CRA proposes revocation of charities

Summary#

The Canada Revenue Agency published lists in the Canada Gazette on February 24, 2024 proposing to revoke the registered-charity status of many organizations. Some notices are for charities that failed to file required returns; others are for charities that asked to have their registration revoked. The revocations are shown as effective on the date of publication.

What it does#

• Announces a group of charities for which the CRA is proposing to revoke registration because they did not meet the filing requirements under the Income Tax Act.
• Publishes a separate list of charities that asked the CRA to cancel their registrations (voluntary revocations).
• States that the revocation is effective on the date the notice appears in the Canada Gazette (February 24, 2024, the publication date).
• Lists the charities by name and business number in the Gazette so the public can see which organizations are affected.

Who's affected#

• The charities named in the two lists. Examples include ÉGLISE DE DIEU RÉPARATEUR DES BRÈCHES, MORRIS GRIEVER CHARITABLE FOUNDATION, and CRIME STOPPERS SASKATOON INC. from the non-filing list, and THE DR. CHARLES H. BEST FOUNDATION, WEST BROADWAY COMMUNITY SERVICES, INC., and THE SALVATION ARMY BRANTFORD BOOTH CENTRE from the list of voluntary revocations.
• Donors, local communities, and people who receive services from those organizations may notice changes if the groups stop operating as registered charities.
• The Gazette notice itself is public, so anyone checking an organisation’s registration status will be able to see these entries.

Why it matters#

• Losing registered status changes how an organization is treated for tax and reporting purposes. The Gazette notice makes those changes public and marks when they take effect.
• Donors and funders often check whether an organization is a registered charity before giving. A revocation may affect future donations and the organisation’s ability to issue official donation receipts.
• For community members who rely on local charities, the change could affect services or programs if the organization winds down or reorganizes.