Retail Gift Aid and small business rate relief

Are you ready to take advantage of two beneficial policy changes coming into force this April?

Following our successful lobbying campaign, a new de minimis limit of £20 comes into play on retail Gift Aid claims. This means that those shops not on the Standard Method will only have to write to some of their donors every three years, saving time and postage costs for our members. You can read more about these changes.

Similarly, charity shops, alongside all other retail businesses, will be able to take advantage of a small business rate relief scheme. Specifically, the Treasury will provide a business rates retail discount scheme for occupied properties with a rateable value of less than £51,000. 

This will come into force for the tax year 2019-20 and will continue in 2020-21. However there may be some state aid issues for our larger members.  More information about this policy is summarised on our website.

Matt Kelcher
Head of Public Affairs and Research
Charity Retail Association