Canada Revenue Agency Delays: Calls to Reopen In-Person Service Counters
A retired resident of Montreal, Claire Veillotte, has faced ongoing challenges with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) due to a simple tax declaration error. After receiving incorrect documentation from her employer, a T4RCA instead of a T4, she now finds herself entangled in a complicated dispute with the CRA.
At 68 years old, Veillotte claims this situation, which she describes as straightforward, has spiraled into an unimaginable ordeal. Her employer corrected the mistake and submitted the proper T4 form to the CRA. However, Veillotte submitted the initial incorrect document, which has resulted in a reported debt of around $1,400 due to overstated income.
Delays in Resolving Tax Issues
Veillotte has made multiple attempts to clarify her situation over the phone. Despite providing the correct document with assistance from her husband, delays continue, and she was informed that her case would not be addressed until January—more than six months after her initial contact. This is particularly frustrating for her partner, André Latulippe, who emphasizes their discomfort with managing online accounts.
Limitations of Online Services
The couple feels that the elimination of in-person service counters has hindered their ability to resolve such issues effectively. “It doesn’t make sense that we cannot sit down with someone to sort this out,” stated Veillotte, lamenting the loss of the once-available face-to-face service.
History of CRA Service Counters
- In the past, Canada had 285 CRA service counters nationwide.
- These were closed by the government under Stephen Harper’s administration in 2012 and 2013 as part of austerity measures.
- Marc Brière, national president of the Union of Tax Employees (SEI), has been advocating for the reopening of these service counters since 2017.
Brière notes that the closure of these counters has created significant barriers, especially for vulnerable groups such as seniors and newcomers. “Before, it was a Cadillac service, allowing for immediate resolution of simple problems,” he stated.
The ongoing struggles of taxpayers like Veillotte highlight the pressing need for accessible in-person services. As of now, the federal Finance Minister, François-Philippe Champagne’s office has not responded to requests for comment regarding the future of these crucial services.
For those wishing to discuss or share their experiences related to this issue, contributions can be made by reaching out to El-Balad directly.
