Legal Definitions - receiver general

A receiver general is a high-ranking government official responsible for managing all financial inflows to the government and overseeing the public treasury. This individual ensures that all money collected by the government, such as taxes, fees, and duties, is properly received, accounted for, and deposited, and that the government's financial assets are securely held and managed.

Here are a few examples to illustrate this role:

• National Government Revenue: Imagine a large country where the federal government collects income taxes, corporate taxes, customs duties, and various other fees from citizens and businesses nationwide. The receiver general for that country would be the designated official responsible for ensuring that all these diverse revenue streams are accurately collected, recorded, and transferred into the national treasury. They would oversee the systems and processes that manage these vast public funds, ensuring financial integrity and accountability.

• Provincial or State Treasury Management: Consider a province or state within a federal system that has its own significant financial operations. This provincial or state government collects its own sales taxes, property taxes, and licensing fees. The provincial or state receiver general would be the key official tasked with managing these specific revenues. They would ensure that all funds collected at the provincial or state level are properly received, deposited into the provincial or state treasury, and managed according to financial regulations, supporting the province's public services and infrastructure.