Obligations of registration

The main obligations of a registered charity are to:

  • devote its resources (funds, personnel, and property) to its charitable purposes and activities

  • file its annual Form T3010, Registered Charity Information Return, within six months of its fiscal period-end

  • meet its annual spending requirement (disbursement quota)

  • keep adequate books and records in Canada, and make them available for review by the Canada Revenue Agency on request

  • make sure that official donation receipts are complete and accurate when issued

  • control and direct the use of all its resources (funds, personnel, and property)

  • maintain its status as a legal entity

Also, a registered charity should inform the Charities Directorate of any changes to the charity's mode of operation or legal structure. Examples include a change in address, directors, legal or operating name, purposes, activities, or governing documents.

For more information on the obligations of a registered charity, see Checklists for charities. If a registered charity does not meet its obligations, it may be subject to a penalty and may have its registered status revoked.

Note
Certain documents that provide information about a registered charity are available to the public. These include a charity's governing documents, its financial statements, and the public parts of a charity's application form and annual information return.

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References

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