Joshua Group says tax returns filed in April

The Joshua Group in Saint John believes the charity's problems with Canada Revenue Agency should soon be over, according to its president.

The group's charitable status has been revoked by the federal agency for not filing financial documents within six months of the close of a fiscal year.

Carl Randell, who is the group's president, said their accountant told them Tuesday that tax filings for 2013-14 were submitted in April. The Canada Revenue Agency is now checking that out.

If the documents were received but misplaced by the agency, the matter should be resolved, said Randall.

The Joshua Group works with youth up to 18 years of age, aiming to break the cycle of poverty and transform the lives of youth at risk.

In 2011, the group was declared one of the winners in CBC's national Champions of Change and was awarded $25,000.

With its charitable status revoked effective July 25, 2015, any donations received by the Joshua Group after that date would not be considered charitable deductions for donors and the Joshua Group would have to return the money.

Randell said the group has been told they can reapply for charitable status and that will not be a concern.

"I got three confirmations from the same person at CRA that once we re-establish ourselves as a charitable organization, it is retroactive back to July 25. That is a fact," he said.

Randell says the worst-case scenario is if CRA can't located the filings the group says were submitted in April. In that case, the Joshua Group would have to pay a fine to be reinstated as a charitable organization.