A cash machine-giving scheme is already working in Colombia, ministers say People could give to charity every time they use bank cards in shops or at cash machines, the government has said.
They could also be prompted to give money when they fill in tax returns, or apply for passports and driving licences, the Cabinet Office suggested.
Lottery winners would get thank-you letters from ministers if they donated large sums to good causes, it added.
The proposals are set out in a government paper calling for charitable giving to become a "social norm".
Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude said it was not an attempt to "compel" people but to encourage the "big society" agenda championed by Prime Minister David Cameron.
But opponents are likely to argue the scheme would be a way of providing public services "on the cheap" during a time of widespread cuts to public spending
The government's consultation document calls on UK banks to look at copying a system used in Colombia which allows customers to make a donation each time they withdraw cash.
And it recommends a national "round-up-the-pound" scheme which would allow people to give donate "change" when paying by debit or credit card.
While the British are generous in charitable giving compared with people in most other countries, they rank 29th for volunteering - spending 17 times more hours watching TV, the document notes.
The government said there was evidence of a "latent demand to give" and that individuals and businesses needed to be reminded of the "warm glow" resulting from helping others.
Mr Maude said of the consultation, which runs until 9 March: "Giving is too often caricatured as worthy and selfless, a one-way street, but there's nothing wrong with doing things for each other and repaying kindnesses.
"If we can agree as a society the values that underpin helping each other we can unlock huge potential for a stronger, bigger society."
This article is from the BBC News website. � British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-politics-12085506
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