The Diocesan Scheme

The Diocese of Liverpool offers parishes in the diocese the option of joining the Diocesan Scheme for help in administration of their Gift Aid Scheme.

Parishes on the Diocesan Scheme should also read the pages Operating a Gift Aid Scheme.

Parishes may choose to use the Diocesan Scheme for their Gift Aid claims. The advantages of being part of this service are:

• High Standard of Service
  Through the services offered and the training and support given, parishes can rely on a good standard of service, subject to scrutiny every 4 years or more often if required.
• Continuity
  Once in the scheme, this provides continuity when personnel within the parish change. The Diocesan Gift Aid Officer will have some knowledge of the claim history within a parish.
• Declaration care
  All Declaration forms are provided. The Declaration is the document on which any claim for tax recovery relies. It is important that the wording of the Declaration is correct, and that the forms are completed as required. They should be kept for at least 4 years after the final claim on the Declaration. All Declarations for parishes in the Scheme are checked by the Diocesan Gift Aid Officer. They are also filed centrally, ensuring that these documents are not mislaid on Gift Aid Secretary changeover or resignation. They can be made available when required for inspection by HMRC Charities (formerly Inland Revenue).
• Preparation of claims
  Claim forms are prepared, only requiring an authorising signature from the Gift Aid Secretary. The Diocese sends the claim to HMRC. Any queries from HMRC Charities concerning the claim are dealt with in the first instance by the Diocese. Parishes are reminded when claims are outstanding.
• Gift Aid Secretary support
  The Diocesan Gift Aid Officer and Resources Officers deal with detailed queries from Gift Aid Secretaries, offering advice on a day to day basis. Parishes on the Scheme benefit from the extra knowledge on the Gift Aid claim history of their own parish. Any change of Gift Aid Secretary for parishes within the Scheme is picked up – we are not always notified in non-Scheme parishes. Training for these new Gift Aid Secretaries is then provided if required.
• Regular Audits
  All parishes on the Scheme are audited by the Diocese every 3 to 4 years, or more regularly if required, to ensure that the procedures in the parish meet HMRC Charities requirements. Most parishes find this a reassuring exercise, and we are able to offer advice, where necessary, on improving the parish’s own Gift Aid Scheme. All new parishes joining the scheme are given an initial Diocesan audit.

The charge for all the above services is 5% of the tax actually claimed under Gift Aid. Where no tax is claimed, no charge is made.

To join the Diocesan Scheme, or to find out whether your parish is already on the Diocesan Scheme, please contact the Gift Aid Officer or the Resources Department at St James' House. See Useful contacts for details.

Follow the links in the right hand panel to find out more about operating under the Diocesan Gift Aid Scheme.