Government response to the Gift Aid Forum
In 2009 HMT and HMRC sponsored academic research into the likely effect on donations to charities of changes to the Gift Aid system.
In 2009 HMT and HMRC sponsored academic research into the likely effect on donations to charities of possible changes to the system of Gift Aid. Following publication, HM Treasury set up a small Gift Aid Forum of charity sector representatives and officials from a number of government departments to explore proposals for reform and simplification of Gift Aid. The Forum first met on 8 February 2010, then on 15 April, 10 June, 20 July, 9 September and finally on 30 November.
At the meeting on 20 July, Justine Greening, Economic Secretary to the Treasury asked the charity sector representatives on the Forum to come up with proposals for reform that could be considered for Budget 2011. Peter Fanning, Chief Executive of the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT) has written a report setting out a number of recommendations coming out of the work of the Forum. The report has been written by Peter in a personal capacity. He submitted the report on 13 October.
At the meeting on 30 November, the Economic Secretary outlined the Government’s initial response to the recommendations. She confirmed that there was much in the report that could be taken forward.
Organisations represented on the Forum were HM Treasury, HMRC, DCMS, Office for Civil Society, Arts & Business, Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations, Association of Church Accountants and Treasurers, CASS Centre for Charitable Giving and Philanthropy, Council for Advancement and Support of Education, Charities Aid Foundation, Charity Tax Group, Charity Finance Director’s Group, Chartered Institute of Taxation, Institute of Fundraising, National Council for Voluntary Organisations, National Museum Directors’ Conference, New Philanthropy Capital, Small Charities Coalition, Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, Stewardship.