subject: Most Information Requests Made by the CRA Come From Auditors [print this page] If you have already filed your tax returns and have been contacted by the CRA to provide more information (even if they sent you your notice of assessments), the request is likely coming from an agent in the CRA enforcement division.
The enforcement division at the CRA is the home of CRA investigators, CRA collectors/enforcement agents, pre-assessment auditors, auditors and more
The key here is that these agents all work in the enforcement division. The CRA enforcement division is responsible for collecting money. If they are asking you for more information, they are likely trying to show that you have made some form of non disclosure or have erred on your tax returns.
What should you do if you receive a request for information from anyone at the CRA?
Do not call the CRA yourself. Do not complete any documentation yourself. Gather all of your records and make an appointment to see a Chartered Accountant. Have the accountant review your records and see if there are errors in your returns. If you know you have failed to declare income, this is the time to tell your accountant. If you tell your accountant, then you can come up with a strategy to deal with the CRA.
Have your accountant communicate directly with the CRA agent. A letter from an accounting firm will show that you have retained a tax specialist to deal with your tax problem. This will show the CRA that you are taking their request seriously. Accountants are also seasoned at dealing with the CRA, CRA practices and procedures.
Finally, if you are going to be audited, this can be terrifying. An accountant can schedule the audit at their office and deal with the CRA auditor directly, supporting you through the process and protecting your rights.
Should you decide to engage the CRA in negotiations/dialog on your own, the result could be a re-assessment of your returns or worse and full blown audit. For more information visit www.markfeldstein.ca.
Most Information Requests Made by the CRA Come From Auditors
