Why I Now Give and Get My Tax Back

I’ve been giving to charities for as long as I can remember. As a child, it meant helping with street collections, school fundraisers, church groups, Brownies/Girl Guides, and sports clubs. As an adult, it became a mix of time, energy, and financial support for causes close to my heart.

Through all those years, I never once thought about claiming tax back on my donations. Giving was simply… giving. It felt strange to imagine receiving something in return, almost as if it took away from the spirit of generosity.

Even after years of fundraising—offering charitable receipts to others—I still didn’t connect the dots. It wasn’t until I joined the Aoraki Foundation and learned about the “Give and Get Your Tax Back” campaign that everything clicked. I finally understood how the system worked and how incredibly easy it is to claim through the IRD.

And suddenly it made perfect sense.

Claiming your tax credit isn’t about personal gain. It’s about making your giving go further. When you can get a third of your donation back, you’re able to give a little more next time. That’s how it felt for me, and it changed the way I think about charitable giving.

If you’re anything like I was—never really considering claiming the tax — why not give it a try? Once you see how simple it is, and how much further your generosity can stretch, you might be pleasantly surprised by the difference it makes for you and the charities you care about - Kirsty Burnett

Kirsty Burnett is our very own Gift and Community Advisor at the Aoraki Foundation. If you would like to know more about claiming the tax rebate on your charitable donation, head to our Give and Get your Tax Back page for Tips and FAQ’s