The Office of the Taxpayers' Ombudsperson has found an issue with the CRA's advice that is contrary to the Taxpayer Bill of Rights
Dealing with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) can be a confusing and even stressful interaction but there is help available – or at least there should be.
The Office of the Taxpayers' Ombudsperson has identified an issue with the CRA’s online advice that seems to ignore one of the elements of the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, the “right to be represented by a person of your choice.”
The Ombudsperson, François Boileau, has sent the CRA a service improvement request after discovering that its website advises anyone receiving a letter from tax officials: “We suggest you discuss the details of the letter with the CRA officer to make sure you fully understand your obligations before contacting your tax preparer.”
Under the CRA’s Assisted Compliance program taxpayers can appoint an authorized representative, such as a tax preparer, and the online information may result in people believing they must deal with the agency themselves.
The issue follows criticism of the CRA by business owners and tax professionals who said that the agency has worsened in recent years.
Always improve
"Canada's tax system is complex, and not everyone has the time or energy to fully understand the finer details,” said Boileau. “This is why Taxpayer Right 15 of the Taxpayer Bill of Rights is so important. If the CRA does not fully respect this right, it could put many Canadians, including at-risk populations, at a disadvantage."
While noting that the CRA has since adjusted the information online, the Ombudsperson says that the agency should go further by looking for opportunities to make interacting with it easier for taxpayers and their representatives.
