Charities across the country now have clarity on the charitable giving deadline.
The Canada Revenue Agency has announced that the deadline for donations has been extended to Feb. 28, allowing residents to claim them on their 2024 tax return.
The move was first mentioned by the federal government late last year.
With an amendment to the Income Tax Act, parliament was planning on pushing the timeline for when residents could receive a tax break on their 2024 tax returns via donation from Dec. 31, 2024 to Feb. 28, 2025 due to delays in postal service caused by the Canada Post strike.
But it was brought into question when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau prorogued government in early January, prompting confusion among many local charities.
The United Way Waterloo Region Communities was one that had been operating under the assumption it wouldn't be able to issue charitable receipts for 2024 past Dec. 31.
Scott Hamilton, senior director of philanthropy for the local United Way, said the most recent news is certainly welcomed.
"We've had quite a few questions about whether or not the CRA was going to implement the 2024 charitable contributions extension, so this is a big relief and we're very grateful for it," Hamilton said in an email.
"Although we're incredibly thankful for the donors that went out of their way in December 2024 to make charitable donations in ways they've never engaged before — for instance, we had many older adults try e-transfers and online gifts for the first time — this deadline extension for charitable donations helps us to reach those annual donors that simply couldn't make their gifts happen without the postal service working."
Hamilton said the extension is a reminder of the important role donors play in helping charities provide necessary services to the community.
"It's never too late to help others in need," he said.
"It's never to late to help the charities and non-profits that give their heart and souls to our city and our region, to improve and save lives of our most vulnerable members. The CRA extension reminds us of that, and how important it is to give, to help others that truly need it."