What "R68" means
R68 is the name HMRC's technical specifications use for the charity repayment claim sent to Charities Online (Charities technical pack, a PDF on GOV.UK). You also see it in the name of the schedule's worksheet, R68GAD_V1_00_0_EN, which you must not change (GOV.UK). Where other guides mention an R68, they mean this repayment claim.
The ways HMRC accepts claims
HMRC's guidance gives three ways to claim back tax on donations, and says claims made any other way will be rejected:
| Way to claim | What it involves | Payment, per HMRC |
|---|---|---|
| Charities Online with a schedule spreadsheet | Fill in HMRC's schedule, up to 1,000 donations each, and attach it to the online form. See how to claim online. | Within 4 weeks |
| Software that works with Charities Online | A Gift Aid database or other compatible software sends the claim directly. | Within 4 weeks (claimed online) |
| Form ChR1 by post | A paper claim form, ordered from the Charities helpline and signed by an authorised official. | Within 5 weeks |
You do not have to use the same method every time, and you can use more than one at once.
More than 1,000 donations
HMRC's "How to claim" guide says that for claims of over 1,000 donations you must use software. Its schedule and Charities Online guidance also say you can submit as many online claims as you like, for example 6,000 donations as 6 claims of up to 1,000 each, finishing one before you start the next. See the 1,000 line limit.
Finding Gift Aid software
HMRC publishes a list of software suppliers for filing charity repayment claims online, and says it accepts claims filed with any product on the list. If you regularly claim for more than 1,000 donors, HMRC suggests your own Gift Aid database, as claims are processed quicker.
Donor Schedule is not on that list, because it does not send claims to HMRC. It prepares the schedule spreadsheet for the first route above, and you attach it yourself.
Sources: Charities and tax: reclaim tax, Claiming Gift Aid: how to claim, HMRC detailed guidance, chapter 6 (section 6.4), Claim tax back using Charities Online and Find software suppliers, all on GOV.UK.
This page is general guidance based on HMRC's published guidance on GOV.UK, linked above, checked on 21 October 2026. It is not tax advice, and HMRC's own pages take priority if they change. Donor Schedule is not affiliated with HMRC.
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