The University of Reading is an independent corporation with charitable status established by Royal Charter granted in 1926.
The University is an exempt charity (reference x 8145).
Exempt charities are organisations whose purposes are charitable but which are accountable to a body other than the Charity Commission. The University of Reading is accountable to the Office for Students as the principal regulator for universities under the Charities Act and given the comprehensive monitoring and audit processes already in place is exempt from registration with the Charity Commission.
UK Giving
UK residents can make tax-efficient charitable donations via a number of schemes:
- Gift Aid
- Gift Aid and Higher Rate Tax Relief
- Payroll giving
- Match Funding
- Legacies and Reducing Inheritance Tax.
US Giving
As a US citizen, you can make a tax-effective gift to us by making your gift through the British Schools and Universities Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, tax-exempt foundation.
Simply quote University of Reading when making your gift. Give now.
Gift Aid
If you are a UK taxpayer, Gift Aid is a great way of increasing the value of your donation at no extra cost to you. Every gift you make to the University could be worth more, just by choosing to say yes to Gift Aid.
For every pound you give, the University could get an extra 25p from the UK government. The extra support is claimed from the tax you pay on your donations. This means that a gift of £100 is worth £125 to the University.
You can find information on HMRC’s dedicated Gift Aid webpage.
Gift Aid and Higher Rate Tax Relief
If you pay Income Tax at the higher rate of 40%, or the additional rate of 45%, there are extra benefits for you too, if you Gift Aid. You can claim back the difference between the tax rate you pay and the basic rate on the value of your donation.
You can do this via your self-assessment tax return or by asking HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to amend your tax code.
As an example, if you donate £1,000 to the University of Reading and say yes to Gift Aid, your gift is worth £1250 to the University of Reading.
If you pay 40% tax then you can personally claim back £250 (which is 20% of the £1,250 donation). This means that your donation effectively costs you only £750. If you pay 45% tax then you can personally claim back £312.50 (which is 25% of the £1,250 donation), so your donation effectively costs you just £687.50.
To aid filling in your self-assessment tax return we can send you an annual donation statement that you can use on your tax return, which details your donations and the Gift Aid.
Payroll giving
UK taxpayers who are paid under PAYE (Pay As You Earn) can maximise regular donations to the University of Reading through payroll giving. Gifts made through this scheme are taken directly from the gross pay, giving the benefactor immediate tax relief at the highest rate of tax for which they qualify.
If you are interested in this method of giving, please request an application form from your employer, detailing your wishes to donate to the University of Reading. The employer will then deduct a gift directly from your salary before tax is applied.
Match Funding
Many employers operate a Match Funding scheme, whereby they will match gifts you make or raise for charities. You can usually find out about these schemes from your organisation's human resources department.
Match funding is a great way to boost your support and raise greater awareness of the important charitable work of the University.
Legacies and reducing Inheritance Tax
In the UK, gifts to charity are exempt from Inheritance Tax and the government provides a further incentive when you leave 10% or more of your net estate to charity. Click here to find out more about legacy giving.