Changes to Paper Filing Disempowering

Last tax season, only 7% of all Canadian tax filers filed on paper. The CRA is pushing for zero. It continues to steer the holdouts to digitized filing by adding lots of obstacles. Most recently, it is removing almost all the schedules from the tax return package it mails. This seems unfair to people who paper file because they can’t afford a computer and internet, distrust the security of online filing and those who are neither tax or computer literate. Here’s what they are up against:

The 2014 Nova Scotia provincial budget was tabled on April 3, 2014. The budget contained no new taxes or credits, but it did contain several adjustments.

The Newfoundland and Labrador provincial budget was presented on March 27. The budget contained a number of tax changes.

The Quebec provincial budget was delivered on February 20. The budget introduced provincial changes that match the recently-announced federal changes.

The Northwest Territories budget was delivered on February 6. The budget contained no income tax measures.

The New Brunswick provincial budget was delivered on February 4. The budget reduces the deficit but a balanced budget is not expected until 2017. The budget promised a 3% increase in social assistance rates beginning in April.

Provincial and territorial budget dates have yet to announced for Ontario (expected the first week in May), Prince Edward Island (expected soon after the legislature opens in April), and Nunavut (expected late in May),