03/24/2025
Thinking about donating to a political party ahead of the April 28th federal election?
Political contributions at the federal level come with one of the most generous tax credits available — even more favourable than those for charitable donations.
Here’s how the tax credit works in 2025:
✅ 75% on the first $400
✅ 50% on the next $350
✅ 33⅓% on the next $525
✅ Maximum credit: $650, which you hit once you’ve donated $1,275
You can contribute up to $1,750 this year, but there’s no tax benefit on the amount above $1,275 — so for many people, that’s the amount to keep in mind.
A few things to keep in mind:
💡 Donations must be in cash, not in-kind.
💡 Only Canadian citizens or permanent residents can give.
💡 Contributions must go to a registered party, candidate, or riding association.
💡 One spouse can claim a donation made by the other, but receipts can’t be split — so donating separately may help maximize your credit.
You’ll claim it on your tax return using Line 40900, with the credit appearing up on Line 41000.
Keep in mind there are different rules and calculations for provincial donations as well.
Take a look at this additional resource from Elections Canada if you’d like to dive deeper:
The Electoral System of Canada
