---
title: "Are charity donations tax deductible in the UK?"
description: "Not in the way they are in the United States."
source: https://www.charitycompare.org.uk/answers/is-my-donation-tax-deductible-uk
retrieved: 2026-08-18T01:29:16.442Z
license: "Charity data © Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0"
---

Giving & tax

# Are charity donations tax deductible in the UK?

**In short:** Not in the way they are in the United States. UK donations work through Gift Aid: the charity reclaims basic-rate tax on your gift, and if you pay a higher rate you reclaim the difference yourself through Self Assessment. There is no simple deduction from taxable income for cash gifts.

Data from [CharityCompare editorial](https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/), last updated 12 August 2026.

The UK system differs from the US one, which causes a lot of confusion:

- **Basic-rate taxpayers** — you claim nothing. The charity reclaims 25p per £1 through Gift Aid.

- **Higher-rate (40%)** — reclaim roughly £25 on a £100 Gift Aided donation via Self Assessment or a tax-code adjustment.

- **Additional-rate (45%)** — reclaim roughly £31 on the same £100.

**Payroll Giving** is the exception that behaves more like a deduction: the gift leaves gross pay before Income Tax, so relief is immediate at your top rate.

Gifts of **shares, securities or land** are more generous still — no Capital Gains Tax on the disposal and market value deductible against Income Tax.

This is general information, not tax advice — see [tax-efficient giving](https://www.charitycompare.org.uk/guides/tax-efficient-giving-uk).

## Related questions

- [→ Can I get a refund on a charity donation?](https://www.charitycompare.org.uk/answers/can-i-get-a-refund-on-a-donation)
- [→ What is Gift Aid and should I use it?](https://www.charitycompare.org.uk/answers/gift-aid-explained)
- [→ How do I donate goods or clothes to a charity?](https://www.charitycompare.org.uk/answers/how-do-i-donate-goods-or-clothes)
- [→ Are you affiliated with any charities?](https://www.charitycompare.org.uk/answers/affiliation)

Look up any UK charity's free Clarity Score from regulator filings.

[Search charities](https://www.charitycompare.org.uk/charity-directory) [Read the guides](https://www.charitycompare.org.uk/guides)

**Information only** — see [guides](https://www.charitycompare.org.uk/guides) for more detail.