Donate shares to charity

Donating shares to charity as an individual offers two options:  

• Sell the Shares on Behalf of the Charity: At Teenage Cancer Trust’s request, you can sell the shares yourself and donate the proceeds directly to the charity. This approach is straightforward and enables us to receive funds quickly. 
• Transfer Shares Directly to the Charity: Alternatively, you can transfer ownership of your shares directly to Teenage Cancer Trust. This option requires approval from our investment managers to ensure proper handling. 

Both methods contribute meaningfully to our cause, and we will work with you to facilitate the donation process smoothly. 

Tax benefits of donating shares to charity 

There are two forms of tax relief when donating shares: 

• Income Tax Relief: You can deduct the full market value of the shares on the date of the donation from your taxable income. This reduces your income tax liability based on your tax bracket. 
• Capital Gains Tax (CGT) Relief: You are exempt from paying CGT on any increase in the value of the shares. Typically, CGT is due when selling shares, however donating them to charity removes this obligation

Your company can receive income or corporation tax relief for donating shares to Teenage Cancer Trust, provided the following conditions are met: 

• The shares must be quoted or listed on a recognised stock exchange. 
• The share valuation for tax purposes must reflect the average market price on the exchange at the time of the transfer 
• A limited company cannot claim tax relief for donating its own shares. 

 If you’re considering donating shares, please contact us [email protected]

For more details, you can also visit the government’s website. 

What is the minimum amount of shares you accept? 

Teenage Cancer Trust will accept shares valued at £1,000 or more (subject to approval from the investment managers) to ensure the process is cost-effective, given the administrative time and expenses involved in transferring and selling the shares. 

Which is better: donating shares directly or selling them and giving the proceeds? 

Teenage Cancer Trust’s preferred option is for you to sell the shares and donate the proceeds to us. If you would rather donate the shares directly please contact us on [email protected] to discuss this further. 

How much income tax relief will I receive when donating shares to charity? 

To determine your exact tax relief, you’ll need to know your tax rate and the market value of the shares. 

The tax relief available for a gift of £1,000 worth of shares is as follows: 

• Non-taxpayer: No tax relief is available. 
• Basic-rate taxpayer (20% in the UK): £250.00 in tax relief. 
• Higher-rate taxpayer (40%): £666.66 in tax relief. 
• Additional-rate taxpayer (45%): £818.18 in tax relief.