Canada Revenue Agency - Taxpayer Relief Provisions

Taxpayer Relief Provisions

Taxpayer relief used to be called fairness programs. It is governed by some sections of the Income Tax Act and Excise Tax Act. It gives CRA the direction to cancel some penalties and interest, to pay out personal income tax refund after 3 years of the tax return being assessed, and to accept late-filed elections. CRA will excise their discretion when late filing is caused by extraordinary circumstances, such as flood or earthquake, by CRA delay or error, or by financial hardship. CRA published an Income Tax Information Circular, IC07-1, on this subject.

A taxpayer could request relief on a prescribed form. If the request is denied, a taxpayer could request a second review, which will be done by a higher rank official. If the request is still denied, a taxpayer could request a judicial review of the decision in the federal court, not tax court. The federal court will determine whether CRA excises its discretion reasonably. If not, the court will send the file back to CRA for reconsideration. The court rarely will make a decision for CRA because the discretion is with CRA and not the court. If a taxpayer is not happy with the judicial review decision, they could take it to the federal court of appeals.

Read more about this topic:  Canada Revenue Agency

Famous quotes containing the words taxpayer, relief and/or provisions:

    [The Republicans] offer ... a detailed agenda for national renewal.... [On] reducing illegitimacy ... the state will use ... funds for programs to reduce out-of-wedlock pregnancies, to promote adoption, to establish and operate children’s group homes, to establish and operate residential group homes for unwed mothers, or for any purpose the state deems appropriate. None of the taxpayer funds may be used for abortion services or abortion counseling.
    Newt Gingrich (b. 1943)

    The chuck wagon carries the food and utensils for the range kitchen. Man-at-the-pot is the first buckaroo to pick up the coffee pot when out with the chuck wagons. It becomes his duty to pour the coffee for the outfit. “Come and get her before I throw her out” is the time honored mess call.
    —Administration in the State of Neva, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)

    Drinking tents were full, glasses began to clink in carriages, hampers to be unpacked, tempting provisions to be set forth, knives and forks to rattle, champagne corks to fly, eyes to brighten that were not dull before, and pickpockets to count their gains during the last heat. The attention so recently strained on one object of interest, was now divided among a hundred; and, look where you would, there was a motley assemblage of feasting, talking, begging, gambling and mummery.
    Charles Dickens (1812–1870)