News from the Canada Revenue Agency

published: 12/20/2021

With the holidays just around the corner, scammers could contact you pretending to be from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). Scammers are trying to trick individuals into making payments, and we’re doing everything we can to put a stop to this. That includes letting you know when and how we might contact you.

How to make sure the caller is a CRA employee and not a scammer

A legitimate CRA employee will identify themselves when they contact you. The employee will give you their name and a phone number. Make sure the caller is a CRA employee before you give any information over the phone. This will protect you from giving money or personal information to a scammer. 

If you’re suspicious, this is how you can make sure the caller is from the CRA:

  1. Tell the caller you would like to first verify their identity.
  2. Request and make a note of their:
    • name
    • phone number
    • office location
  3. End the call. Then check that the information provided during the call was legitimate by contacting the CRA. Please do this before you give any information to the caller. 

Once you complete those three steps, you may call back the CRA employee to discuss the reason for their call.

Note that our individual tax, benefits and business enquiries lines offer an automated call back service. When wait times reach a certain threshold, you will be given the option of a callback, rather than waiting on hold. If you opt for a callback, we will give you a randomized four-digit confirmation number. This number will be repeated back to you by the call centre agent at the time of the callback. This is to provide you with assurance that the call is from a legitimate CRA employee.

When to be suspicious

Red flags that suggest a caller is a scammer include (but are not limited to):

  • The caller does not give you proof of working for the CRA. For example, their name and office location.
  • The caller pressures you to act now or uses aggressive language.
  • The caller asks you to pay with prepaid credit cards, gift cards, cryptocurrency or some other unusual form of payment.
  • The caller asks for information you would not enter on your return or that is not related to money you owe the CRA, for example, a credit card number.
  • The caller recommends that you apply for benefits. You can apply for benefits directly on Government of Canada websites or by phone. Do not give information to callers offering to apply for benefits on your behalf!

For more tips and helpful information, visit our Be Scam Smart or Slam the scam pages.

We may review your return

One reason we may contact you is if we are reviewing your income tax and benefit return. This could include reviewing you GST/HST, T4 or T5 information. You may receive a letter or a phone call telling you that the CRA is reviewing your return. If you're registered for email notifications, we will send you an email telling you that your letter is available in My Account. In most cases, our review is a routine check. It’s important that you reply and send all of the information requested as soon as possible. This will help us review your file quickly and easily.

It’s also important that you call the number in your letter in either of the following situations:

  • You can’t get the documents we’re asking for
  • You need more time to reply

By calling, we can give you more time to respond if you need it. We can also help you if you have any questions. If you don’t reply, we may disallow a claim of yours and you could have a balance owing.

If you own a small business or are self-employed, we may call you or send you a letter to offer free tax help through our Liaison Officer service. This will be the first contact. We will only use email if you provide your email address and consent to the CRA.

Want to report a potential scam?

You should report a scam if you suspect either of the following:

  • you have been the victim of fraud
  • a scammer has tricked you into giving personal or financial information

To report a scam, visit antifraudcentre.ca, follow the instructions on our Be Scam Smart page, or call 1-888-495-8501. If you think you may be the victim of fraud or you unknowingly provided personal or financial information, contact all of the following:

  • local police service
  • your financial institution
  • credit reporting agencies

You should contact the CRA if you:

  • think your CRA user ID or the password you use in personal dealings with the CRA has been compromised
  • want to disable online access to your information on the CRA’s sign-in services
  • want to re-activate online access to your information after it’s been disabled

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To receive updates on what is new at the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), you can:

published: 07/19/2021

Authorized representatives can make a bulk request for the cancellation of penalties and interest on behalf of multiple taxpayers. This process makes it easier for representatives to apply for relief when their clients’ requests are based on common reasons and similar facts.

When submitting a bulk request, ensure the following:

  • authorization is on file for each taxpayer;
  • returns have been filed or remittances have been made, and;
  • penalties or interest have been charged.

