Under the Income Tax Act, there is no legal obligation for registered charities or other qualified donees to provide official donation receipts or issue them within a specific timeframe.
However, if your organization chooses to issue receipts, it should ensure compliance with standard receipting regulations.
While there is no requirement to issue receipts specifically for donations made during an extension period, some organizations may do so as a courtesy to donors who typically receive a single annual receipt for multiple contributions.
Qualified donees should record the date of donation based on the following guidelines:
Examples:
The extension period does not alter how tax-receipted revenue is reported on the T3010 Registered Charity Information Return.
Charities must report all official donation receipts issued during their 2025 fiscal period on their 2025 T3010 return. This applies to other registered entities, such as journalism organizations and amateur athletic associations.
Example:
A charity with a fiscal year from January 1 to December 31 issues:
The total tax-receipted revenue reported on Line 4500 of the 2025 T3010 return would be $65,000.
Qualified donees are required to keep detailed records of their activities. While not mandatory, best practices include:
These practices help ensure transparency and allow organizations to respond effectively to donor inquiries or requests from the CRA.