---
title: "Leave money to charity in a will"
description: "Charity gifts are IHT-exempt. Leaving 10% or more of the net estate can cut the IHT rate from 40% to 36%. How to do it."
url: "https://swiftwill.co.uk/can-i-leave-money-to-charity-in-my-will/"
author: "Marcus Kaiser"
date_modified: "2026-08-12"
---

# Leave money to charity in a will

Yes — and it is one of the most tax-efficient things a will can do. Gifts to UK-registered charities are completely exempt from inheritance tax, and if you leave at least 10% of your net estate to charity, the tax rate on everything else drops from 40% to 36%.

> SwiftWill provides legal information and software for England & Wales under Section 9 of the Wills Act 1837. Figures are taken from gov.uk, legislation.gov.uk and HMCTS, checked 12 August 2026. We have not given you legal advice — this is general information.

## Can you leave money to charity in a will?

Gifts to UK-registered charities in a will are completely exempt from inheritance tax. If
 your estate is over the tax threshold, every pound you leave to charity is a pound the tax
 bill never sees — so a £10,000 gift can effectively cost your family £6,000 in lost
 inheritance once the 40% tax saving is counted.

## Cash gift or share of the residue?

- A **fixed cash gift** is simple and certain — but inflation erodes it, so review the figure every few years.
- A **percentage of the residue** scales with your estate automatically and is often fairer between charity and family — 5% to a cause you love still leaves 95% with the people you love.

## How does leaving 10% to charity cut inheritance tax?

Leave at least 10% of your *net* estate to charity and the inheritance tax rate on
 the rest drops from 40% to 36%. For larger estates the saving can be substantial —
 sometimes a bigger gift to charity leaves the family barely worse off at all, because the
 taxman funds most of the difference.

## How should you name a charity in a will?

Charities share similar names, merge, and occasionally close. Always use the full
 registered name and the registered charity number — both appear on the charity's
 website and the Charity Commission register. Well-drafted wills also say the gift should
 take effect for any successor organisation if the named charity has merged, so a
 reorganisation does not sink your gift.

## How do you make a charity gift official?

A charitable gift needs nothing more exotic than a properly signed and witnessed will —
 see [what a will costs](/will-cost/) for the honest price landscape. You can
 [make your will in about 15 minutes](/start/) with SwiftWill for a one-time £35,
 charitable gifts included, with free updates for life. One caveat: if a large gift to
 charity would leave dependants short, they may have a claim against the estate — that is a
 conversation to have with a solicitor.

## Frequently asked questions

### Do I pay inheritance tax on gifts to charity?

No. Gifts to UK-registered charities in a will are completely exempt from inheritance tax, however large they are. The exemption applies to the gift itself — and a large enough gift can also lower the rate on the rest of the estate.

### What is the 10% rule?

If you leave at least 10% of your net estate to charity, the inheritance tax rate on everything else drops from 40% to 36%. For estates over the tax threshold, the saving can fund most of the gift itself.

### Should I leave a fixed amount or a percentage?

A fixed cash gift is simple and certain, but inflation erodes it over the years. A percentage of the residuary estate scales automatically with what you leave behind, which many people find fairer between charity and family.

### How do I make sure the money reaches the right charity?

Use the charity's full registered name and its registered charity number, both of which appear on the Charity Commission register. Lookalike names are common, and the number removes all doubt.

### Can my family challenge a large gift to charity?

You are free to leave your estate to charity — but a spouse, child or dependant left without reasonable provision can claim under the 1975 Inheritance Act. If a large charitable gift would leave dependants short, take advice from a solicitor first.

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Last modified: 2026-08-12
Author: Marcus Kaiser (https://swiftwill.co.uk/author/marcus-kaiser/)