CRA’s Callback Service for Tax Pros Pilot

Are you a tax professional with years of experience? Have you ever felt frustrated after calling the CRA, having spent hours on hold, wasting your client’s or employer’s time, only to speak to CRA agents who aren’t qualified to answer your questions? The Auditor General of Canada was equally displeased in a scathing report last fall on wait times and accuracy levels at the CRA. Now a new CRA callback service may come to the rescue this tax season. Here is my experience with the pilot project so far:

In December, we asked Knowledge Bureau Report readers, “In your opinion, are tax and financial professionals taking the time to help clients understand the benefits of charitable giving?” In a surprising result, only 17 percent thought their peer group was spending enough time counselling their clients how to make donations in a tax-efficient way.

Should professional tax preparers and financial planners work with clients who are not tax compliant? If you are helping them to become compliant, then by all means work with them to set the record straight. But the answer is likely no, if it means that these professionals will open themselves up to the possibility of civil penalties. Here is a run-down of the rules every professional should know:

“Bitcoin Rush” is all over the news as speculators have tried to get in on the trend which saw skyrocketing values at the end of 2017. But there is a spoiler: gains on trading digital currencies like Bitcoins are subject to taxation in Canada, a liability that must be settled in real dollars.

This week the National Revenue Minister announced a new program called “File My Return” that will allow Canadians with low and fixed incomes to complete their returns over the phone.

There is still time to register for Winter 2018 CE Summits, Canada’s most comprehensive Advanced Personal Income Tax Update for tax and financial professionals and their new and returning staff. Please remember that Regular Fees apply after deadlines!

Busy tax and financial professionals who are looking to train and hire graduates from Canada’s most  comprehensive and convenient professional certification program may enroll now, 24/7.