After caravan and pasty tax climbdowns, charity tax needs to follow suit

The National Council for Voluntary Organisations has responded to the Treasury's plans to drop the controversial tax rises on pasties and caravans, saying that they need to do the same with the charity tax.

Sir Stuart Etherington, Chief Executive of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, said: "The concessions from the Chancellor show that he is willing to listen to reason following a period of genuine consultation. We hope he will apply the same logic to the much maligned 'charity tax'.

"The cap on Gift Aid is already putting off donors.  It is affecting the vital work undertaken by charities both large and small, be that advancing medical research, supporting returning veterans or caring for the elderly."

For more information contact Mandy Murphy in NCVOs press office on 07714 243 942 or email mandy.murphy@ncvo-vol.org.uk.

Notes to editors:

The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) www.ncvo-vol.org.uk is the umbrella body for the voluntary sector in England, with sister councils in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.  NCVO has over 8,300 members, ranging from large national bodies to community groups, volunteer centres, and development agencies working at a local level. With over 280,000 staff and over 13 million volunteers working for our members, we represent and support almost half the voluntary sector workforce.

Charities including the Charities Aid Foundation, the National Council for Voluntary Organisations and the Philanthropy Review are leading the Give it Back George campaign which calls on the Treasury to exempt charitable donations from the plan to cap personal tax reliefs: www.giveitbackgeorge.org.  The campaign now has over 1,000 organisations signed up.