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 Taxpayer's Ombudsman - Friend or Enemy? By Jim Cottreau FRPA In February 2008 the Minister of National Revenue announced the appointment of a Taxpayers’ Ombudsman- the first person to hold this position in Canada.
Canada Revenue Agency has its own internal service-related, complaint-resolution mechanisms inside of CRA. This was a whole new outside, independent step forward.
Who is the Taxpayers Ombudsman? – The Ombudsman is an independent and impartial officer who examines service related complaints about CRA. The ombudsman is a final avenue of assistance at no cost to the taxpayer.
What can the Taxpayers Ombudsman do? - The Ombudsman can examine your complaint to make sure that CRA has respected your service rights as outlined in the Taxpayer Bill of Rights. The Taxpayer Bill of Rights is reviewed in another article on our website. The Ombudsman review could relate to such issues as:
· Mistakes
· Undue delays
· Misleading information
· Staff behavior
· Help you access the CRA existing complaint resolution mechanisms
· Recommend to CRA and to the Minister ways the CRA could improve its service to taxpayers
Important restrictions –The Ombudsman will not become involved in matters related to tax law or tax policy. The Ombudsman cannot review complaints about existing laws or policy; nor can it review matters before the courts or direct CRA to take action.
When should you contact the Tax Ombudsman? You should contact the Ombudsman when you believe that the CRA- Service/Complaints has not adequately resolved your service related complaint.
Taxpayers’ Ombudsman
Suite 724
50 O’Connor Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1P 6L2
Tel – 1-866-586-3839
Fax 1-866-586-3855
Taxpayersrights.gc.ca
Jim Cottreau FRPA is a Senior Partner with Atlantic Canada Taxman, engaged in working with small business and taxation.
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