Church Administration

Registered Charity Information Return

Church Administration / The Baptist Horizon / Canadian Baptist Builders

Registered Charity Information Return

Canada Revenue Agency requires charities to file an annual Registered Charity Information Return (T3010A) each year, within six months of the organization's fiscal year end. 

By completing the annual return, a charity reviews its activities and ensures it is in compliance with the Income Tax Act. Failure to file the annual return or not filing the return within the required time frame may result in the following actions:

  • charitable status may be revoked
  • financial penalties ($500.00)
  • tax receipts to donors may be invalid
The CRA is committed to ensuring that registered charities file their annual return on time and has worked to assist charities in fulfilling this obligation.  Some of the recent measures taken include:

  • providing a fillable on-line T3010A form which includes help functions and links to form T4033A, guide to Completing the Registered Charity Information Return
  • implementing a process to advise charities to file their return one month prior to due date
The CRA will send a Registered Charity Information Return Summary back to the charity to acknowledge that the return has been received and processed.

Helpful Hints

  • use the current version of the T3010A
  • use the guide to Completing the Registered Charity Information Return T4033A
  • answer all the questions - if lines are left blank the return may be rejected as incomplete
  • be sure the CRA has a current mailing address for your charity
  • do not ignore letters from the CRA requesting information or the return
  • keep working papers and detailed notes to help you remember where you pulled the information in previous years - this will also help a new person to understand what has been reported

Checklist

Filing of the Annual Return includes the following:

  • Registered Charity Information Return ( Form T3010A)
  • Registered Charity Information sheet 
  • a copy of the registered charity's financial statements
  • a list of directors/trustees or like officials with all the required information
  • a list of qualified donees