Canada’s Taxpayers’ Ombudsman, Paul Dubé, Monday announced his “Digest of Taxpayer Service Rights,” a new online resource to help Canadians better understand their rights as taxpayers when dealing with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
“Most people do not have an in-depth knowledge of the tax system and dealing with a tax administrator can sometimes be intimidating,” says Dubé. “The Digest demonstrates how the Taxpayer Bill of Rights and the Taxpayers’ Ombudsman operate to ensure that taxpayers receive the professional service and fair treatment they are entitled to from the CRA.”
The Digest defines the service rights within the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, outlines what the CRA says about them, provides examples of similar provisions in other tax jurisdictions, and illustrates, with actual case summaries, how these rights have been applied to resolve complaints from taxpayers about the way they have been served or treated by the CRA.
“By highlighting how our intervention leads to the resolution of service and fairness issues between taxpayers and the CRA, the Digest demonstrates how Canadians are benefiting from an independent and impartial Taxpayers’ Ombudsman,” says Dubé. “It also demonstrates the CRA’s commitment to service and its willingness to work with us to get problems corrected.”
To view the Digest or to obtain further information about the Office of the Taxpayers’ Ombudsman, visit www.oto-boc.gc.ca.