Do you hold small quantities of shares that you don't know what to do with? Would you have to pay Capital Gains tax on your next sale of shares?
Donating shares to MAF can realise much-needed cash for our work and it may have tax advantages for you.
What tax benefits might be available if I donate shares to MAF?
Income Tax
If you donate shares to MAF, you can get income tax relief on the donation. If you are a higher-rate taxpayer and donate £1,000 worth of shares for example, you will get £400 tax relief. If you pay tax at the standard rate, the relief would be £220. You can claim this on your self- assessment tax form, or by contacting your local Tax Office.
Capital Gains Tax
Normally, if you sell shares for more than what they were valued at when you acquired them, this is known as making a Capital Gain. You can make Capital Gains up to an annual limit (the allowance for the tax year 20010/11 is £10,100) without having to pay tax on this money, but anything above that will be subjected to Capital Gains Tax (40%).
However, you will not have to pay any Capital Gains Tax on shares which you donate to MAF. This exemption may therefore be important to you if you have already reached, or are likely to reach, the annual limit.
This is the general situation. However, MAF is not registered to give financial advice, so if you do want advice on your specific tax circumstances, you must contact a financial advisor or HMRC (formerly the Inland Revenue).
We would welcome any shares, large or small, old or new. If you would like to discuss the donation of shares further please contact us on 0845 850 9505