The Canada Revenue Agency is helping Canadians who plan to give to a registered charity this holiday season by publishing tips on how to be an informed donor.

“While the CRA is actively engaged in educating registered charities on their obligations under the Income Tax Act, it is also concerned with educating Canadians on the importance of being an informed donor,” says Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of National Revenue and Minister of State (Agriculture and Agri-Food).

“The CRA is committed to supporting the invaluable work of Canadian charities by providing Canadians with information that will enhance donor confidence and reduce cases of fraud in the charitable sector,” Blackburn adds.

As the regulator of registered charities under the Income Tax Act, the CRA has designed web pages to help donors make informed decisions when giving to charity.

The web pages provide information on:

• donations that can help reduce your tax burden;
• organizations that can issue official donation receipts;
• registered charities that operate in your community, and how they spend their money;
• how to raise concerns about particular registered charities; and
• how to avoid becoming a victim of fraud.

Canadians are encourage to visit www.cra.gc.ca/donors or call 1-800-267-2384 for tips on how to be an informed donor.

IE