CRA Requires All Registered Charities to File Online Starting 2027: What Your Organization Needs to Do Now
The CRA has announced that all registered charities and registered national arts service organizations will be required to file their T3010 Registered Charity Information Return online beginning in 2027. The Charities Directorate fax line is already gone as of April 1, 2026. This post covers what the change means, what your charity needs to do to get ready, and the resources available to help you make the transition.
8/31/20264 min read
If you are a director, administrator, treasurer, or authorized representative of a registered Canadian charity, there is an important change coming that affects how you file your annual information return with the CRA.
Beginning in 2027, all registered charities and registered national arts service organizations will be required to file their complete Form T3010, Registered Charity Information Return, online. Paper filing will no longer be the default option.
This change is part of the CRA Charities Directorate's broader modernization initiative, announced in the Spring Economic Update 2026 and confirmed through the CRA's ongoing communications with the charitable sector. The goal is to improve accuracy, strengthen data quality, reduce processing times, and streamline the filing experience for charities across Canada.
The fax line is already gone
If your charity has been submitting documents by fax, that option no longer exists. As of April 1, 2026, the Charities Directorate fax line was retired. Faxed documents are no longer received. If you have been using fax to submit your T3010 or other documents, you need to transition to online services now.
What is the T3010?
The T3010 is the annual information return that all registered charities must file with the CRA no later than six months after the end of their fiscal year. For charities with a December 31 fiscal year end, that deadline is June 30. The T3010 serves two purposes: it allows the CRA to ensure your charity remains compliant with its registration requirements, and it makes key financial information about your charity publicly available to Canadians.
Failure to file your T3010 can result in the revocation of your charitable status.
What does the transition to online filing mean for your charity?
If your charity is already filing online through its CRA account, you are ahead of the curve and in good shape for 2027.
If your charity is not yet using online services, now is the time to get set up. Here is what you need to do.
First, make sure your charity has an active and up-to-date CRA account. Your directors, trustees, and like officials need to be listed accurately with the CRA, including their addresses and phone numbers. A Social Insurance Number is required for a new user to get online access to the charity account.
Second, review your charity's internal filing processes. Decide who will be responsible for completing the online annual return and make sure that person has access to the charity's CRA account.
Third, become familiar with the online platform before your next filing deadline. Do not wait until 2027 to log in for the first time. The CRA recommends making the switch early and filing your T3010 online now, even before it becomes mandatory.
Two ways to file online
There are two ways to file your T3010 online. You can complete the CRA's free interactive form directly through your CRA account. Once signed in, click on your registered charity's RR account on the left side of the navigation menu and click on File your return. Alternatively, you can use CRA-certified software to prepare your return and then upload and submit it directly through your CRA account by clicking Upload a return.
Need help getting started?
The CRA has introduced a new Digital Concierge service specifically to support charities making the transition to online services. Client service representatives can provide one-on-one support over the phone in real time to help you sign up for or use the CRA's online services. Call 1-800-267-2384 and ask for the Digital Concierge service. Representatives are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time.
The CRA has also published a step-by-step guide for registering to use online services for charities, a video tutorial on setting up a CRA account, and a video walkthrough for completing your T3010 online. These are all available on the CRA's charities and giving webpage.
Why does this matter for treasurers and financial administrators?
At Fab Tax CPA, we work with registered charities including churches, nonprofits, and community organizations. In our experience, the treasurer or financial administrator is often the person responsible for filing the T3010. Many of these individuals are volunteers who are not familiar with CRA online services and have been filing by paper or fax for years.
If this is your situation, the 2027 deadline is not far away. The time to get set up is now, not in January 2027. Filing online is faster, more accurate, and eliminates the risk of a return getting lost in the mail. Once submitted, your return is processed immediately and the public portion of your financial information is visible on the CRA's List of charities the next day.
How Fab Tax CPA can help
Fab Tax CPA provides bookkeeping services to registered charities and has experience filing the T3010 Registered Charity Information Return. Whether your charity needs help setting up its CRA account, getting ready for the 2027 online filing requirement, wants someone to handle the annual T3010 filing on your behalf, or needs ongoing bookkeeping support to keep your records accurate and your filing ready — we are here to help.
You do not have to navigate this transition alone. Reach out to Fab Tax CPA at fabtaxcpa.ca and let us take care of it for you.
CRA source: canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/charities-giving/charities/whats-new.html
This content is for general information only and does not constitute professional tax advice. Please consult a CPA for advice specific to your situation.