Leaving a gift to charity in your will
Here at Blake Morgan we are supporting ‘Remember a Charity Week’ along with hundreds of other solicitors and Will writers around the UK.
Remember a Charity week is run by Remember a Charity (a registered UK charity and not for profit organisation), set up in 2000 to encourage people to consider making a gift to charities in their Will.
This special spotlight week takes place between 8-14 September 2025. This year’s campaign celebrates the funny moments, interesting hobbies and unique quirks that we remember and cherish about our loved ones. The charity is encouraging everyone to think about how they would like to be remembered, and to consider leaving a gift in their Will to the causes they care about.
The campaign highlights the great work charities in the UK do for worthy causes, both locally and nationally. It is a reminder of the importance of making a Will or reviewing your Will to ensure your estate is administered in accordance with your wishes.
Charity reliance
Charities in the UK rely on legacy gifts for a significant portion of their income. Legacy giving is one of the largest sources of voluntary income for UK charities, raising £4 billion annually (Legacy Foresight 2023).
Whilst you may already support those charities that have supported you or a loved one during your lifetime, by remembering a charity in your Will you can ensure the work they do can continue after your death and provide vital financial support for good causes.
Additionally, as part of your estate planning, by including gifts to charities in your will, you can potentially reduce the amount and rate of inheritance tax payable on your estate.
Tax considerations
The rate of inheritance tax in the UK is currently 40% on assets over any tax-free allowances or reliefs for which your estate may qualify. Charities in the UK have charitable status for tax purposes and do not pay inheritance tax on gifts they receive from a person’s Will. In addition, if you leave 10% of the net value of your estate to your favoured charities, the overall tax rate applicable to your whole estate is reduced to 36%. This allows the charities to receive even more funding from your estate.
You will be familiar with ‘Gift Aid’ when making donations during your lifetime and as outlined above, a similar exemption applies for inheritance tax to gifts to charities in Wills. So, making a gift to UK charities, however large or small, is a fantastic way to support causes important to you and to potentially pay less tax.
Whilst you may not know the value of your estate when you die, it is easy to either leave a set sum of money to a charity or charities, known as a pecuniary legacy, or a share of your residuary estate to a charity or charities, known as a residuary legacy.
How can Blake Morgan help?
Our specialist Succession & Tax team at Blake Morgan are here to help you make the right decision. We can guide you through the process of making a Will and provide bespoke advice about how best to make charitable giving part of your Will and estate planning.
By leaving a gift in your Will, you are making an impact on causes that matter to you.
Finally, by considering leaving a gift to charity in your Will, reviewing your Will at least every five years or following a change within your family (for example, marriage, divorce, birth or death), you can ensure the terms of your Will are up to date and benefit those close to you, be it family and friends or good causes.
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