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CRA, the wills and the won’ts

Posted on Posted in General, Weekly Tip

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A couple of weeks ago, we talked about tax time and the Canada Revenue Agency, and the many scammers that come out of the woodwork this time of the year. We focused on the types of scams and the things that the CRA will not do. A regular reader pointed me to this recent article that also focuses on what the CRA can and might do. I’m essentially repeating it below.

The Detail

The CRA reports that scammers have created such uncertainty in people, that many assume the CRA will never attempt to contact you. This is not true. What is true is that:

The CRA will never;

  • Ask for information about passports, health cards or driver’s licenses
  • Demand immediate payment, in any form
  • Use aggressive language or threats
  • Provide personal information themselves
  • Email you links to forms requesting personal financial information
  • Email you a link to your refund
  • Request immediate action and be persistent about it

The CRA can and might;

  • Ask for details about your account, in the case of a business enquiry
  • Send you a notice of assessment or reassessment via postal mail
  • Notify you when a new message or a document, such as a notice of assessment or reassessment, is available for you to view in secure CRA portals such as My Account, My Business Account, or Represent a Client
  • Email you a link to a CRA webpage, form, or publication that you ask for during a telephone call or a meeting with an agent (this is the only case where the CRA will send an email containing links)
  • Ask you to pay an amount you owe through any of the CRA’s payment options
  • Ask for financial information such as the name of your bank and its location
  • Take legal action to recover the money you owe, if you refuse to pay your debt
  • Contact you to begin an audit process

The CRA also says it is important to understand exactly what is required for your taxes, and to only share information that you would find on a tax form with anyone

For more information and further details about the types of communication you might expect from the CRA under what circumstances, please visit http://canada.ca/taxes-fraud-prevention/

If you have more questions about these topics, please contact UTS, and we’d be happy to offer what guidance we can. There is also a wealth of information to be found using your favourite search engine.