I’m assuming that e-filing of a charitable return continues to not be available via Tax Cycle? The Transmit option doesn’t seem to be available for a completed return and curiously the file can only be saved as a 2019 file.
I recall from last year that, notwithstanding the encouraging language from CRA and pursuant to comments from other practitioners, paper filing remained the simplest & least time consumptive filing choice. Likely (and perhaps understandably) not high on anyone’s priority list.
As the CRA doesn’t provide a method for us to submit T3010 returns electronically, yes paper filing is the only option via TaxCycle for now.
~ Rob
Thanks for your prompt response, Rob.
You can login into the Rep a client site and file via web forms. Basically you are copying and pasting everything from TaxCycle. The last one I did that way took me 1.5 hours to complete online. If you can charge the client then fine, otherwise, print and courier it in.
I looked at the T3010 process last year and immediately decided against the CRA version. WAY too much work for data that’s already happily carried over in TC. When they implement REAL Efile, that will be different.
The CRA online filing is brutal. Especially all the qualified donations and board members - they way you have to enter each one, and there is no carry forward. Tried it for 2 years… forget it. With tax cycle it takes a lot less time.
It would be great if CRA offered an upload of the PDF, or of the datafile… but alas not.
With the online method, can you bypass the birthdate field for board members? I have one to do for the month-end and a lot of people are shy about giving up their age. On the paper returns, I just leave it blank. Have never had any queries. And, yes, it would be nice to be able to upload a pdf of the T3010 and financial statements.
my understanding is it is mandatory, I always fill them all in. I think you can leave it blank and just tick of the review, but saying that is ok with CRA/Charities directorate. They recommend if it really it an issue to have this provided by the director in a sealed envelope attached to the return.
I’ve never filed birthdates and have never been queried.
CRA has absolutely no need for this kind of invasive information gathering IMO. It serves no purpose and is non-public, so why do they need it? They have a name and an address for official communications.
Is Taxcycle getting on board and being able to file the T3010 return electronically? Other competitors have been certified by CRA.
Every year I expect to see this function added, but I too am still waiting.
It is now possible with Profile
It appears that TaxCycle now has online filing capability; I’ve already filed for 2024, so 2025 will be the test!
Hi all, we are working towards a T3010 update in the fall/ winter of 2025 to support online returns for the T3010. Most returns are calendar based, so we will have it in time for the 2025 tax season.
Its not a traditional e-file that the CRA accepts, its a hybrid online process that allows upload through the online portal for that charity.
More info to come when we release that update.
Thank you for that update, Aaron.
Some comments based on my experience… with caution.
Background: I was one of three IT analysts who were assigned to the T3010 redesign in the mid-1990s. Due to certain national news reporting on Charities, the redesigned T3010 form was expected to capture significant information. The political will for the redesign was there. Management oversight was… limited.
As a result, the T3010 system was (at the time, I have no idea changes for the past 30 years,) uniquely set up. For example, the system permited the Charities Directorate to redesign the form relatively easily. From an IT perspective, it was felt that the political will would change, so best to be prepared.
There was an extraction system also designed, but the people looking for information could not be bothered to learn it.
As mentioned, it has been 30 years since I was there.