OTTAWA, Feb. 24, 2020 /CNW Telbec/ - Today, the Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of National Revenue, launched the 2020 tax filing season.

Canadians can file their returns online, on paper, or by phone for those who qualify. In doing so, they can access a number of credits and benefits put in place by the Government of Canada to help with the increasing cost of living.

The Canada Child Benefit, the Canada Workers Benefit and the GST/HST Credit are just some of ways you might be able to put more money in your pocket by filing your tax return.

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has listened to Canadians and understands that the tax filing experience can be improved. As a result, it is launching a new People First approach to guide their efforts to better serve Canadians. The CRA's goal is to be trusted, fair, and helpful by putting people first.

This tax season, the CRA is making the filing process easier, faster, and more secure with changes such as:

• Charlie the Chatbot – Canadians want the CRA to use new technology to help them get the information they need, when they need it. Charlie the Chatbot will be online in March and can answer general tax filing questions.
• Check CRA processing times tool – Canadians told the CRA that it should be easier to check timelines. The Check CRA Processing Times tool on canada.ca uses published service standards to calculate expected completion times for tax returns.
• Personal identification number (PIN) – Canadians want better and more secure access to the CRA's services. They can now create a PIN in My Account or with the help of a CRA agent to identify themselves quickly and securely when calling the CRA.
• Pay any balance owed – The CRA has made it easier for Canadians to pay their balance owing. Using the new "Proceed to Pay" buttons located in My Account, Canadians can make a secure and fast payment.
• Tax packages for paper filers – Canadians asked the CRA to improve its forms and guides. This year, the CRA has simplified the paper tax package and has once again mailed packages to those who filed on paper last year.
• Telephone wait times – Canadians wanted a better call experience when contacting the CRA. Estimated wait times are now provided both on the phone and on the new contact information web page to help callers decide when is the best time to call.

Canadians can continue to take advantage of free tax help services, including free tax clinics through the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program, the CRA's Northern Service Centres, and the Liaison Officer service for small businesses, self-employed individuals and individuals with rental income.

The CRA is constantly improving its services to help Canadians file their return, pay their tax on time, and receive the benefits and credits to which they are entitled. It will continue listening to Canadians, and changing how it works to deliver on its commitment to put people first.

Quotes
"Our government is committed to modernizing the CRA and making sure it provides people-first service to Canadians. This tax filing season, I encourage you to use our new services which make filing a return faster, easier, and more secure. By filing your taxes, you are contributing to all the services which make Canada a great place to live, and you will access the benefits and credits to which you are entitled."
– The Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of National Revenue

"The CRA is listening to input from CPA Canada and our members in an important and ongoing discussion. The framework agreement in place between the CRA and CPA Canada provides a formal avenue for the knowledge and insights of the accounting profession to be heard with the collective goal being an improved tax system. We are glad to see suggestions from our members and others are contributing to the kinds of new CRA service initiatives that benefit taxpayers."
– Bruce Ball, FCPA, CPA, CFP, Vice-president, Taxation, Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPA Canada)

Quick Facts

• The due date for income tax and benefit returns for most Canadians is April 30, 2020.
• Self-employed individuals have until June 15, 2020, to file their return. However, any balance owing is due April 30, 2020.
• From now until April 30, 2020, the CRA will offer extended evening and weekend hours for individual tax enquiries. Telephone agents will be available Monday to Friday (except holidays) from 9 am to 9 pm (local time), and from 9 am to 5 pm (local time) on Saturdays (except Easter weekend). The CRA's automated service will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• On December 19, 2019, the CRA released its Serving Canadians Better consultation report. To address Canadians' needs as identified in the report, the CRA has committed to make information more helpful and easier to understand, provide more convenient access to services and support, and make sure Canadians feel understood, respected and valued.

BACKGROUNDER

Income Tax in Canada
Over one hundred years ago, The Income Tax War Act of 1917 was introduced to fund the expenses of the First World War. At the time, the Department of Inland Revenue, which became the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), had 36 employees across the country. Today, the CRA has over 40,000 employees serving Canadians. Income tax in Canada plays a huge role in funding public services, like healthcare, Old Age Security, child benefits, infrastructure such as libraries and schools, road maintenance, scientific research and access to clean drinking water.

Each year, most Canadians start getting ready to do their taxes at the end of February, once they receive their tax slips and receipts needed for tax-filing. Canadians will have received most of these slips and receipts by March.

The CRA's goal is to be trusted, fair, and helpful by putting people first. It is constantly listening, changing, and improving to provide a better service experience for Canadians. It is now easier and faster than ever to file a return, whether filed electronically, on paper, or even over the phone.

