Gift Aid

It does seem strange but it looks as though it's because visitors are given a choice between paying the standard entry fee or a donation which is at east 10% higher than the standard entry fee. So in effect you are being asked whether you want to pay an entry fee or make a donation (which will permit you entry)

Seems a very strange way of doing it.

I stand corrected - thanks Elegran.

It does seem a bit odd though that Gift Aid applies to the whole amount - I thought it reasonable to assume that only the extra attracts Gift Aid!

No, Riverwalk HMRC says

" .... the whole amount received from the visitor qualifies for Gift Aid, not just the additional 10 per cent. It is important that all visitors are clearly made aware that the option to make a donation that is 10 per cent more than the admission fee is entirely voluntary."

Thank you Elegran for the link explaining this so clearly. We took some guests to an RHS garden recently and didn't wish to hold up the queue querying the details of the gift aid choice, but pondered it afterwards and found it rather puzzling. I'm sure they must have had notices, but I didn't see them. Will know for next time!

Jingl the National Trust understands very well how it works!

The Gift Aid is claimed on the donation, the 10%, not the admission price.

The normal admission price is what you are paying for the goods/services.

They do show the two prices prominently but do not explain the why of. Well, I've never seen a notice about it. They should explain.

HMRC on the subject.
www.hmrc.gov.uk/charities/gift_aid/rules/admissions.htm#5

Hit 8 instead of 5. sorry.

I've had a look at this, and they cannot get giftaid on the standard price. It has to be a price 10% more than standard, then they get GA on the whole price. Apparently this is made clear on signs before you reach the entrance and at the paying point.

So somewhere they must have the two prices prominently displayed and you can choose whether to give them 10% extra so that they can claim 28% gift aid. (That must be as well as the 10% extra - not bad getting 38%)

But how many of us read the signs on the wall when we are face to face with the person taking the money?

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/article-1355784646871/

This is how it works. I didn't know this either.
Membership is different; the same membership fee applies whether or not you choose gift aid.

I have a feeling it used to be (maybe still is) that they could only claim back giftaid if it was really a gift, and not payment for something you were buying (like entrance to something) so perhaps they are still doing it so that way. Then they add a little more and then cook the books somehow so that they get giftaid on the lot, not just the added "gift" bit.

If they only get giftaid on the extra gift part, then they are not going to get muc hon a small additional amount.

My understanding is that gift aid benefits the charity at no extra cost to the donor. I will check at the tax office tomorrow as it doesn't seem right to me.

Can't believe that the National Trust do not understand how Gift Aid works.

Is that the National Trust? That used to really bug me. Doesn't affect us now as we joined as members, but before I used to tell them what I thought of that one! NOT how it's supposed to work.

That's rubbish - the price should be the same, but the charity gets more.

We ran a quiz in aid of Parkinsons UK and made £150, but the charity made £187 because I am a tax payer.