After Tax Canada / Donation tax creditVersion française
Donation tax credit calculator (2026)
A donation to a registered charity earns a tax credit, not a deduction: a percentage of what you give comes back as federal plus provincial credit. Enter your donation, taxable income and province to see exactly how much comes back, and what the gift really costs you, for every province.
Only matters at high incomes: it decides whether the 33% federal rate, the Ontario surtax, or a provincial top rate applies.
Ontario · 2026
$359$359 back on a $1,000 donation
35.9% back · net cost $641
Your donation tax credit
| Federal tax credit | $260 |
| Provincial tax credit | $99 |
| Total tax credit | $359 |
| Net cost of your donation | $641 |
On a $1,000 donation, the first $200 earns the lower rate (14% federal) and the rest earns 29% federal, plus your province's rates. That is $260 federal and $99 provincial. The credit is non-refundable: it reduces tax you would otherwise pay, so it only pays off up to the tax you owe.
How the donation tax credit works in Canada
A donation to a registered charity earns a tax credit, not a deduction: the credit is a percentage of what you give, federal plus provincial. Federally the first $200 of donations in the year earns 14% and everything above earns 29%; if your taxable income reaches the top federal bracket ($258,482 in 2026), the part of the donation matched by that income earns 33% instead. Each province adds its own credit on the same two tiers, from 4% on the first $200 in Nunavut to 60% in Alberta, which is the most generous first tier in the country. In Quebec the federal credit is reduced by the 16.5% federal tax abatement, and in Ontario the surtax lifts the provincial rate on donations over $200 to 13.39% or 17.41% at higher incomes. You can claim donations up to 75% of your net income in a year (no limit in Quebec since 2016) and carry unused donations forward for up to 5 years. It is usually best to claim all of a couple's donations on one return, so the $200 threshold is cleared once instead of twice. Keep the official receipts: only gifts to registered charities and other qualified donees qualify, and this calculator models cash gifts only, not gifts of securities, cultural property, or ecological gifts.
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Worked examples (2026)
| Donation | Taxable income | Federal | Provincial | Total credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000 · ON | $90,000 | $260 | $99 | $359 |
| $1,000 · QC | $90,000 | $217 | $232 | $449 |
| $1,000 · AB | $90,000 | $260 | $288 | $548 |
| $5,000 · BC | $120,000 | $1,420 | $818 | $2,238 |
| $10,000 · ON | $300,000 | $3,262 | $1,716 | $4,978 |
2026 tax tables · verified 2026-09-20 · how we calculate
FAQ
How much tax credit do I get on a $1,000 donation in Ontario?
In 2026, on a $90,000 taxable income, a $1,000 donation in Ontario earns a $359 tax credit ($260 federal + $99 provincial), 35.9% of the gift, so the donation costs $641 after tax. The first $200 earns the lower rate (14% federal + 5.05% Ontario) and the remaining $800 earns 29% federal + 11.16% Ontario.
How does the charitable donation tax credit work in Canada?
It is a credit, not a deduction: the credit is a percentage of what you give, federal plus provincial, and it reduces the tax you owe rather than your taxable income. Federally the first $200 of donations in the year earns 14% and everything above earns 29%. Each province adds its own credit on the same two tiers. You claim it on Schedule 9 of your tax return, with official receipts from registered charities or other qualified donees. Because it is non-refundable, it only pays off up to the tax you owe.
Why is the credit bigger on donations over $200?
The federal rate jumps from 14% on the first $200 to 29% on the rest, so a $200 gift in Ontario earns only about $38 of credit in total, while the next $800 earns about $321. The provinces follow the same two-tier shape, except Alberta, which is the outlier: it pays 60% on the first $200, so a $1,000 donation in Alberta earns a $548 total credit ($260 federal + $288 provincial), the most generous first tier in the country.
What is the 33% federal donation rate?
If your taxable income reaches the top federal bracket ($258,482 in 2026), the part of your donation over $200 that is matched by income in that bracket earns 33% federally instead of 29%. On a $300,000 taxable income, a $10,000 donation in Ontario earns $3,262 federally, including $392 extra from the 33% rate, for a $4,978 total credit. Below the top bracket the rate is 29% on everything over $200.
How is the donation credit different in Quebec?
Quebec pays 20% on the first $200 and 24% above, instead of Ontario's 5.05% and 11.16%, but the federal credit is reduced by the 16.5% federal tax abatement. On a $1,000 donation with a $90,000 taxable income, Quebec earns a $449 total credit ($217 federal after the $43 abatement + $232 provincial) versus $359 in Ontario. At very high incomes Quebec also applies 25.75% on the part of the donation matched by income in its top bracket.
Which province gives the biggest donation tax credit?
Alberta, by a wide margin on smaller gifts: a $1,000 donation earns a $548 total credit there, because of the 60% rate on the first $200, against $449 in Quebec and $359 in Ontario. Ontario returns the least on a $1,000 donation ($359.38); Nunavut is next at $360. The ranking can shift on very large gifts, where the 33% federal rate and the provincial top rates matter more than the first $200.
Is there a limit on how much I can claim?
Yes, in most provinces: you can claim donations up to 75% of your net income in a year, and carry unused donations forward for up to 5 years. Quebec has no 75% limit for donations made in 2016 and later years. Donations are usually claimed in the year they are made, but carrying them forward can help if you had little tax owing in the year of the gift, since the credit is non-refundable.
Should my spouse and I split our donations?
Usually no: it is best to claim all of a couple's donations on one return, so the $200 threshold is cleared once instead of twice. The first $200 earns the lower rate (14% federal), so splitting $400 of donations across two returns pays the low rate twice, while putting it all on one return pays it once. Either spouse's receipts can be claimed on the other spouse's return.