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Saskatchewan charities left with questions following tax season extension announcement

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The Saskatoon Community Foundation (SCF) has its eyes on Ottawa after the federal government announced that the deadline for making donations in the 2024 tax year will be extended.

Jen Pederson from the SCF is unsure how the government will move forward with the plan.

"There are so many question marks around. Around the state of Parliament and when this proposal could be officially enacted into legislation," said Pederson.

The final day of the tax year would have typically fallen on December 31, 2024 but the Government of Canada aims to move the date to February 28, 2025 for charitable donations.

The hope is that extending the deadline by almost two months will lessen the impact of the four-week Canada Post strike.

"If something doesn't land in [a charity's] mailbox until into next week, they can say, oh, well, the check is dated sometime in December," said Pederson.

 

"We can, in good faith and legally within the CRA's requirements, process this gift as a 2024 gift."

The SCF says that although the announcement may be beneficial to charities that rely on holiday mailers, it arrived late and hasn't given organizations a lot of time to switch gears.

Up in Prince Albert, the Food Bank says that they don't anticipate much change due to the announcement.

"It may provide some benefit," said Prince Albert Food Bank Executive Director Kim Scruby. "I'm not sure. We've actually noticed a huge increase this Christmas with people donating online, you know, through a transfer or online portal."

Even before the postal strike, donors had found other ways to contribute.

"We've had a lot of folks just stop by instead of mailing," said Scruby.

The government plans to introduce legislation, extending charitable donations once Parliament returns for the new year.

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