Charity registrations revoked for three congregations

Summary#

The Canada Revenue Agency published a notice under the Income Tax Act saying it will revoke the registrations of three charities. The revocations follow each group's consolidation or merger and are effective on the notice publication date, April 20, 2024.

What it does#

• Revokes the registered charity status of the listed organizations.
• Says the charities requested revocation after they consolidated or merged with other organizations.
• Makes the revocations effective on April 20, 2024.
• Lists the affected charities (business number — name — location):
  • 135405132RR0001 — THE BIGGAR CONGREGATION OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES INCORPORATED, Biggar, Saskatchewan
  • 706183910RR0001 — SCARBOROUGH CREOLE CONGREGATION OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES, Scarborough/Toronto, Ontario
  • 747810117RR0001 — HIGHLANDS CONGREGATION OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES, Lethbridge, Alberta
• The notice in the Gazette was signed by Sharmila Khare, Director General, Charities Directorate.

Who's affected#

• Donors to these three charities.
• People who received recent donation receipts from these charities.
• The organizations that these groups merged or consolidated into.
• Anyone who used services run by these specific local congregations.
  If it’s unclear who the merged organization now is, the notice does not name them.

Why it matters#

• Being a "registered charity" under the Income Tax Act is what lets an organization issue official donation receipts and be recognized for certain tax purposes. Revocation means these groups are no longer registered as of April 20, 2024.
• Donors, beneficiaries, volunteers and local community members may need to check the current status of donations, receipts or services with the merged organization or with the Canada Revenue Agency.