Created by: Tanya Hilts

Modified on: Aug 31, 2023

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Donations to Charities

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Would you like to make online donations to charity?   Visit  www.CanadaHelps.org

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Tax Receipts

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Find out what documents you need to claim your charitable tax credits

 

What documents will I need to claim my charitable tax credits?

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Charitable Donation Tax Credit Calculator

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Use this tool to calculate your charitable donation tax credit.

 

Charitable donation tax credit calculator 

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Is the Charity Registered?

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Find out if the charity is registered for you to receive a charitable donation tax credit.

 

As the charity for its registration number, and to confirm its status in the list of charities.

 

You can also call the Charities Directorate at 1-800-267-2384.

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Does a charity have to give a receipt when it receives a donation?

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No. However, the CRA advises charities to tell potential donors when they will or will not give a receipt. For example, a charity may decide to provide receipts only for donations over $10.

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What if you get something in return for your donation

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When a charity gives you something of value in return for your donation, it is considered an advantage. The charity has to subtract the value of the advantage from the amount of your donation to figure out the eligible amount to put on your receipt.

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Donations Deadline

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Donations to be receipted for a year must be RECEIVED by the charity in the same year, and that receipt must be evidenced.

 

If you mail a receipt or date a cheque in a year and mail it late in the year, but the mail is received in the new year, we can only receipt the item for the prior year if the return address is on the envelope and a postmark on the envelope must show that it was mailed in the prior year.  If the postmark is not there or legible, then the item cannot be receipted for the prior year.  It is not uncommon for the postmark not to be there or dated.   

 

To ensure any donations in the last few weeks of December are received for that year, instead of mailing a donation, the best option is to donate online via www.CanadaHelps.org