Our brilliant new Tag your Bag scheme means that every time we sell something donated by you, we can raise 28% more through Gift Aid and it won't cost you a penny.
What's Gift Aid?
Gift Aid is a scheme introduced by HM Revenue and Customs that allows charities
such as Oxfam to reclaim the tax on any cash donated to them by UK tax-payers. With
Oxfam's Tag your Bag scheme we can now claim 28% back on cash raised by the sale
of your donations. At no extra cost to you.
How does it work?
Just follow these three easy steps:
- Click here and complete a simple form. This just confirms that you are a UK tax-payer and gives us permission to claim back 28% more from the Government on any cash raised from your donations.
- Within 7 to 10 days, we'll post to you some personalised ‘Tag your Bag' stickers to use on your next bagful of donated items (one sticker per bag or box). This allows us to track how much we raise from the sale of your items.
- Feel good about giving 28% more to Oxfam's work! It's that easy.
What the extra cash can do?
A large bag of good-quality items can raise £30 when sold in an Oxfam shop. If that
£30 was raised with Tag your Bag, we'd make another £8.46 in reclaimed tax. That
£8.46 could be
enough to provide 8 health check-ups to people in remote areas!
To find your nearest Oxfam shop, see http://www.oxfam.org.uk/shopfinder
When will I get the tags for my bag?
When you sign up to Gift Aid, you'll see a confirmation screen with your personal donor number, so you'll know you're good to go. We'll also send you an email in case you don't remember it later. Within 7-10 days we'll also send to your home address some ready-printed labels for you to stick on your bags when you're ready.
What if I run out of tags?
Contact Oxfam at 0300 200 1300 or enquiries@oxfam.org.uk to request more tags be printed and posted to you.
I know I've checked a Gift Aid tick box on your site before. Do I have to sign up again?
Any time you make a cash donation to Oxfam, you have the opportunity to tick a Gift Aid box. That Gift Aid declaration is tied to that particular cash donation.
In shops, we have to track the sale of the individual items you've donated to us. This means we need a way to identify you personally – hence, a donor identification number. That number follows your items through our system, and once they've sold, we're able to tell HM Revenue & Customs that we've raised some pounds on your behalf. HM Revenue & Customs checks to see that you're a UK taxpayer and then they pay us the extra 28% of the value of your sold items.
It's a bit more complicated for us than cash donations but the reward is worth it!
I already have some green Tag Your Bag tags, but I've seen pink ones too? Is there a difference?
Nope. Green tags are given out to supporters who sign up for Gift Aid in our High Street shops. Pink tags are given out to supporters who sign up for Gift Aid online. Green or pink – there's no difference in how the process works, the terms and conditions, or how much we can claim from HM Revenue & Customs.
I've had a letter from you about Gift Aid – what does it mean?
It's a formality. We have to make sure that you're happy for the reclaimed tax to come to us. You don't need to do anything – as long as you're still happy for us to receive it.
What can and can't I donate?
Apart from electrical goods and things that we can't sell on (stuff in poor condition, usually) we want the lot. Heels, homeware, hats, films, fiction, fabric, jumpers, jewellery, jugs – anything you can think of in your home that you don't have a use for any more.
What happens to my donation?
Once we receive your donated items, we sort them out, price them up, and put them up for sale. But if an item can't be sold, we've got some rather sophisticated recycling facilities for clothes and books. So, if your donations can't live on in another person's wardrobe or cupboard, they won't have to end up in landfill, either.
Once my donations have sold, how is the money spent?
The money we raise from the sale of your donated goods (plus Gift Aid if you allow us to claim it) is spent in many ways with one aim: to end poverty and suffering all over the world. See www.oxfam.org.uk for more information about the kinds of work your donations help fund.
What are the terms and conditions of Gift Aid?
By signing our Gift Aid Agreement you agree that you:
- Understand that Oxfam Activities Ltd (OAL) will attempt to sell the goods on your behalf and that 1% of the sale price will be paid to OAL by way of commission.
- Own all items provided for sale and that they were obtained in a legal manner.
- Will be contacted by OAL once items are sold confirming your consent that the proceeds of the sale can be donated to Oxfam.
- Allow Oxfam to sell the items in whatever manner it decides in order to maximise the value of the sale and to allow Oxfam to dispose of those items which in Oxfam's opinion have no saleable value.
- Would like Oxfam to treat all donations you make, or have made in the last four years as Gift Aid donations and that you have paid a sufficient amount of income tax and, or, capital gains tax equal to the basic rate of tax that we receive on your donations.
- Will let Oxfam know of any change in your details and/or tax details.