A bulk request can be submitted by mail to the designated offices for your province.

You can find more instructions by visiting: How to submit a bulk taxpayer relief request for the cancellation of penalties and interest.

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To receive updates on what is new at the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), you can:

published: 05/14/2021

If you are struggling with your tax payments, you can work with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to find ways to pay your tax debt based on your financial situation. Let us help you.

We know these are still challenging times. If you can’t make any payment, your tax debt will grow with the addition of interest charges. Let’s work together to determine what your options are.

You have several payment options if you can’t pay your tax debt in full:

Payment options

Partial payment

You can make partial payments to the CRA to reduce the amount of interest you need to pay on unpaid amounts. To see all the payment options or to make a partial payment, go to canada.ca/payments.

Payment arrangement

If you can’t afford to pay your taxes in one payment, you may be able to set up a payment arrangement with the CRA. A payment arrangement is an agreement between you and the CRA. It allows you to spread out your payments over time, based on your ability to pay, until you have paid your debt and interest in full. The CRA will work with you on a payment arrangement that works for your situation.

The CRA will continuously work with you to schedule payment arrangements, but can also apply credits or refunds towards outstanding debt to help with any outstanding amounts owing.

We have expanded the payment arrangement rules this year to give you more time and flexibility, based on your ability to pay.

Before calling the CRA, we encourage you to use these optional budget tools to help you determine what you can afford to pay on a regular basis:

To make a payment arrangement, contact the CRA as soon as possible.

TeleArrangement service

You can also make a payment arrangement by calling the CRA’s automated TeleArrangement service at 1-866-256-1147. When you call, you will need to provide:

  • your social insurance number
  • your date of birth and
  • the amount on line 15000 of your last notice of assessment

The TeleArrangement service is available Monday to Friday, from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Eastern time. You can also call the CRA's debt management call centre at 1-888-863-8657 to speak to an agent. Agents are available Monday to Friday (except holidays) from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Eastern time.

Pay by pre-authorized debit

You can authorize the CRA to withdraw a certain amount directly from your bank account, on dates of your choosing, through one of the CRA’s following online services:

You can use these online tools to set up a pre-authorized debit agreement or to generate a QR code for paying at a Canada Post outlet.

Keep in mind it takes five business days from when you first set up a pre-authorized debit to when your funds will be processed. Also, you can’t cancel the debit agreement within the five days before it’s due. To use this service, you need to register for My Account, My Business Account or to MyCRA.

Unable to pay?

Communication is key. If you are unable to pay your tax debt in full immediately, you must tell the CRA as soon as possible so that we can work with you to determine a feasible payment arrangement. Interest compounds daily, at the rate set by law, until you pay the amount you owe in full. Go to When you owe money – collections at the CRA for more information.

Under the taxpayer relief provisions, the CRA may cancel or waive penalties or interest under certain conditions if you can’t meet your tax obligations.

Keep receipts and documents

You should keep all your receipts and documents for at least six years starting from the end of the last taxation year to which they relate.

Sometimes the CRA reviews returns to make sure that income, deductions, and credits are properly reported. If the CRA reviews your return, having your receipts and records on hand will make it easier for you to support your claims.

Stay connected

To receive updates on what is new at the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), you can:

published: 04/30/2021

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is warning Canadian taxpayers and their representatives about creating or ignoring fake documents, fake loans, and fake business agreements in order to get around the Income Tax Act or the Excise Tax Act. These actions, even if passive, may qualify as culpable conduct and may be subject to civil third-party penalties in conjunction with any criminal charges that may apply.

Culpable conduct

Culpable conduct in tax matters is the type of conduct which courts have applied a civil penalty in the past. More precisely, culpable conduct was defined by the Canadian court as conduct, whether an act or a failure to act, that is:

  • tantamount to intentional conduct,
  • or that shows an indifference as to whether the Act is complied with,
  • or that shows a wilful, reckless or wanton disregard of the law.

