For many charitable venues, fundraising is an essential part of sustaining operations and supporting long-term goals. Gift Aid offers a valuable opportunity to increase income, at no extra cost to the visitor.
However, not all ticket sales qualify for Gift Aid, and the rules around eligibility can be complex. Prior to the upcoming addition of donation-boosted tickets within Ticketsolve, we've released a guide breaking down how venues can structure their admissions to maximise fundraising while staying fully compliant with HMRC regulations.
Find out more about the feature, and our guide, below 👇
Gift Aid on Tickets: What’s the score?
The key thing to bear in mind is that not all ticket sales qualify for Gift Aid, and the HMRC rules on Gift Aid for tickets can be complex. Here’s a simple breakdown:
- Tickets can be gift-aided if your charity grants access to visit a property, collection, or land, but not if you're providing access to a performance.
- Standard admission tickets do NOT qualify for Gift Aid, as they are considered a purchase.
- Donation-based tickets CAN qualify, but only if they meet specific criteria set by HMRC.
New! Offer Gift Aid Tickets with Ticketsolve
With our upcoming donations on tickets update, organisations will be able to:
- Sell standard and Gift Aid-eligible tickets side by side, giving visitors the choice required to claim Gift Aid.
- Ensure full compliance with HMRC’s Gift Aid ticketing regulations
- Automate Gift Aid declarations in the checkout process for easy record-keeping.
- Use built-in prompts at box office and online to encourage more Gift Aid donations.
How to Make Your Tickets Gift Aid Eligible
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The 10% Donation Rule – Quick and Easy Gift Aid Setup:
Visitors can choose to pay at least 10% extra on top of the standard admission price. If they do, the full ticket price qualifies for Gift Aid.
Example:
🎟️ Standard admission: £12 (not eligible for Gift Aid).🎫 Donation ticket: £13.20 (£12 + £1.20 donation) - offered alongside the standard ticket
🪙 Full £13.20 qualifies for Gift Aid!
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Annual Pass or Membership with Unlimited Entry
If a visitor donates in exchange for unlimited free admission for at least a year, their ticket may qualify for Gift Aid. However, strict HMRC compliance rules apply.
Example:
🎟️ A museum offers an annual pass with unlimited free entry: this qualifies for Gift Aid.🎫 A membership that offers one free visit plus discounted re-entry does NOT qualify.
Access Our Free Guide: Gift Aid on Tickets
To help venues navigate Gift Aid rules for ticketing, we’ve created a comprehensive guide covering:
- Which tickets qualify for Gift Aid (and which don’t).
- How to structure your admissions to collect Gift Aid revenue.
- Best practices for compliance, ticketing setup, and visitor opt-in.
