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Charities and Giving

Institutional links

Federal government contacts outside the Charities Directorate

Listed below are Web site addresses and telephone numbers of federal government contacts for registered charities.

Contacts within the Canada Revenue Agency

Business number registration

To set up registration, payroll or GST/HST accounts:


GST/HST for Charities

Information for registered charities about GST/HST:


Rebates

Public service bodies, which include charities, can ask for a rebate for part of the GST, or the federal component of the HST (and in most cases also the provincial component of HST), that they've paid on goods and services used in certain activities:


Income Tax Rulings Directorate

Provides two main services to the public:

  • advance income tax rulings for an hourly fee
  • general interpretations of provisions of the Income Tax Act, which are not binding on the CRA in respect of any specific transaction. No fee is charged for these.

Telephone: 613-957-8953

More information on these services is found in Information Circular 70-6R5


Local tax services office

General inquiries relating to tax issues not answered by other organizations mentioned here.


Contacts outside the Canada Revenue Agency

Canada site

Main Web site for Government of Canada, with links to all other federal government sites. Information on programs and services. Calls from within Canada and the United States:


Government of Canada Publications


The Canada Gazette

The Canada Gazette is an official medium for the publication of legally binding decisions of the Government of Canada, its various boards, agencies, commissions and Crown corporations.


The Federal Court of Appeal (FCA)

FCA judgments are available to the public at Decisions of the Federal Court of Appeal.

For general enquiries regarding procedural business of the Registry of the Federal Court of Canada, please contact your local Registry Office.

Department of Finance Canada

Provides the Minister of Finance with analysis and advice in relation to the Income Tax Act, which includes tax incentives for charitable giving and certain legal requirements that charities must fulfil in order to be registered at the federal level in Canada.


Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada

The Commissioner is an advocate for the privacy rights of Canadians.


Canadian Heritage

Canadian Heritage promotes culture, the arts, heritage, official languages, citizenship and participation, multiculturalism, Aboriginal, youth and sports initiatives.


Canadian Heritage National Arts Service Organization (NASO)

For questions concerning designation as a National Arts Service Organization (NASO). The designation provides not-for-profit arts organizations that promote the arts on a nation-wide basis a tax treatment equivalent to that of registered charities.


The Canadian Cultural Property Export Review Board

Among its various responsibilities, the Board certifies cultural property for income tax purposes. In this role, it makes determinations with respect to the "outstanding significance and national importance" and the fair market value of objects or collections donated or sold to designated Canadian museums, art galleries, archives and libraries.


Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)

CIDA’s aim it to reduce poverty, promote human rights, and support sustainable development. Also see CIDA’s list of Canadian voluntary sector organizations for a list of organizations that cooperate with CIDA.

  • CIDA
    • 1-800-230-6349
    • TTY/DD: 1-800-331-5018


Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC)

Industry Canada - Corporations Directorate

Information about federal incorporation.


The Competition Bureau

Deals with the federal Competition Act which includes some fundraising activities.


Industry Canada - Electronic Commerce Branch

Responsible for regulations under the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA).


Privacy for Business

Industry Canada's online e-security and privacy guide.


Statistics Canada

Statistics Canada produces statistics that help Canadians better understand their country – its population, resources, economy, society, and culture (including information on charitable giving and the voluntary sector).

 

Date Modified: 2009-12-10

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