax-returns-rise-to-3-18-billion/ - Published: 2019-07-09T08:00:38+01:00 - Author: Melanie May **Individuals completing their tax returns for 2017-18 declared charity donations of £3.18 billion, according to HMRC.** 12% of people declared a donation: 1,226,000 individuals. This is a slight increase on the amount declared in the previous tax year but a decrease in the number giving with 2016-17 seeing £3.03bn of donations declared by 1,245,000 individuals. Ten years ago, £1.68bn was given in the 2008-09 tax year. Of those declaring a donation, employment was the main source of income for 519,000, pension for 316,000, and self-employment for 128,000. ## Advertisement [⌊Posthub advert. You create the campaign. We'll handle the postal journey. Get started at post-hub.co.uk.⌉](https://fundraising.co.uk/ads/posthub-20261007-300x250/) The majority (374,000 individuals) were aged 65+, followed by 45-54 year olds and 55-64 year olds. Commenting on [the figures](https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/donations-declared-by-individuals-completing-self-assessment), which were released at the end of June, Ed Siegel, Chief Executive, [Charity Bank](https://charitybank.org/), said: > “We work with social enterprises and charities across the country who are in desperate > need of funding to take on new staff, buy new premises or to increase their services. > As Britain’s social conscience continues to grow, these figures indicate a promising > uplift in donations.“ * **[Little more than half of charities saw income increase in 2018, report shows](https://fundraising.co.uk/2019/08/14/little-more-half-charities-income-increase-2018-report-shows/)**( 14 August 2019) * **[New book offers help on achieving Sustainable Development Goals](https://fundraising.co.uk/2019/09/16/new-book-offers-help-acheiving-sustainable-development-goals/)**( 16 September 2019) * **[Half of charities fear funding levels will be inadequate for meeting 2020 objectives](https://fundraising.co.uk/2019/09/26/half-of-charities-fear-funding-levels-will-be-inadequate-for-meeting-2020-objectives/)**( 26 September 2019) ![Loading](https://fundraising.co.uk/wp-content/plugins/page-views-count/ajax-loader- 2x.gif)