The charity is asked to state if the financial information is reported on an accrual or cash basis.
The amounts shown in the statement of receipts and disbursements are used by CRA to calculate whether or not the charity
has met its disbursement quota. The purpose of this test is to determine if the charity is disbursing receipted gifts on time.
Thus, for a charitable organization, it compares disbursements made in the current year on activities in pursuit of its charitable
purposes and transfers to other qualified donees up to 80% of receipted gifts plus 80% of amounts received from other registered
charities in the immediately preceding year, and an amount equal to funds disbursed in the year out of receipted gifts that were
excluded from the disbursement requirement in the year received (e.g., bequests and gifts that could not be disbursed for ten
years).
Note that a significant distortion could result where the charity uses the accrual method of accounting in determining
expenditures on activities in pursuit of its charitable purposes. For example, disbursements to acquire capital property used
in connection with activities in pursuit of charitable purposes (e.g., the acquisition of a building or equipment) would not
appear in a statement of revenues and expenditures, but would be recorded in the capital asset section of the charity’s statement
of financial position.
The charity is asked to state if the financial information is reported on an accrual or cash basis.
The amounts shown in the statement of receipts and disbursements are used by CRA to calculate whether or not the charity has met its disbursement quota. The purpose of this test is to determine if the charity is disbursing receipted gifts on time. Thus, for a charitable organization, it compares disbursements made in the current year on activities in pursuit of its charitable purposes and transfers to other qualified donees up to 80% of receipted gifts plus 80% of amounts received from other registered charities in the immediately preceding year, and an amount equal to funds disbursed in the year out of receipted gifts that were excluded from the disbursement requirement in the year received (e.g., bequests and gifts that could not be disbursed for ten years).
Note that a significant distortion could result where the charity uses the accrual method of accounting in determining expenditures on activities in pursuit of its charitable purposes. For example, disbursements to acquire capital property used in connection with activities in pursuit of charitable purposes (e.g., the acquisition of a building or equipment) would not appear in a statement of revenues and expenditures, but would be recorded in the capital asset section of the charity’s statement of financial position.