Social Impact Newsletter
HST Primer for Charities and Non-Profits
Ontario and British Columbia will be “harmonizing” their provincial sales tax with the GST, effective July 1, 2010. Instead of a 5% GST and 8% Retail Sales Tax (Ontario) or 7% Social Service Tax (B.C.), there will be a single...
Expedited CRA Charitable Registration
In the past we have been critical of the CRA Charities Directorate for slow decisions on applications for charitable registration. However, even when the general registration backlog has been significant, it has always been possible to request expedited service in appropriate circumstances....
New Exemptions from Land Transfer Tax for Charities in Ontario and Manitoba
We have good news from two provinces regarding the application of land transfer tax to charities that are restructuring. Ontario The Ontario Budget 2010 proposes regulatory amendments to the Ontario Land Transfer Tax Act to exempt certain transfers of land...
NPO Status: The Requirement Not to be a Charity
CRA has recently provided guidance on one aspect of the requirements for tax-exempt status as a non-profit organization (“NPO”) under the Income Tax Act. Specifically, CRA commented on the requirement that, in order to qualify as an NPO, an organization...
Customizing Boards and Committees
One of the most important aspects of operating a non-profit is to have a board which can give direction to the organization. Without being comprehensive in terms of board duties, it must set policy, manage investments, handle personnel issues, raise...
Compensation Cap for Charity Employees
A recent private members bill introduced by Albina Guarnieri, Member of Parliament for Mississauga East, would give the Canada Revenue Agency the discretion to revoke the charitable status of a charity where it pays a single executive or employee annual...
What Counts as a Donor Benefit? A Recent Case on Scholarships
In January 2010, the Tax Court of Canada released its decision in Coleman v. M.N.R. The case provides guidance on the approach that courts will take in determining whether a benefit has been received by a donor in respect of...