Payroll-giving
is starting to gain momentum, according to its promotional charity.
Sharing
the Caring claims the money donated by staff for good causes increased by 44
per cent last year.
The
figures reveal a 13 per cent rise in the number of employees joining
payroll-giving schemes. The donations are tax-efficient and currently benefit
from a 10 per cent government supplement.
Donations
through payroll-giving are deducted before tax, so a gift of £10 per month
costs donors £7.80 but is worth £11 to charities.
Mark
Barrett, head of HR at the Body Shop, said, “Employers have a vital role to
play in spreading the message about the opportunities for tax-efficient giving
through the payroll.
“Payroll-giving
not only helps our staff support their favourite charities, it encourages
corporate involvement in the communities where we work.”
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Charities
received £33.7m through payroll-giving in 2000 compared with £23.4m in 1999.
The
average number of people donating grew from 392,950 in 1999 to 445,722 in 2000.