how do you report illegal donation to the cra

If you suspect an illegal or improper donation scheme in Canada, report it to the CRA through its donation-related scams / non-compliance reporting process. The CRA says you should provide the charity or donee’s name, registration number if you have it, detailed facts, and any supporting documents you can share.

What to report

You can report things like:

• Fake or deceptive fundraising.
• False donation receipts.
• Misuse of charity funds.
• Activities that do not match the organization’s charitable purposes.
• Donation tax shelter or scam schemes.

What to include

The CRA recommends including:

• The organization’s name.
• The registration number, if available.
• What happened, when it happened, and who was involved.
• Any documents, screenshots, receipts, or other evidence.

Privacy

The CRA says it will protect your identity to the fullest extent possible under the law, and you generally will not get updates on what happens after you submit a report.

If it’s an immediate scam

If someone is actively soliciting donations in a suspicious way, the CRA gives examples such as a person claiming to represent a charity but refusing to provide credentials or pushing cash donations. In that case, keep records, avoid paying, and report the details promptly.

Practical next step

Go to the CRA’s page for reporting suspected donation-related scams or other non-compliance and submit a lead there.