Canadians expect to be treated with respect in a meaningful way that goes beyond service standards. We are proud of the new and improved services we're making available this tax season, but they're only one part of the story. The other part is our new approach to designing and delivering services, which will ensure we're making meaningful improvements that matter to Canadians over the long term.

The deadline for filing an income tax and benefit return is April 30, 2020. Self-employed people, their spouses, or common-law partners have until June 15 to file. However, any balance owing is due by April 30.

Tax-filing by the numbers
More and more Canadians are filing their taxes electronically. Since 2012, the rate of electronic filing has increased significantly, from approximately 63% to 88% for the 2019 tax-filing season.

Last year, over 29 million people filed returns, with approximately 30% of them using NETFILE-certified software. Over 57% of filers had their taxes prepared by authorized representatives, such as tax preparers and accountants, using EFILE.

The CRA's goal is to issue a Notice of Assessment (NOA) within eight weeks of receiving a paper return and within two weeks of receiving an electronic return. To help Canadians quickly finish the tax-filing process, the CRA will also deliver a NOA to individuals and representatives right after the return has been received and processed using the Express NOA service available in tax software packages.

The CRA sends refunds to approximately 62% of people who file returns. Last year, the average refund was $1,740.

More than tax collection, the CRA administers a range of ongoing benefits and one-time payment programs for the federal, provincial, and territorial governments. These benefit programs support the economic and social well‑being of Canadians across the country and are accessed by filing tax returns.

Benefits include the goods and services/harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) credit, a tax-free quarterly payment that helps individuals and families with low or modest incomes offset all or part of the GST or HST they pay; and the Canada child benefit (CCB), a tax-free monthly payment made to eligible families to help them with the cost of raising children under 18 years of age. In the 2018‑2019 benefit year, the Agency paid $34.6 billion in benefits and credit payments to 15.6 million recipients.

The CRA keeps Canadians updated on the progress of tax filing season by posting these statistics online.

What we do to better serve Canadians
We are extending our call centre hours again this tax season from February 24 to April 30, 2020. Agents will be available from Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. local time, and from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Saturdays (except Easter weekend) to ensure that the CRA is more accessible and accommodating of Canadians' varying schedules. This makes it easier for Canadians to fit tax filing into their busy schedules.

Most Canadians do their taxes online. The CRA's My Account helps Canadians save time to:

• quickly track their refund
• view or change returns
• check benefit and credit payments
• view Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) and Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) limits
• set up or update direct deposit
• receive email notifications

Auto-fill my return, available when using certified tax software, helps individuals or their authorized representatives automatically fill in parts of their income tax and benefit returns with information the CRA already has on hand, saving time and reducing possible filing errors.

Making a mistake on your tax return doesn't need to be a headache. Taxpayers can request that an adjustment be made to current or prior year tax returns after filing. If an error is made, Canadians or their representatives can use ReFILE to adjust their return using certified software products.

There are plenty of benefits to filing taxes online, but the CRA knows that it isn't for everyone. There are lots of good reasons why some people may file their taxes on paper. They may live in rural or remote areas with limited internet access, or just prefer the feel of paper between their fingers. The CRA recognizes this, and is committed to improving service to them as well. This is why the CRA mails the income tax package to those who filed returns on paper last year.

Furthermore, to make it easier for Canadians on low or fixed incomes whose situations remain unchanged from year to year, the CRA has an automated telephone service called File my return, which allows eligible individuals to file their taxes over the phone by answering a few simple questions.

The CRA also knows that many Canadians want in-person help. For Canadians with a low income and simple tax situation, the CRA is expanding the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP), ensuring that more people can meet face-to-face with trained volunteers and have their taxes done for them for free. The CRA continues to operate its Northern Service Centres, so territorial residents have access to the help they need. Additionally, the CRA offers free, in-person help to self-employed individuals and individuals with rental income through the Liaison Officer service. This service helps them better understand their tax obligations, possible tax deductions, and explains how to avoid common tax errors.

These are just a few of the enhanced services that the CRA is making available this tax-filing season to meet Canadians' evolving expectations.

Associated Links
Backgrounder – 2020 tax filing season launch  
Serving Canadians Better at the CRA   
Get ready to do your taxes  
Doing your taxes  
News release – Canada Revenue Agency releases Serving Canadians Better consultation report 
Free tax clinics  
Protect yourself against fraud

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• You can also watch our tax-related videos on YouTube

SOURCE Canada Revenue Agency

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