Pendle MP, Andrew Stephenson, has written to Treasury Minister Chloe Smith calling on the Government to simplify Gift Aid on donations to charities by text message.

Donating by text message is increasingly common as charities try and find new ways to raise money. It is estimated that almost £100 million will be given to charities this way by 2014.

However, it is proving difficult for charities to claim Gift Aid, eligible on charitable donations from UK taxpayers, when donations are made by text. Each individual donation needs a declaration to claim Gift Aid. Most text donors do not complete the time –consuming declaration every time they donate, meaning charities miss out.

Andrew said, “I am joining a group of other MPs in asking the Government to help make it easy for charities to benefit from Gift Aid on text message donations.

“The idea is to register a UK taxpayer and their mobile number for the whole year once they make a donation, removing the need for a declaration every other time they donate by text in the year.  That way, more money can go to the charities that so badly need financial support.”

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