This section has information and advice on tax issues as they relate to missionaries and overseas Christian workers.
UK official tax advice & information
HM Revenue & Customs
The HM Revenue & Customs website has most of the information you need about tax related issues. This includes information about filling in your UK tax return.Website: www.hmrc.gov.uk
Tel: 0845 300 0627or 0135 535 9022
International Pension Centre
The International Pension Centre deals with all enquiries regarding the payment of State Pension, bereavement benefits, incapacity benefits and other benefits for those living abroad.
It also deals with enquiries from those living in the UK who have lived or worked in other countries that either:
- apply the European Community (EC) rules on social security
- have a Reciprocal Social Security Agreement with the UK
Tel: 0191 218 7777
tax related services
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Tax and benefit information & advice services
Peter Chalk & Co.
For a fixed fee, this company will deal with the taxation affairs of clergy and full-time Christian workers. This mainly involves the completion of your tax return and other related paperwork, advice and correspondence.Website: www.peterchalkco.co.uk
Email:
Tel: 01476 591333
Tax Management for Clergy
For a fixed fee, TMC will deal with the taxation affairs of clergy and full-time Christian workers. This mainly involves the completion of your tax return and other related paperwork, advice and correspondence.Website: www.clergytaxuk.com
Tel: 01476 539000
ExpatMatters
ExpatMatters provides tax expertise including completion of UK tax returns and other assistance to those working and volunteering overseas.Website: www.expatmatters.co.uk
Email:
Tel: 01189 473 737
Ex-pat Tax Consultants
This website provides some tax news, information and tips for those working abroad. The provider can also offer various personal services related to tax advice.Website: www.expattax.co.uk
Email:
Tel: 0191 2245926
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Tax relief on donations
With donations to charities and full-time Christian workers, there are several ways by which you can give and get tax relief (worth roughly an extra 28%):
- Gift Aid - The UK government gift aid scheme has no minimum donation. It can be used for regular donations as well as for one-off gifts. Facilities are now in place with most charities so that gift aid donations can be made by the Internet or by phone.
- Payroll Giving - This can be set up with an employer and donations are sent directly to the charity or Christian worker, tax free.
- Give or Sell Assets - You can get income tax relief when you give or sell assets to charity.
More detailed information is available at www.hmrc.gov.uk/individuals/giving
Most charities manage their own tax relief administration but there are some organisations who can manage this for all charities, churches and/or full-time Christian workers. Here are some of them:
Stewardship
Stewardship's aims are to facilitate effective giving, promote biblical principles and practices, raise standards in financial and legal administration, and provide training events and resources on stewardship issues. Stewardship partner with Christian workers to help in the finances of those that raise their own support for ministry. They handle giving for individuals involved in full-time Christian work and also provide training, guides and practical tools to help with finance more...Website: www.stewardship.org.uk
Email:
Tel: 020 8502 5600
The Impact Giving (UK) Trust
The Impact Giving Trust are a registered charity that has been offering services for Christian giving for over twenty years. The Trust’s aim is to support the spread of the Gospel by all practical means, in particular by channelling donations to Christian beneficiaries such as churches, Christian workers, mission, and relief work. They are interdenominational and are a member of the Evangelical Alliance.They help individuals to maximise their giving through the use of Gift Aid and organise their giving more effectively with minimum administration. They help Christian workers (and church treasurers) by increasing their income by reclaiming tax on their donors giving (28p for every £1) and by reducing their administrative burden, freeing them to concentrate on their ministry. They do not charge for their services - they operate a donation only policy.
Website: www.impactgiving.org.uk
Email:
Tel: 01768 594 082
Charities Aid Foundation
CAF run a charity account which you can pay into, claim the tax-back and then write cheques/vouchers to any charity from that account.Website: www.cafonline.org
Tel: 03000 123 000
D M Stearns Missionary Fund
For any donations made by folk in the USA to missionaries, this fund is set up to provide a way of making them tax deductible. For more information, please write to:D. M. Stearns Missionary Fund, Inc.Email:
P.O. Box 1578
North Wales, PA 19454
U.S.A.
Tel: ++ 1 215 362 6611 (USA)
GATS (Gift Aid Tax Software)
Cleaford Services Ltd have provided their GATS Gift Aid Tax Software package to over 400 churches and charities since the current system was introduced in 2000. They have now produced GATS version 3.7, which includes the changes to accommodate the new R68 Claim Schedule being introduced by HMRC. The GATS R68 Schedule has been approved by HMRC – the old style of R68 forms will not be accepted by HMRC after December 2007, so charities are urged to upgrade by November. As well as extensive help files explaining the new Accounting period procedure which must be followed for Gift Aid claims, Cleaford Services are now also offering that their technicians can log on to a customer’s PC (with permission!) to install the software and give a short, live, on screen introduction to its use. Cleaford will also connect in order to install the upgrade for existing users, and explain the changes, or to give more generalised help on the software, moving to a new computer, etc.Website: www.giftaid-software.co.uk
Email:
Tel: 0845 124 9402