In essence, intentionally misrepresenting tax liability, overlooking or being wilfully blind when examining a client’s income tax affairs, even if in previous years matters were handled by a different tax preparer, could result in third-party penalties.

The law

Under the Income Tax Act, there are two third-party penalties: the planner penalty and the preparer penalty. Although they address different issues about involvement in tax schemes, both penalties address culpable conduct. The planner and preparer penalties can carry substantial financial consequences for a tax preparer or third-party associated with a false or misleading statement.

Planner penalty

The planner penalty applies to those who create false statements, help another person make, or cause someone to make, a false statement about their taxes that they know is false or misleading or would be reasonably expected to know is false or misleading if they had not acted with culpable conduct.

Preparer penalty

The preparer penalty applies to those who make or assent to making a false statement for another person that they know is false or misleading, or would reasonably be expected to know is false or misleading if they had not acted with culpable conduct.

Your actions may have serious consequences

If you have been involved in making fake or exaggerated documents to avoid or evade tax, you may face serious consequences, including penalties, court fines, and even jail time. The same goes for people who promote tax schemes, even if they are not involved in the scheme planning.

People who avoid or evade tax take resources away from the social programs that benefit Canadians.

What can you do?

For important tax matters, the CRA encourages all Canadians to seek an independent second opinion from a reputable tax professional.

If you suspect someone of promoting or participating in an abusive tax scheme, you can report it online at canada.ca/taxes-leads or by calling the Informant Leads Centre at 1-866-809-6841. The CRA will take steps to protect your identity. Also, you may give information anonymously.

The CRA continues to encourage taxpayers to come forward and correct their tax affairs through the Voluntary Disclosures Program: canada.ca/taxes-voluntary-disclosures.

For more information on tax schemes, go to canada.ca/tax-schemes.

Contacts

Media Relations
Canada Revenue Agency
613-948-8366
cra-arc.media@cra-arc.gc.ca

Stay connected

To receive updates on what is new at the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), you can:

published: 01/12/2021

Every tax season, community organizations partner with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and Revenu Québec to offer free tax clinics. This is made possible through the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP). In Quebec, this program is called the Income Tax Assistance – Volunteer Program.

Currently, community organizations that run tax clinics must cover the cost of these events. The CRA knows that these costs can be a challenge for participating organizations and that they may be a barrier for encouraging others to sign up.

To offer more support to community organizations and to encourage others to sign up, the CRA is piloting a new grant program for the upcoming tax season. The grant program will help organizations offset some of these costs and provide funding for returns filed so they can focus on what they do best – helping people in need.

The CRA will be investing more than 10 million over three years toward the new grant program. Organizations will be able to submit grant applications starting in May 2021.

You can find more information about the grant program, including eligibility criteria, at canada.ca/free-tax-clinics-grant.

If you’re interested in running a free tax clinic in 2021, visit Host a free tax clinic. With more organizations offering the service, more Canadians will have the support they need to get their taxes done cost- and stress-free, and receive their benefits and credits.

Stay connected

To receive updates on what is new at the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), you can:

published: 8/1/2020

The Dedicated Telephone Service (DTS) is now a permanent CRA program available nationally.

By using the service, income tax service providers can connect with experienced CRA officers from the Income Tax Rulings Directorate who will be able to help them interpret the provisions of the Income Tax Act. After determining the nature of the tax issue, these officers will carefully consider the question and then send the service provider helpful information and guidance.

While these officers do not have access to individual taxpayers’ accounts, the DTS is a valuable technical resource to help service providers resolve their interpretive tax issues.

To register, small- and medium-sized income tax service providers – those with 50 or fewer partners – are invited to fill out and send the completed DTS registration form to dts-str@cra-arc.gc.ca. You can also visit the DTS web page for further information about the service, including eligibility criteria and more details on how the service can help.