Ottawa, Ontario, May 4, 2012... The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) will revoke the charitable registration of Power Zone Outreach Ministries, a Toronto area charity. The notice of revocation will be published in the Canada Gazette with an effective date of May 5, 2012.
On March 23, 2012, the CRA issued a notice of intention to revoke the charitable registration of Power Zone Outreach Ministries, in accordance with subsection 168(1) of the Income Tax Act. The letter stated, in part, that:
The Canada Revenue Agency’s (CRA) audit has revealed that the Power Zone Outreach Ministries (the Organization) was not complying with the requirements set out in the Income Tax Act. In particular, it was found that the Organization failed to maintain proper books and records, did not devote all its resources to charitable purposes and activities as it acted as a conduit for a non-qualified donee, issued donation receipts on behalf of a non-qualified donee, and did not demonstrate that it maintained adequate direction and control over resources purportedly used in foreign programs that were not approved by the Charities Directorate. For each of these reasons and other concerns identified during the course of the audit, it is the CRA’s view that the Organization no longer meets the requirements necessary for charitable registration.
The notice of intention to revoke and other letters relating to the grounds for revocation are available to the public on request, in the language they were originally written, by calling 1-800-267-2384.
A charity that has had its charitable status revoked can no longer issue donation receipts for income tax purposes and is no longer a qualified donee under the Income Tax Act. The organization is no longer exempt from income tax, unless it qualifies as a non-profit organization, and it may be subject to a tax equal to the full value of its remaining assets.
Registered charities perform valuable work in our communities, and Canadians support this work in many ways. The CRA regulates registered charities through the Income Tax Act, and it is committed to ensuring that charities operate in compliance with the law. Registered charities receive generous tax incentives under the Income Tax Act, including the authority to issue official donation receipts. To maintain this privilege, registered charities are required to keep adequate books and records to allow the CRA to verify donations made to the charity and to ensure the proper use of charitable resources.
Issuing receipts for property that does not legally qualify as a gift and failing to maintain adequate books and records are both considered serious breaches of the requirements of the Income Tax Act and each is grounds for the revocation of charitable status. Where a registered charity is found not to comply with its legal requirements, the CRA may apply monetary penalties or may suspend or revoke the charity's status under the Income Tax Act.
For more information about the registration of Canadian charities, go to the CRA’s Charities and Giving Web page at www.cra.gc.ca/charities.
-30-
FOR BROADCAST USE:
The Canada Revenue Agency has announced that it will revoke the charitable registration of Power Zone Outreach Ministries, a Toronto area charity, for not complying with Income Tax Act requirements. The revocation will come into effect on May 5, 2012.
MEDIA ENQUIRIES:
Noël Carisse
Media Relations
Canada Revenue Agency
613-952-9184
