by Bart Peerless and Josh Winfield, Charles Russell Solicitors
Originally published in Private Wealth Advisor, February 2002
INTRODUCTION
The warm glow from doing a good deed is not the only benefit of giving to charity. Charitable gifts in the UK also carry potential tax advantages for the donor, which grow exponentially for those paying income tax at the higher rate. For the wealthier individual, creating one’s own charity can also present the opportunity to make a significant difference to favourite causes through an entity that becomes a lasting source of family pride.
WHAT DO WE MEAN BY CHARITY?
A charity will qualify as such under English and Welsh law if its purposes are limited to one or more of the advancement of religion (not restricted to Christianity), the advancement of education, the relief of poverty, and any other purpose beneficial to the community (for example, the environment). A charity must also be for the benefit of the public. Gifts for political purposes
