CRA recently updated their page dealing with Penalties and suspensions.  The big changes appear to be a whole section on penalties and suspension for registered journalism organizations – of which there are none currently!  Also, they updated the language relating to “direct or indirect support of, or opposition to, any political party or candidate for public office” what we used to refer to as “partisan activities”.

 

So for registered charities instead of saying there is a suspension of tax-receipting privileges for:

“Carrying out partisan political activities, or political activities that are not connected and subordinate to the charity’s charitable purposes or carrying on political activities when the charity is not devoting substantially all its resources to charitable activities and purposes”

It now says “Devoting any resources to the direct or indirect support of, or opposition to, any political party or candidate for public office”

 

For RCAAAs it used to say a one-year suspension of tax receipting privileges for:

“Carrying out partisan political activities, or political activities that are not connected and subordinate to the promotion of amateur athletics in Canada on a nation-wide basis, or carrying on political activities when the association is not devoting substantially all its resources to that exclusive purpose and function”

It now says the suspension is for “Devoting any resources to the direct or indirect support of, or opposition to, any political party or candidate for public office”

 

Here is the new information on penalties and suspensions for registered journalism organizations:

Penalties and suspensions for RJOs

Applicable as of January 1, 2020

 

InfractionPenalty/Suspension for first infractionPenalty/Suspension for repeat infractions
Not filing an annual information return on time$500 penalty (assessed when an application for re-registration is made)$500 penalty (assessed when an application for re-registration is made)
Issuing receipts with incomplete or incorrect information5% penalty on the eligible amount stated on the receipt10% penalty on the eligible amount stated on the receipt
Not keeping proper books and records or failing to provide them to authorized CRA officials when requestedSuspension of tax-receipting privilegesSuspension of tax-receipting privileges
Issuing receipts when there is no gift or when the receipt contains false information (when the total penalties for this infraction for the year do not exceed $25,000)125% penalty on the eligible amount stated on the receipt125% penalty on the eligible amount stated on the receipt
Issuing receipts when there is no gift or when the receipt contains false information (when the total penalties for this infraction for the year exceed $25,000)One year suspension of tax-receipting privileges and 125% penalty on the eligible amount stated on the receiptOne year suspension of tax-receipting privileges and 125% penalty on the eligible amount stated on the receipt
Accepting gifts or transfers of property on behalf of a suspended qualified doneeOne year suspension of tax-receipting privilegesOne year suspension of tax-receipting privileges
Providing incomplete or inaccurate information on the annual information return, including failing to include on the return the name of a donor that made a gift in excess of $5,000 during the tax year and the amount of the giftSuspension of tax-receipting privileges until the required information is provided to the CRA on the RJO annual information returnSuspension of tax-receipting privileges until the required information is provided to the CRA on the RJO annual information return

 

CRA has also recently created a page entitled Compliance for registered journalism organizations with information on audits, sanctions, and revocations for RJOs.