Making your gift

Gift Aid is a government scheme that allows the university to reclaim the basic rate tax on your gifts. To qualify you must be a UK taxpayer and have paid UK income tax and/or capital gains tax equal to or more than the amount of Gift Aid that all charities will claim on all your gifts in a tax year (6 April to 5 April).

If you are a UK taxpayer and have paid sufficient tax please tick the Gift Aid box when making your donation to enable us to claim Gift Aid. Please note the donor will be responsible if there is any tax shortfall.

If you are a higher-rate taxpayer, you may be able to claim additional tax relief on your donations. If you pay tax at a rate of 40 per cent or above, you can claim the difference between the higher and basic rate on your donation.

For example: you donate £100 to St George’s. We claim back £25 (making the value of your gift £125). If you pay 40 per cent tax, you can then claim back £25. The difference can be claimed through your self-assessment tax return or asking HMRC to amend your tax code.

Making a gift in your will could reduce the inheritance tax on your estate, and leave a lasting legacy for St George’s.

Inheritance tax is applicable if your estate is worth over £325,000 when you die. By choosing to make a bequest in your will, the amount of inheritance tax payable can be significantly reduced.

St George’s, University of London is an exempt charity for all tax purposes and therefore all bequests to the university are exempt from inheritance tax.

If ten per cent of an individual’s net estate is given to charity in their will, the inheritance tax can be reduced to a rate of 36 per cent (instead of 40 per cent). The net value of your estate is the sum of all the assets after deducting any debts, liabilities, reliefs, exemptions and the nil rate band.

Individual circumstances differ, so if you are considering leaving a legacy, please make sure to consult a solicitor or financial professional to discuss the impact of making a bequest on your estate.

If you are a US tax payer you can give through British Schools & Universities Foundation (BSUF), a charitable organisation that allows UK universities to ensure your gift is tax-deductible.