Businesses can now donate goods to charities without paying VAT.
The change follows the removal of a long-standing tax on donated goods, prompting calls from North West accountancy and advisory firm Azets for businesses to take advantage of the new rules.
Azets said it was a timely opportunity to support charities amid declining public donations.
CAF said that charity donations dropped by more than £1.4bn last year.
Siobhan Holmes, a partner at Azets who specialises in not-for-profit accounting, said: "This is excellent news for charities, which we know are receiving less in donations.
"Essentially, HMRC has confirmed that for VAT-registered companies, no VAT will be due when eligible goods are donated free of charge to registered charities, where those goods are used to support people in need or are to deliver charitable services.
"The changes remove the VAT that previously applied because the business had reclaimed the amount when it originally bought the goods.
"However, this relief does include a monetary cap per item, and charities cannot reclaim VAT on the donated goods."
She explained that many businesses may have been unaware of the VAT liability, while others may have chosen to dispose of goods instead of donating them to avoid the tax.
Ms Holmes said: "Office supplies and equipment, or surplus stock, is often welcomed by charities and there will be other goods that will be of great use to them.
"For their part, charities should make a record of donated goods, especially any expensive items, and keep an audit trail."
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Azets also warned charities and not-for-profit organisations to ensure their procedures and records are robust amid new and enhanced compliance checks by HMRC.
The tax authority has launched a programme of Structured Risk Reviews (SRRs) in the charity and not-for-profit sectors, adopting a more data-driven and intensive approach to regulation.
Azets has offices in Manchester, Bolton, Burnley, Lancaster, Preston, and Stockport.
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