Minister Findlay meets with local businesses to discuss new civil and criminal sanctions for possession or use of electronic suppression of sales software
August 13, 2014 - Saskatoon – Canada Revenue Agency
The Honourable Kerry-Lynne D. Findlay, P.C., Q.C., M.P., Minister of National Revenue, joined by Minister Lynne Yelich, Member of Parliament for Blackstrap, and Kelly Block, Member of Parliament for Saskatoon-Rosetown-Biggar, today took part in a roundtable discussion with business owners to discuss new sanctions introduced earlier this year to combat the use of electronic suppression of sales (ESS) software and its contribution to the underground economy.
- Economic Action Plan (EAP) 2013 proposed new administrative monetary penalties and criminal offences under both the Excise Tax Act and Income Tax Act targeting those participating in the use, possession, sale or development of ESS software. Those EAP measures took effect on January 1, 2014.
- Earlier this year, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) began an awareness campaign to ensure that businesses were aware of the new sanctions. The awareness activities will conclude this summer.
- As of September 1, 2014, the CRA will begin to impose these new civil penalties and criminal sanctions for participating in the use, possession, sale or development of ESS software.
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Rebecca Rogers
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of National Revenue
613-995-2960
Noël Carisse
Media Relations
Canada Revenue Agency
613-952-9184
