What Counts as an Eligible Donation?
To claim a donation or gift, it must be made to a registered charity or qualified donee, such as:
Canadian registered charities (with a CRA registration number)
Registered journalism organizations
Registered Canadian amateur athletic associations
Certain foreign charities (if approved by CRA)
Government bodies (federal, provincial, or municipal)
The donation must be:
A voluntary gift of money or goods
Supported by an official donation receipt showing the charity’s registration number
How Much Can I Claim?
You can claim:
Up to 75% of your net income for the year
100% for certain gifts, like donations of certified cultural property or ecological gifts
Unused donation amounts can be carried forward for up to 5 years
Federal Tax Credit Rates:
15% on the first $200
29% (or 33% if your income is over $235,675) on amounts over $200
You may also receive provincial/territorial credits, which CloudTax calculates automatically.
How to Claim in CloudTax
Go to the Forms section.
Search and Select "Donations and Gifts".
Enter the name of the charity, the donation amount, and the date.
Keep your donation receipts for your records — you don’t need to send them unless CRA asks.
What Donations Can’t Be Claimed?
You cannot claim:
Donations made to unregistered organizations
Contributions to GoFundMe or similar crowdfunding pages (unless they’re for a registered charity)
Amounts where you received something of equal value in return (e.g., event tickets, merchandise)
Why This Matters
Donating to a registered charity not only supports a good cause — it can also lower your tax bill. With proper documentation, you can turn your generosity into real tax savings.