Tax Receipting

The Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation is a registered charity and will automatically issue tax receipts for donations of $20 or more. For Offline donations, tax receipts are mailed via Canada Post. For Online donations, tax receipts will be issued to the email address provided by the donor.

Receipting Guidelines

Charitable donation receipts are issued in accordance with Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) guidelines. The following descriptions, although not inclusive, attempt to deal with the most commonly asked tax receipting questions.

GENERAL RULES

1. ** A charitable donation receipt can only be issued to the issuer of the cheque. **
   
   * Unless the cheque issuer acts as an agent for collecting and remitting donations from various persons/parties (i.e., an employer of an employee fundraising initiative). Donation receipts can be issued to the persons/parties provided that the nature of the monies can be receipted and a complete and legible list of donor information (donor name, address, and postal code) is provided to the Foundation.
   
   * A donation receipt cannot be issued in another name (i.e., on behalf of someone).
   
   
2. ** A charitable donation receipt can be issued for a GIFT IN KIND. **
   
   * Gifts in kind include (but are not limited to) capital property, depreciable property, personal-use property, shares and inventory of a business. A gift in kind does not include a gift of services.
   
   * A donation receipt may be issued for the fair market value (FMV) of the property/goods on the date it is received.
   
   * If the item is new and has been recently purchased, a receipt or invoice is adequate proof of FMV.
   
   * All property with a fair market value >$1,000 must be valued by a qualified appraiser independent of the donor and the Foundation.
   
   * To receive a donation receipt for a gift of inventory the Foundation requires an invoice. Most businesses prefer to claim the donation of inventory as a business expense.
   
   
3. ** A charitable donation receipt cannot be issued for SERVICES. **
   
   * Services include professional, business and personal services. Examples of services are legal, accounting, recreation, entertainment, transportation, dining.
   
   * Services may be paid by the Foundation, and later the Foundation may accept the voluntary return of all or part of the payment as a donation. This process is known as a “cheque exchange”. The donor declares payment for services as taxable income and receives a charitable donation receipt for the same amount.
   
   
4. ** A charitable donation receipt cannot be issued for SPONSORSHIPS. **
   
   * Where a business gives cash or merchandise to the Foundation, and receives a material business advantage such as promotional or advertising services, the business has not made a gift according to CRA and the Foundation cannot issue a charitable donation receipt.
   
   * In these circumstances, the business can usually claim the cash payment or value of the merchandise as a business expense.
   
   
5. ** A charitable donation receipt cannot be issued for a LOTTERY TICKET.**
   
   * No part of the cost of a lottery ticket is considered a gift because the ticket offers the purchaser a chance to win prizes.
   
   
6. ** There are two types of charitable donation receipts issued at an AUCTION.**
   
   a) A charitable donation receipt may be issued for property donated to the Foundation for the auction
   
   * A receipt can only be issued for property not services.
   
   * A receipt will be issued for FMV of the auction item (FMV = the lesser of either the FMV or what the donor paid for the auction item).
   
   * If FMV cannot be established then no receipt can issued.
   
   * Businesses donating inventory may receive a receipt for retail value of the auction item.
   
   b) A charitable donation receipt may be issued for property that is purchased during the auction
   
   * A receipt can be issued for the bid price in excess of FMV provided: 
   
        - FMV is established and announced in advance; and
   
        - The difference meets the intent to give threshold.
   
   * The intent to give threshold can be calculated in advance by multiplying the FMV by 125%

Example:

     - Wine donated (FMV) $200

     - Intent to give threshold $200 X 125% = $250

For bid prices of $250 or more, a tax receipt can be issued for the difference between the bid price and the FMV of the item.

Example: