Plain meaning
A tax credit for eligible gifts made to registered charities and other qualified donees.
Also called
charitable donations
donation tax credit
donations credit
Key points
- A claim usually requires an official donation receipt from a registered charity or other qualified donee.
- Unused eligible donations can generally be carried forward for a limited number of years.
- The federal credit rate is higher for donations above a threshold, and provincial or territorial credits may also apply.
- Gifts of publicly traded securities and other property can have special capital-gains and valuation rules.
- Donation tax shelters and inflated receipts are recurring CRA compliance concerns.
Why it comes up
Donation credits affect personal tax returns, estate planning, charity funding, and policy debates about incentives for giving.