CDSSAB wants to be able to issue charitable receipts

The local social service board could soon be issuing charitable tax receipts for donations.

The Cochrane District Social Services Administration Board (CDSSAB) is applying to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to be able to issue receipts to donors. The board approved the step at its April 18 meeting.

Because it’s not a registered charity, right now the CDSSAB can’t issue tax-deductible receipts to donors.

While the CDSSAB led the response efforts to the Empire Complex in Timmins, for example, monetary donations ran through the City of Timmins, which can issue charitable tax receipts.

The CDSSAB considered three options to start issuing the receipts, with members choosing the option that won’t require any separate income tax filings and won’t change the CDSSAB’s business type.

“We do not obtain our number as a fully registered charity, but we do have all of the benefits of being able to issue receipts, plus we don't have any special additional reporting that needs to be done other than we have to maintain appropriate and adequate records of the donations that we have received. So that is the best option that was chosen,” said Angela Delaurier, CDSSAB director of finance.

The change that the CDSSAB is applying for is to be recognized by the CRA as a qualified donee because it is a municipal or public body performing a function of government in Canada. The application can be done in-house by CDSSAB staff.

Marissa Lentz, Local Journalism Initiative, TimminsToday.com