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CRA Compliance

CRA Compliance

Does Your Charity's Fundraising Comply with CRA Rules?

How CRA's fundraising guidance (CG-013) classifies gala, golf and campaign costs, the 35%/70% fundraising ratio, and what makes fundraising unacceptable.

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Legal Guidelines for Fundraising Events for Canadian Charities

Planning a charity gala, auction or raffle in Canada? Learn CRA split receipting, the 80% rule, lottery licences, Alberta registration and CASL rules.

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What are Typical Penalties & Consequences for Charity Non-Compliance?

Failure to meet charity compliance rules in Canada may result in audits, penalties, or loss of status. Learn the typical consequences and how to avoid them.

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Can a Canadian Charity Provide Benefits to its Directors?

Canadian charities can't pay directors for board service, but some payments for services are allowed. See the Ontario, B.C. and CRA rules and penalties.

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How to Keep the CRA Informed of Changes to Your Registered Charity

Which charity changes you report to the CRA, which need approval first, and how to submit them online now that the CRA fax line is retired.

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Top Strategies for Effective Year-End Audit Preparation

Does your charity need an audit? Learn the ONCA and CNCA audit thresholds, a year-end checklist for treasurers, and how year-end feeds your T3010.

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Privacy Law Compliance Obligations for Canadian Charities and Not-for-Profits

Does PIPEDA apply to your charity? Learn when federal and provincial privacy laws (BC, Alberta, Québec Law 25) cover charities and NPOs, plus breach and penalty rules.

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Can You Take Over an Inactive Charity in Canada? Legal and Ethical Rules

Can you take over a dormant charity in Canada? Learn the legal rules, due diligence checks, director eligibility and when a new charity is better.

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A Guide to Charitable Receipting for Non-Cash Gifts

How Canadian charities receipt gifts in kind: valuing donated items, appraisals over $1,000, the deemed fair market value rule (ITA s. 248(35)), and what the receipt must show.

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What Can a Donor Do If a Charity Doesn’t Honour a Restricted Gift in Ontario?

Can a donor take back a gift or force a charity to follow a donor agreement? Ontario’s Charities Accounting Act, the Faas v. CAMH ruling, and your options.

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What Are the Required Government Filings for an Ontario Nonprofit?

Stay compliant with Ontario nonprofit filings. Learn required annual returns, CRA tax forms, deadlines, and risks to avoid penalties or dissolution.

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Charity Website Compliance in Canada: CRA Rules and Best Practices

Which website rules are law and which are best practice for Canadian charities: donation pages, receipts, sponsors, political posts and accessibility.

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Donation Tax Shelters and Tax Schemes: Red Flags for Canadian Charities

Gifting arrangements promising tax savings above the gift are tax shelters under ITA s. 237.1. Learn the red flags and the penalties charities face.

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Are Canadian Charities Prohibited from Supporting Terrorism?

Canadian charities that support terrorism, directly or indirectly, face CRSIA security certificates, revocation and criminal charges. See CRA’s checklist.

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What Letters Can a Charity Receive After a CRA Audit?

After a CRA audit, a charity may get a no-change letter, education letter, compliance agreement, AFL, sanction or revocation notice. Learn what each means.

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What Happens If a Registered Charity Doesn't Meet its Obligations?

CRA responds to charity non-compliance with education letters, compliance agreements, penalties, 1-year suspension, or revocation under the Income Tax Act.

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How does the CRA interpret and implement accountability requirements?

This article demystifies the Canada Revenue Agency's guidelines on charity grant accountability, clarifying how charities should manage and document their grant funds to stay compliant and goal-oriented.

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How Does the Canada Revenue Agency Safeguard Charitable Compliance and Address Potential Disputes in the Audit Process?

Overview of Charity Audits in Canada: Emphasizing CRA's Compliance Enforcement

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How to Avoid Common Mistakes When Filing T3010 Return

Learn how to avoid common mistakes when filing your T3010 return, ensuring accuracy, meeting CRA requirements, and maintaining compliance for your charity.

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Should Canadian Charities Comply with PIPEDA?

Exploring why Canadian charities must follow privacy laws like PIPEDA, covering applicability, commercial activities, provincial legislation, and compliance.

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CRA Makes It Easier to Access Their Digital Services for Authorized Representatives

Access CRA digital services faster with new ID validation: instant gov't ID verification or traditional mail option available. Simplify your interactions now!

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What is the Importance of Art Form and Artistic Merit Criteria in Gaining Charitable Status in Canada?

Learn how art organizations in Canada can meet the art form and artistic merit criteria to gain charitable status, including establishing widespread acceptance, demonstrating artistic quality, and maintaining compliance.

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How Can Canadian Charities Stay Compliant with the CRA?

Canadian charities must comply with CRA regulations by filing annual returns, maintaining accurate financial records, following fundraising guidelines, meeting disbursement quotas, and staying updated on legal requirements to avoid penalties and maintain their registered status.

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When Does a Toronto Charity Need a Regulatory Lawyer?

Find out when Canadian charities need a professional regulatory lawyer in Toronto, including licensing issues, CRA disputes, and compliance challenges.

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Don’t Let Your Good Deeds Get Punished

B”H The proverb “No good deed goes unpunished” is one the charity space is all too familiar with. The rules and regulations around supporting your mission are seemingly never-ending. One minute you are just trying to fundraise so you can support your mission, the next you get caught up in one of the

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What Disqualifies an Organization from Being Able to Register as a Charity?

Here’s what separates the unqualified charities from the qualified:‍ · If the organization is set up to help individuals or private groups, such as helping an individual or family come to Canada for medical care, it will not qualify as a charity. · Organizations that give personal benefits or funds

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Agency Contract or Joint Venture Agreement for Charities Operating Through 3rd Party Intermediaries

What Must Be Included in An Agency Contract or Joint Venture Agreement for Charities operating through 3rd Party Intermediaries?‍ 1. Ensure that the 3rd party has the “reputation, expertise, capacity, and experience” to execute the activities.

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Exceptions to Canadian Charity Law: When the CRA's Rules Don't Apply

Learn about exceptions to Canadian charity law, including when CRA rules don't apply, key exemptions for registered charities, and their implications.

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Top 10 Canadian Charity Compliance Issues

Q. I was just appointed as a Director of a Charity. What are important compliance issues I need to monitor to stay in the good graces of the CRA Charities Directorate? A. The top 10 Compliance issues the CRA repeatedly focuses on are: Incorrect issuance of Receipts; Failure to file the annual T3010

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Changes to Your Charity

If you look at any organization five, ten or twenty years after it was created, it’s probably going to be very different. Just like people grow and change, companies and corporations evolve. So do charities. It’s not only expected that some things about your charity will change over time, but also a

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A Gift for A Gift

Q. We are a religious Charity based out of Winnipeg and have a donor who just gave us a huge donation, the biggest our charity has seen to date. It’s big, in the millions. We would like to show our appreciation by giving her a token gift. Is that allowed under Canadian Charity Law? Short Answer: Abs

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Charity Revocation: What You Need to Know

Learn what happens when a charity loses its registered status. Understand CRA revocation rules, penalties, and how to stay compliant with Canadian law.

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Guidelines for Charitable Receipting for Canadian Charities

Understand CRA's charitable receipting guidelines for Canadian charities, covering required fields, eligible gifts, and official donation receipt rules.

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CRA's Report on the Charities Program 2024-2025 Insights

Discover key insights from the CRA’s 2024-2025 Charities Program Report, highlighting charity trends, compliance updates, and sector performance in Canada.

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How to Prepare Your Canadian Charity for a Recession

Learn how to prepare your Canadian Charity for a recession with practical legal, financial, and governance strategies to stay resilient in tough times.

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A Guide to CRA Compliance for Private Foundations in Canada

Learn CRA compliance rules for private foundations in Canada, including reporting duties, disbursement quotas, and penalties for non-compliance with CRA tax.

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