Revocation of Multiple Charities' Registrations

Summary#

The Canada Revenue Agency published a notice under the Income Tax Act saying it intends to revoke the registration of the charities listed in the notice. The revocations are effective on the date of publication: November 25, 2023.

What it does#

• Identifies specific registered charities that have not met CRA’s filing requirements.
• States that the CRA proposes to revoke each listed charity’s registration under the Income Tax Act.
• Says the revocations take effect on the date the notice appears in the Canada Gazette (November 25, 2023).

Who's affected#

• The individual charities named in the Canada Gazette notice (many local churches, community groups, clubs and nonprofit organizations across several provinces). The full list appears in the Gazette.
• Donors, volunteers and clients of those charities may notice practical impacts if the organizations lose registered status.
• It is unclear from the notice whether any particular donors’ past claims or ongoing programs are affected; the Gazette only lists the charities and the proposed revocations.

Why it matters#

• Losing registration under the Income Tax Act generally means a charity can no longer issue official donation receipts and may lose other tax-related benefits. That can make fundraising harder.
• Local communities served by these charities could see reduced services or funding if the organizations cannot operate as registered charities.
• The notice is an example of routine CRA enforcement when organizations fail to file required returns.