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Charitable Trusts

The ideal way to make a lasting contribution to a cause you care about.

Donors who set up their own trust usually find that the trust serves as a framework to enable them to plan their charitable giving in a systematic and thoughtful way. It also gives donors a greater say in how the money is allocated to the causes they want to support. This is strengthened by establishing aims and priorities for the trust. Many people involve their family as trustees, and find it a very enjoyable and constructive way of developing a shared family commitment to support charity.

Charitable trusts provide a number of tax benefits. Apart from the tax relief on donations to the trust, no tax will be charged on any investment income. No corporation tax or inheritance tax will apply, and the trust will be exempt from business rates if it eventually comes to run its own office. In addition, unless the trust is very large, it will not have to register VAT.

Furthermore, donations to the trust can be made through Gift Aid or Payroll Giving, and other tax-effective giving methods.

Trusts are completely independent of Government or external controls, other than the Charity Commission, but trustees are obliged to work within the charitable purposes as established by the Trust Deed. After initial registration, the trust is required to publish a formal report and accounts each year (including a list of the main organisations it has helped) and it must send the Charity Commission an annual return and report any significant changes. The Trust can be the beneficiary of a legacy from your estate.

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