--- title: "Payroll Giving vs Gift Aid Calculator — free UK comparison" description: "Free UK Payroll Giving vs Gift Aid calculator — compare which way of donating gives the charity more and costs you less at 20%, 40% or 45% tax." source: https://www.charitycompare.org.uk/payroll-giving-calculator retrieved: 2026-08-18T00:46:40.682Z license: "Charity data © Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0" --- Quick answer For the same donation amount, Gift Aid always gives the charity 25% more. Payroll Giving always costs you less out of pocket. Charity-per-pound of your net cost is the same either way — pick Gift Aid for maximum charity value, or Payroll Giving for instant relief with no Self Assessment. Compare your figures below. Monthly donation£ MonthlyOne-off Your tax bandBasic rate (20%)up to £50,270Higher rate (40%)£50,271–£125,140Additional rate (45%)over £125,140 Payroll Giving (Give As You Earn) Charity receives /yr £600 Net cost to you /yr £360 Effective saving £240 Taken from salary before tax — relief is instant, no Self Assessment needed. Lower net cost Gift Aid donation Charity receives /yr £750 Net cost to you /yr £450 Effective saving £300 Charity reclaims 25% and you reclaim 20% via Self Assessment. More to charity **Verdict:** for the same donation amount, Gift Aid sends the charity £150more (£750 vs £600), while Payroll Giving costs you less out of pocket (£360 vs £450/yr). Charity-per-pound of net cost is the same either way — pick Gift Aid for maximum charity value (if you file Self Assessment at higher/additional rate), or Payroll Giving for instant relief with no paperwork. Estimates only, not tax advice — 2025/26 UK rates (England & Wales). Payroll Giving requires your employer to run a scheme; agency fees of 2–4% may apply. Figures: HMRC Gift Aid and Payroll Giving guidance. Calculator by [CharityCompare](https://www.charitycompare.org.uk/) — free to use and embed. ## Embed this calculator — free for employers & charities Add this exact calculator to your website with one line. Free, lightweight, includes a dofollow credit link to CharityCompare — that’s how the tool stays free. Iframe embed codeCopy code[Preview the embed →](https://www.charitycompare.org.uk/embed/payroll-giving-calculator) Free to embed. Includes a dofollow credit link to charitycompare.org.uk — that is how the tool stays free. Embedding on a charity site never affects its Clarity Score. ## How the two schemes differ **Gift Aid** tops up your donation: the charity reclaims 25p per £1 from HMRC, and higher/additional-rate donors reclaim the band difference themselves via Self Assessment. **Payroll Giving (Give As You Earn)** takes the donation from your gross pay before tax, so the saving is instant — but the charity only receives what you give, minus any agency fee of 2–4%. Payroll Giving participation has fallen to roughly £125m a year — a decade low — partly because few people know their employer’s scheme. If yours offers one with matched donations, that combination can beat either scheme alone. Estimates only — not tax advice. Check HMRC guidance for your position.