Oshawa has adopted a new donation and income tax receipt policy and is encouraging community members to donate to favourite city programs and services, such as Oshawa Animal Services.
The new system allows for donations to be made in person at City Hall (50 Centre St. S.) or Oshawa Animal Services (919 Farewell St.) and online through the Donation Form. The city will issue official income tax receipts to donors for eligible donations with a monetary or net fair market value of $20 or more, said a city media statement.
Eligible Donations
Details regarding donations and official donation tax receipts is available in the City’s Donation & Official Donation Tax Receipt policy.
Monetary Donations: The City of Oshawa will issue Official Donation Tax Receipts for monetary donations in the current year to the individual or organization who made the donation if:
- the eligible amount is $20 or greater; and,
- the donation was received by the last business day of December or the donation is postmarked prior to December 31.
Non-Monetary Donations: All gifts in-kind are subject to a formal offer and review process. At the Treasurers (or Deputy Treasurer) discretion and determination, gifts in-kind may qualify for an Official Donation Tax Receipt after a review of criteria.
- Intangibles such as services, time, skills, effort;
- Donations that are given to the City as a flow through to a specified recipient;
- Donations of business marketing products such as supplies and merchandise;
- A gift in-kind for which a fair market value cannot be determined;
- Sponsorship in the form of cash, goods or services towards an event, project, program or corporate asset, in return for commercial benefits (i.e. logo placement). The intent of a sponsorship is to enhance the image and marketing opportunities of the sponsor in its target market and/or the community. Sponsorships are reciprocal arrangements benefitting both parties.
Additionally, the Treasurer (or Deputy Treasurer) may decline a donation under specific circumstances.
Tax Tip: How to get tax credit
Step 1: Calculate the tax credit by calculating the eligible amount of your donations. Usually, this is the amount shown on your charitable donation receipt.
Step 2: Decide how much you want to claim. You can also claim donations made by your spouse or common-law partner. In one tax year, you can claim:
- donations you made between January 1st and December 31st of that year
- any unclaimed donations you made in the last five years
- any unclaimed donations you made in the last ten years that were gifts of ecologically sensitive land made after February 10, 2014
Step 3: Enter the amount on your income tax and benefit return. In general, if you’re filing on paper, enter your claim on line 34900 of your return.
Keep your official donation receipts along with proof of payment such as cancelled cheques, credit card or bank statements, for six years in case the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) asks to see them.
Learn more about a charity
Learn more about a charity before you donate:
- contact the charity directly for more information about its work
- search the CRA’s list of charities for the charity’s registration, contact, activities, and financial information
- make an informal information request to the CRA
- make an access to information request to the CRA
For more information on charities and donations, visit canada.ca/charities-donors.