About us

Who we are

CTG (formerly known as CTRG) is a membership organisation of all sizes, representing all types of charitable activity across the sector. We currently have over 400 members - see the list of member charities. CTG's purpose is to represent to Government the views of its members on issues relating to the taxation of charities. Since 1982 CTG has attempted to make a serious contribution to the debate on the tax concessions for charities as well as on incentives to encourage giving to charities.

It carries out its objectives through a number of activities including:

• Making regular representations to Ministers and Members of Parliament
• Holding regular meetings with officials at HM Revenue & Customs (the merged department comprising the Inland Revenue and Customs & Excise) and the Charity Commission
• Responding to consultation papers
• Lobbying on legislation affecting the tax position of charities
• Monitoring UK and EU developments likely to affect the sector
• Holding regular members meetings
• Issuing regular briefings to members

Some success stories

CTG has negotiated significant tax concessions for charities and has helped to prevent additional tax being paid by the sector. The group has negotiated £300 million of VAT concessions a year and the work of the group has also ensured that another £250 million of reliefs have been saved.

CTG was extensively involved in the Government's Review of Charity Taxation (1997-2000), with over 50% of its ideas being accepted by the Government.

Crucially, CTG has just secured a commitment from the Government to protect all the charity zero-rates (January 2005).

CTG played an important role in helping the Government fulfil its commitment to ensure free admission to national museums and galleries by devising the technical VAT solution.

The Group has also played a leading role in securing new direct tax reliefs, most recently securing agreement on gift aid on donated goods.

Observer members

CTG welcomes the involvement of its Observer members, professional firms which contribute enormously to the work of the group. Special meetings of the Observer members are held twice a year. Find out which firms are currently in membership of CTG.

Management Committee

The business of CTG is conducted by the Management Committee, membership of which is open to representatives of charity members of CTG. There are nine members of the Committee and the Chairman and Treasurer are ex-officio members of the Committee. Each member of the Committee is elected for a term of three years. A third of the Committee is (re-)elected each year at the AGM. The Management Committee regularly meets to review strategy, identify current issues and discuss technical matters.

Find out who is currently on the Management Committee.

Technical Sub-group

In 2006, it was agreed that CTG would establish a Technical Sub-group which would be responsible for:

• developing CTG's responses to formal and informal Government consultations;
• taking forward any proposals for changes to the tax system proposed by the Management Committee; and,
• representing CTG at technical meetings with Government departments.

The Sub-group is jointly chaired by:

• John Hemming (Wellcome Trust and Vice-Chairman of CTG)
• Richard Bray (Cancer Research UK)

Administration

CTG is administered by its Director, Helen Donoghue, through Central Lobby Consultants: