Downing Street Says » Charitable donations

Put to the PMS that figures released by the Treasury contradicted the Government’s proposals for a cap on the tax relief for donations, because they showed that around 72 per-cent of high earners had paid full tax, the PMS explained that the purpose of the figures was to highlight that there were a small number of very wealthy people who had made substantial donations but who have paid much lower rates of tax. The PMS added that the Government did not think this was fair to the majority, which was why we were consulting on changes.

The PMS went on to say that the Government wanted to encourage charitable and philanthropic giving, and that the proposed cap on tax relief was designed to prevent individuals from abusing the system. The PMS also made clear to journalists that we would be discussing how the Government’s proposals could be implemented with charitable organisations, and would formally consult over the summer.

Asked why the Government was making it more difficult for people to donate, when changes had already been made to the way people could give in 2011, the PMS pointed out that the Government had also published a Giving White Paper, setting out various ways people could donate. The PMS repeated that the Government’s proposals were intended to stop the small number of donors who were trying to abuse the system.

Asked how long the consultation would last, the PMS said that Government consultations usually last 12 weeks but that full details would be published in due course.

Asked why the there was a variable projected figure of between 50 100 million outlined in the budget, the PMS explained that this is an estimated amount of money which could be raised from the introduction of the cap, but how that cap would be implemented was still subject to discussion and consultation.

Asked why the Treasury did not make more of the planned consultation at the time the proposals were announced, the PMS said that the HMRC had published details on their website on 5 April, that they had made clear that we would consult in the summer, and that draft legislation would be published later in the year.

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» Monday, April 16, 2012

Charitable donations

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