Asking for a fiscal period end change

A registered charity must get permission from the Charities Directorate before it can change its fiscal period end, since such a change affects the charity's filing obligations.

To ask for a change, prepare a letter with the following information:

• the new fiscal period end;
• the reason for the change;
• the proposed effective date; and
• the signature of a director/trustee or other authorized representative of the charity.

Mail or fax the letter to:

Charities Directorate
Canada Revenue Agency
Ottawa ON K1A 0L5

Fax: 613-954-8037

Note
Do not include the letter with the charity's annual information return since this may cause processing delays.

Filing for the transition period

If a registered charity receives approval to change its fiscal period end, it will have a transition period that is not a full 12 months. Therefore, it must file a separate information return for the months of transition. For example, if the charity's fiscal period end was originally December 31, and the charity received approval to change it to March 31, one complete return is required for the original fiscal period of January 1 to December 31, and a separate complete return is required for the transition period from January 1 to March 31.

A registered charity's fiscal period generally should not be more than 12 months.

A return for the transition period or for the new fiscal period cannot be processed until the change in fiscal period end has been approved. Therefore, the charity should submit a request as soon as it decides to make the change.

The charity may also need to amend its governing document if it includes a fiscal period end (for example, bylaws state the fiscal period end is December 31, and the charity is changing the fiscal period end to March 31). We will still process this change; however, the charity must amend the date in its governing documents and submit a certified copy to the Charities Directorate. For more information, see Changing a charity’s bylaws.

References

• CSP-F04, Fiscal (period, year end) - Taxation year (deemed year end)