Tax receipts
Issuing tax receipts
A self-paced course to send every donor a tax receipt automatically, in full compliance with the rules.
- 4 modules · 6 min
- 1 practical guide to download
- 8 articles to go further
Introduction
Course content
Your donors receive their tax receipt automatically, by email, after every donation. Check your eligibility, activate the service in a few minutes and never write a receipt by hand again.
- Check whether your organisation can issue tax receipts
- Activate the service and make your donations tax-deductible
- Understand your reporting obligations
Module 1
Can my organisation issue tax receipts?
Every organisation can receive donations, but only some can issue tax receipts.
- 1
A field of general interest
The organisation works in a recognised field: philanthropic, educational, social, humanitarian, sporting, family, cultural, religious, environmental…
- 2
Not-for-profit management
It is not run for profit, its leaders are not paid beyond what the law allows, and it does not compete with a business.
- 3
Not a restricted circle
It does not act for the benefit of a small group of people, a family or its members alone.
- 4
The case of religious associations
A religious association (under the French 1905 law on the separation of church and state) must have declared its religious status at the prefecture. This declaration is valid for 5 years.
Tip
If in doubt, ask the French tax authorities for a tax ruling (rescrit fiscal): their answer protects you in the event of an inspection.
Module content · 1 min
- The French charitable giving rules (mécénat)
- The three criteria of general interest
- The case of religious associations
- The tax ruling (rescrit fiscal) if in doubt
Module 2
Activating automatic tax receipts
A 7-step wizard, then the Donoor team approves your request.
Module content · 2 min
- Identifying the organisation
- Introducing the signatory
- The sworn statements
- Signing the mandate electronically
- Viewing a preview of the receipt
Content you may find useful
See the step-by-step guide (6 steps)
- 1
Open the wizard
Go to Settings › Tax receipts and click Start. You need to have connected Stripe or PayPal first.
- 2
Identify the organisation
Enter the RNA, SIRET or SIREN number (French registration numbers), click Verify, then confirm with Yes, it's mine.
- 3
Introduce the signatory
Enter the legal representative (full name, position, email). If your organisation is a religious association, enter the date of its declaration at the prefecture. The tax ruling (rescrit fiscal) is optional.
- 4
Declare and sign
Read and tick the sworn statements, then click Sign my request to sign the mandate electronically.
- 5
Wait for approval
The Donoor team reviews your request within 1 to 3 working days. You are notified by email as soon as the service is active.
- 6
See the receipt
In Settings › Tax receipts, View preview shows a receipt exactly as your donors receive it.
Module 3
Making your donations tax-deductible
Once the service is active, choose which appeals give donors the right to a receipt. One tax receipt per donation, sent automatically by email, and available in their donor space.
Module content · 2 min
- The payment link
- Fundraisers
- What the donor sees
- The receipt sent after each donation
- The donor space
Content you may find useful
See the step-by-step guide (6 steps)
- 1
On the payment link
Open the Payment link card, then Options, and switch on Tax deduction.
- 2
On fundraisers
The Tax-deductible option is switched on automatically for your fundraisers as soon as the service is active. You can turn it off in a fundraiser's Settings.
- 3
What the donor sees
The donation page states “66% of the donation is tax-deductible” (the French 66% tax reduction): a €100 donation only costs them €34 after the tax reduction.
- 4
One receipt per donation
After each tax-deductible donation, the donor receives an email with their tax receipt as a PDF, in your organisation's name, signed by your legal representative.
- 5
Their name and address
The receipt is only issued if the donor has entered their full name and address. If any information is missing, the thank-you page and the email invite them to complete it.
- 6
Their donor space
In My donations, they find all their receipts and can download them as PDFs whenever they like, for example when filing their tax return.
Tip
Only the donation is tax-deductible: the optional contribution to Donoor, tickets and membership fees do not appear on the receipt.
Module 4
Your obligations
Issuing tax receipts commits the organisation: here is what it must do every year.
- 1
Declare every year
Every year, the organisation declares to the French tax authorities the total amount of donations for which a receipt was issued, before 5 May of the following year.
- 2
Keep supporting documents
Keep the documents that back up your receipts for 6 years. You can find your donation history in Fundraising › Donations and export it.
- 3
Don't get it wrong
Issuing a receipt without being entitled to do so exposes the organisation to a fine equal to 25% of the amounts shown on the receipts. If in doubt, ask for a tax ruling (rescrit fiscal).
Module content · 1 min
- The annual declaration of donations
- Keeping supporting documents
- Penalties for mistakes
Content you may find useful
Questions? We have answers
Can my organisation issue tax receipts?
In France, organisations of general interest (intérêt général) or recognised as being of public utility can issue tax receipts. To be of general interest, the organisation must work in a recognised field (philanthropic, educational, social, humanitarian, sporting, cultural, religious, environmental…), be run on a not-for-profit basis and not act for the benefit of a restricted circle of people. Check your situation before issuing receipts: if in doubt, ask the tax authorities for a tax ruling (rescrit fiscal).
Can I collect donations if my organisation is not of general interest?
Yes. Any declared organisation can receive donations. It simply won't be able to issue tax receipts.
How much do automatic tax receipts cost?
Nothing. The service is free, like the rest of Donoor.
Does the donor receive one receipt per donation or one per year?
One receipt per donation, sent by email right after the payment. They can find them all in their donor space.
Got a question? Let's talk.
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