Key facts
- Donations are deducted from gross pay before Income Tax is calculated, giving automatic tax relief.
- A £10 donation costs a basic rate taxpayer just £8, a higher rate taxpayer £6, and an additional rate taxpayer £5.50.
- National Insurance is still calculated on the full gross pay — payroll giving does not reduce NI.
- Employers must use an approved Payroll Giving Agency as an intermediary to distribute donations to charities.
- There is no limit on how much an employee can donate through payroll giving.
What Is Payroll Giving?
Payroll Giving (officially known as “Give As You Earn” or GAYE) is a scheme that allows employees to make regular charitable donations directly from their wages before Income Tax is deducted. Because the donation is taken from gross pay, the employee receives immediate tax relief without the charity needing to claim Gift Aid.[1]
The scheme has been available since 1987 and is used by thousands of employers across the UK. It is entirely voluntary for employees and must be administered through an approved Payroll Giving Agency.
How Payroll Giving Works
The process works as follows:[2]
- The employer sets up a scheme with an approved Payroll Giving Agency (such as Charities Trust, CAF, or Charitable Giving)
- The employee completes a payroll giving instruction, specifying the charity and amount
- Each payday, the employer deducts the donation from gross pay before calculating Income Tax
- The employer sends the collected donations to the Payroll Giving Agency
- The agency distributes the donations to the chosen charities
Key point: Because the donation is deducted before tax, the employee pays less Income Tax. A £10 donation only costs £8 to a basic rate taxpayer (saving £2 in tax), £6 to a higher rate taxpayer, or £5.50 to an additional rate taxpayer. This is more efficient than Gift Aid for higher and additional rate taxpayers, who would otherwise need to claim extra relief through Self Assessment.
Tax Savings Comparison
| Donation Amount | Cost to Basic Rate (20%) Taxpayer | Cost to Higher Rate (40%) Taxpayer | Cost to Additional Rate (45%) Taxpayer |
|---|---|---|---|
| £5 | £4.00 | £3.00 | £2.75 |
| £10 | £8.00 | £6.00 | £5.50 |
| £25 | £20.00 | £15.00 | £13.75 |
| £50 | £40.00 | £30.00 | £27.50 |
| £100 | £80.00 | £60.00 | £55.00 |
Processing in Payroll
From a payroll perspective, payroll giving is straightforward:[1]
- Deduct the payroll giving amount from gross pay before calculating Income Tax
- Calculate Income Tax on the reduced gross pay (after the donation deduction)
- Calculate National Insurance on the original gross pay (payroll giving does not affect NI)
- Calculate student loan repayments on the original gross pay
- Show the payroll giving deduction as a separate line on the employee’s payslip
Tip: Payroll giving deductions sit below statutory deductions in the priority order. If an employee has an Attachment of Earnings Order or other priority deductions that reduce their take-home pay to below the payroll giving amount, you should reduce or suspend the payroll giving for that period and inform the employee.
Setting Up a Scheme
To offer payroll giving, the employer must:[2]
- Choose an approved Payroll Giving Agency — HMRC maintains a list of approved agencies
- Sign an agreement with the agency covering administration and payment terms
- Promote the scheme to employees (many agencies provide materials)
- Collect employee instructions specifying charities and amounts
- Configure payroll software to make pre-tax deductions
- Remit collected donations to the agency (typically monthly)
Payroll Giving vs Gift Aid
| Feature | Payroll Giving | Gift Aid |
|---|---|---|
| Tax relief method | Automatic at source | Charity claims basic rate; donor claims higher/additional rate via SA |
| NI savings | None | None |
| Effort for higher rate taxpayers | Automatic | Must claim extra relief on tax return |
| Charity receives | The exact donation amount | Donation + 25% Gift Aid reclaim |
| Availability | Employees only (employer must offer scheme) | Anyone (including self-employed) |
The Payroll Giving Quality Mark
Employers who run an effective payroll giving scheme can apply for the Payroll Giving Quality Mark from HMRC. The mark recognises employers at Bronze (1%–4% participation), Silver (5%–9%), Gold (10%+), and Platinum (20%+) levels. It can be used in corporate social responsibility communications.[3]
Frequently Asked Questions
Does payroll giving reduce National Insurance as well as Income Tax?
No. Payroll giving only reduces Income Tax. National Insurance contributions are calculated on the full gross pay before any payroll giving deduction. This is different from salary sacrifice pension contributions, which can reduce both tax and NI.
Can the employer choose which charities employees donate to?
No. The employee chooses the charity or charities. Any UK registered charity (or EU/EEA charity with equivalent status) can receive payroll giving donations. The employee instructs the Payroll Giving Agency where to direct their donation.
Is there a cost to the employer for running payroll giving?
There is no direct cost to the employer for the donations themselves. Some Payroll Giving Agencies charge a small processing fee (typically absorbed by the employer as part of the scheme), while others offer the service free of charge. The employer’s main cost is the administrative time to set up and run the scheme.
Can employees start and stop payroll giving at any time?
Yes. Employees can start, stop, or change their payroll giving donations at any time by notifying the employer or the Payroll Giving Agency. There is no minimum commitment period. Changes typically take effect from the next available pay date.
Further Reading
- Statutory Deductions (Tax, NI, Student Loan) — understanding the deductions that take priority over payroll giving
- Payslip Legal Requirements — how payroll giving should appear on payslips
- Pension Auto-Enrolment Deductions — another pre-tax deduction and how it interacts with payroll giving
- PAYE Thresholds & Rates 2025/26 — current tax rates that determine the value of payroll giving relief
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Sources
- Payroll Giving — GOV.UK
- Setting up Payroll Giving — GOV.UK
- Tax relief when you donate to a charity — GOV.UK