Gavin Williamson, MP for South Staffordshire, has called on the Chief Executive of HM Revenue and Customs to allow charities to continue using Gift Aid Collection envelopes for a further 12 months before changes come into effect.
Gavin has been contacted by constituents who use Gift Aid envelopes complaining that the changes to the wording on the envelope means new envelopes will have to be purchased from April 2016. This means a substantial number of envelopes and money will be wasted.
Gavin is calling for the Chief Executive of HM Revenue and Customs to implement a delay until April 2017 to make the change more cost effective for smaller charities and churches who would see a lot of money wasted if they had to make the changes in 6 months’ time.
Commenting on the issue Gavin said: “I think it is a shame that so many charities would be put to such an expense and I hope that Revenue and Customs will allow the existing charities to use their existing Gift Aid envelopes for a further twelve months, so that they can be properly prepared for the changes that will take place in April 2016.
“Gift Aid makes a massive difference to local charities and good causes throughout South Staffordshire and I hope the Chief Executive listens to the concerns that I am raising and offers a prompt solution.”