Payroll Giving, also called Give As You Earn, lets you donate to charity straight from your pay before income tax is taken, so you get tax relief at your top rate automatically. It is governed by sections 713 to 715 of ITEPA 2003, and the deduction shows on your payslip.
How is the donation taxed?
Your employer takes the donation from gross pay after National Insurance but before income tax, through PAYE. Because the money is never charged income tax, you get relief at your marginal rate, 20%, 40% or 45%, at the point of giving. The charity receives the full amount with no Gift Aid claim needed, since the relief is already applied. An HMRC-approved Payroll Giving agency passes the money on and may take a small admin fee.
What does a £10 donation actually cost me?
| Your tax rate | Net cost of a £10 gift |
|---|---|
| Basic rate (20%) | £8.00 |
| Higher rate (40%) | £6.00 |
| Additional rate (45%) | £5.50 |
Does Payroll Giving save National Insurance too?
No. Unlike pension salary sacrifice, the donation comes out after National Insurance, so it cuts income tax only, not NI. There is no upper limit on what you can give this way. Scottish taxpayers get relief at their own Scottish rates, so a higher-rate donor there saves 42% rather than 40%. Payroll Giving is the one route that delivers higher-rate relief without a Self Assessment claim, because the relief is built straight into your pay.
Primary sources
- Payroll Giving — gov.uk — Donation taken before tax but after National Insurance; relief at marginal rate
- Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003, Part 12 Chapter 1 — legislation.gov.uk — Sections 713-715: donations to charity by payroll deduction
- Donating to charity: Payroll Giving — gov.uk — How relief is applied and that no Gift Aid claim is needed
Editorial process: how we source and review UK tax content.