In this case Trinity Global Support Foundation (the “Foundation”) asked the court to delay CRA publishing a notice of intention to revoke the registered charity status until the Foundation’s other legal claims have been dealt with. The FCA ruled against…
Today the Department of Finance released the “Notice of Ways and Means Motion to amend the Income Tax Act, the Excise Tax Act and Related legislation”. This will introduce the First-Time Donor Credit, improve the efficiency of the Tax Court…
The CRA has provided more information on the provision in the 2013 Federal Budget dealing with taxes in dispute and abusive charity gifting tax shelters. Here is a link to the CRA page and the text below: “Taxes in…
I wish it was an April Fool’s joke but unfortunately there are still Canadians investing in the ‘abusive charity gifting tax schemes’. The Globe and Mail had an article today by Paul Waldie discussing “New Canada Revenue rules target charitable…
In an article today in the Globe & Mail entitled “Canada Revenue Agency struggling to put a lid on tax fraud” Kathryn Blaze Carlson discusses false receipting schemes. Here is a link to the article: Here is a link to…
On March 21, 2013 at 4pm, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty delivered the 2013 Canadian federal budget. There were a number of interesting proposals relating to charities. Some of the highlights include a new temporary First-Time Donor’s Super Credit (FDSC) designed…
The Charities Directorate of the Canada Revenue Agency has announced the revocation of Marketplace Ministries International as a registered charity for its involvement in the “Insured Giving Donation Program tax shelter gifting arrangement”. Here is the CRA press release: …
Almost $15 billion is sent by people in Canada to developing world countries as remittances. Over the years I have written quite a bit about remittances, how important they are; how they dwarf charitable funds in Canadian charities used for…
On June 5, 2013, Trevor Clark and myself will be delivering the “Planned Giving Institute” for AFP Toronto’s Fundraising Day. Here is a brief description of the 3 hour presentation: Planned Giving Institute: Program and Development Wednesday, June 5, 2013…
I will be speaking at an upcoming Ontario Bar Association conference on April 8, 2013 dealing with “Not-for-Profit and Charitable Organizations in the Health Sector: Evolving Governance & Compliance Issues”. My topic will be: “Tax issues – Canada Revenue Agency’s…
Today the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance (FINA) released its much anticipated report on Tax Incentives for Charitable Giving in Canada. The report discuss “Charitable Donations and Donors in Canada”, “The Regulation of Charities”, “Tax Incentives and their…
Here is an interesting article entitled “Watchdog Cracks Down on Misleading Statements on Fundraising Costs” Watchdog Cracks Down on Misleading Statements on Fundraising Costs
Vancouver Sun investigative reporter David Baines has just written a followup article entitled “Vancouver museum’s “Michelangelo” sculptures fail to sell at auction”. In this article he discusses how the valuations of the sculptures exaggerated their fair market value and how…
The UK is dealing with a scandal right now called The Cup Trust. It involves a complicated scheme to get money refunded through the Gift Aid system. I thought this quote is interesting “Margaret Hodge MP, Labour chairwoman of the…
I missed this article by Vancouver Sun columnist David Baines last summer entitled “Baines: Couple who cheated tax department suffer litany of woes: Chartered accountant Martin Johnson and estranged wife Celia Martin failed to declare fees earned on art donation”. …
In the case of Glooscap Heritage Society v. The Queen, a charity had its charitable status revoked for improperly issuing tax receipts and operating for the benefit of a tax shelter. The Charity filed an objection to the revocation and…
The Charities Directorate has released a new T3010 (13) Registered Charity Information Return for Canadian registered charities with fiscal year ends after January 1, 2013. The changes on the T3010 (13) are basically more questions about the political activities of…
The Charity Commission notes that the Guidance “explains trustees’ duty to prevent their charity being used to promote extremist views or terrorist ideology. The toolkit also suggests steps trustees can take to minimise risks associated with particular activities, such as…
In a recent Tax Court of Canada case Afovia v. the Queen, Paris J. decided that CRA can revoke a charity for issuing official donation receipts that do not have all the mandatory elements on them. As well, CRA can…
The Hudson Institute has published its 2012 report on remittances. It shows that Canadian remittances to developing countries were $14.7 billion in 2010. CIDA gave $5.2 billion and Canadian charities gave about $1.95 billion. Here is a copy of the…
The Charities Directorate of the Canada Revenue Agency has announced the revocation of the registration of Trinity Divine Outreach Ministries as a registered charity for involvement in the Innovative Gifting Inc. scheme which we have discussed a number of times…
The Charities Directorate of the Canada Revenue Agency has announced the revocation of the charitable registration of International Fellowship Mission Inc.. Here is a CRA press release: “The Canada Revenue Agency revokes the registration of International Fellowship Mission Inc. Ottawa,…
Here is a copy of a memo marked “Secret” and attachments from the Department of Finance on Finance released under Freedom of Information dealing with “Registered Charities – Political Activities, Foreign Funding and Transparency”. It may take a minute to…
The Toronto Star recently covered a conference in which Justin Trudeau was speaking. One of the sponsors of the conference was IRFAN, a group that has lost its charitable status due to allegations that it was involved with directly or…