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Tax and donating

With just one tick, your gift could be worth almost a third more to us!

That's because we can now claim back tax on almost every donation we receive. So if you pay UK Income Tax or Capital Gains Tax - tax on your pension if you're retired, for instance, or tax on the interest from your savings - then every donation you make, or have made since 6th April 2000, could be worth almost a third more without any extra cost. In fact, if we could reclaim the tax on every donation we receive in 2003-2004, we'd have an extra £2 million to spend on those suffering unnecessarily from devastating eye conditions. If you're a higher rate tax payer you can claim relief too.

Donate through your Tax Return

If you are completing a self assessment tax return, you can nominate a charity to receive any tax refund you are due. The scheme is open to UK taxpayers only and will first apply for tax returns for the year to 5 April 2004.

The Government will treat this refund as a Gift Aid donation. This means that Sightsavers will get 28p more for every pound donated – at no extra cost to you. All you need do is tick box 19A.4 on the form to make the declaration (you will need to ensure that you have paid an amount of income tax and/or capital gains tax at least equal to the tax that the charity reclaims on your donations in the tax year).

For example:

If you are owed £10
The taxman will add £2.80
Giving a total donation of £12.80

What you need to do

To ensure Sightsavers receives your tax refund, please include the charity's unique identifier number on the tax return form in box 19A.3. Our code is MAD33GG.

Further information

For further information about making a donation to us through a self assessment tax return, please contact June Marshall on 01444 446620 or jmarshall@sightsavers.org. You can also contact the Inland Revenue directly by phoning their charities helpline on 08453 02 02 03.

Unfortunately, gift aid is not currently available for Irish donors.

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Please note that as we are not registered medical practitioners and do not directly deliver eye care in the countries in which we work, but work with local partners, we are not able to respond to any questions regarding medical issues. Please contact your health service provider for medical advice.


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