The CRA announced today that they will be changing the mailing address for the T3010 Registered Charity Information Return effective October 8, 2018 but for other correspondence, there is no change of address. Here is the note from CRA: Information return…
Canadian Charities do a lot of great work. But with over 86,000 of them, there may be a few hundred really bad apples amongst the lot and probably thousands of ineffectual charities, there will be times that you will be…
Recently author and fundraiser Gail Picco wrote an extensive article on the CWP decision entitled “How an Ontario Superior Court Decision Has Remade the Charity Sector, Failed Vulnerable Canadians and Why Some People Are Cheering?”
Althia Raj's article “Super PACs In Canada? Liberals Wrestle With Politically-Active Charities After Court Ruling” covers the fallout from the Canada Without Poverty case and provides some important updates. Althia Raj reports: OTTAWA — In an effort to prevent Canadian…
The CRA announced today that they are appealing the CWB decision. This is not surprising as we noted in our blog on July 30, 2018 “Canada Without Poverty vs. AG – a pyrrhic victory for CWP and a disaster for the…
Here is a copy of our Submission to the Federal Finance Committee dated August 1, 2018 for the 2019 Federal Budget. The submission covers transparency of non-profits and registered charities, as well as a number other recommendations to improve the regulation of registered…
Here is my article on the recent CWP v. AG case entitled Canada Without Poverty vs. Attorney General of Canada – a pyrrhic victory for CWP and a disaster for the charity sector. In short, I think it is a bad…
The Canada Without Poverty v. Attorney General of Canada decision was released on July 16th. Here is the decision. I have written extensively about the importance of having Canadian charities engage in some political activities and how the rules can…
Here is a letter from CRA discussing when an official donation receipt can be issued for a gift from an estate and how the 2016 changes affect this. Here is the text of the letter: “LANGIND E DOCNUM 2018-0745851C6 AUTHOR…
There are certain rules in the Income Tax Act that only apply to private foundations and not charitable organizations and public foundations. These rules are called the 'excess business holdings' regime or 'excess corporate holdings' regime. They limit the amount…
Canadian registered charities often have to provide assistance to people in disasters. Does an individual or business have to include this amount in their income? CRA recently released a letter discussing this issue. Here is the text of the document…
Corporations Canada is looking at changing their fees in relation to the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act (CNCA) as well as some other acts. Some of the most common fees like filing the annual return will be reduced and others will…
The Toronto Star recently published an article: “Inside the offshore tax scheme that left iconic Olympian Donovan Bailey owing nearly $2.3 million in unpaid taxes“. ; In the article, investigative reporter Jesse McLean covered a complicated scheme to help an athlete…
Further to the changes on April 1, 2018 to the Charities Accounting Act relating to Ontario charities and payments to certain people, the Ontario Public Guardian and Trustee has released a guide “Payments to Directors & Connected Persons“. It is…
Here is our Blumbergs’ Receipting Kit for Canadian registered charities 2018. If you wish to receive updates on the Receipting Kit you should join our Blumbergs email newsletter to receive regular updates on charity compliance issues affecting Canadian registered charities. There is…
For those who read our blog you will know that we are very pleased with the new Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act (“CNCA”) that came into effect in 2011. It is a very easy to use modern corporate act that allows a tremendous amount…
We recently looked at Which Canadian charities received funds for political activities from foreign sources in 2016? We hope that you find the article interesting.
The Special Senate Committee on the Charitable Sector has started having meetings and inviting witnesses. We covered the details of the mandate at Senate appoints Special Committee on the Charitable Sector to look at laws and policies and impact Here…
On May 10, 2018, Corporations Canada announced that for new Federal corporations that are newly incorporated, such as Federal non-profit corporations under the Canada Not-for-Profit Corporations Act (CNCA), Corporations Canada would be providing the Canada Revenue Agency Business Number (BN) immediately after…
I am still surprised at the number of Canadian fundraisers that I meet who have not read the CRA's Fundraising Guidance or have read it but don't remember any of the details! Here is the Fundraising Guidance on the CRA…
Here is the standard CRA response letter re Complaint About a Particular Canadian Registered Charity.
Here is a recent archived presentation Philanthropy and First Nations with Richard Bridge which explains the importance of philanthropy with Indigenous groups and how Bands and other organizations can become qualified donees and take advantage of philanthropic interest. Link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/recording/5404821320772560652
The Department of Finance has released the 2018 Report on Federal Tax Expenditures. The document is over 300 pages and discusses the financial costs of certain Canadian tax measures including donation tax incentives. These costs are referred to as “tax…
I will be delivering three presentations in Fort McMurray on Tuesday May 29, 2018 around non-profits and charity compliance issues as well as setting up social enterprises, non-profits and charities. If you are in the area you might find them…