2015-16 Departmental Performance Report
A message from the Commissioner
"The CRA has shown itself to be an adept organization, one that can meet the service expectations of Canadians in a digital age and respond to the challenges of dealing with aggressive tax planning schemes in a global economy."
— Bob Hamilton
Since assuming my responsibilities as Commissioner on August 1, 2016, I have been impressed with the dedication and professionalism of the Canada Revenue Agency's (CRA) employees. This 2015-16 Departmental Performance Report demonstrates the many ways the Agency has explored new ways of doing business to meet the needs of Canadians. I would like to acknowledge my predecessor, Andrew Treusch, whose commitment to improving service, strengthening compliance, and upholding the integrity of the Agency is evidenced in the many accomplishments outlined in this Report. I would also like to thank both the Minister of National Revenue and the CRA Board of Management for the generous support they have offered me.
The CRA is constantly exploring innovative ways to improve service to Canadians, perhaps most notably through enhancements to our digital services. This past year, the Agency provided more digital options, like Auto-fill My Return, for easy and secure transactions. We also continued to simplify the correspondence the Agency regularly sends out, making it easier for Canadians to understand their tax obligations and benefit entitlements.
In 2015-2016, the Agency, like tax administrations around the world, faced many compliance challenges. The CRA is coordinating the development and delivery of a work plan to support the OECD/G20 Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) project, part of a global effort to prevent multinational corporations from inappropriately minimizing their taxes.
As part of its strategy to address international tax avoidance, the CRA created three additional offshore compliance specialized teams in 2015-2016 to identify and manage high-risk files. The Agency also established more detailed and rigorous reporting requirements for Canadian taxpayers holding foreign property and assets. Our increased use and analysis of information, particularly that related to international fund transfers, has proven invaluable in helping the Agency monitor potentially unreported income, target jurisdictions of concern, and identify previously unknown (domestic and foreign) bank accounts and the locations of offshore assets and income. The CRA will continue to crack down on tax evaders and work with international partners to combat tax avoidance.
Budget 2016 announced deliverables for the CRA under several themes, including making the tax system more fair, through activities such as cracking down on tax evasion and combatting tax avoidance, as well as improving service for Canadians. I look forward to implementing the initiatives and reporting on their progress.
The CRA has shown it continues to advance to meet the service expectations of Canadians in a digital age and respond to the compliance challenges of a global economy. Within the Agency, I have been inspired by the extent to which the CRA embraces innovation, promotes wellbeing in the workplace, and fosters a culture of integrity.
As the Commissioner of the CRA, I am proud of the results the Agency's employees achieved in 2015-2016. While we have accomplished much, we need to continue to progress and improve so that we meet evolving challenges and expectations that arise. I look forward to leading the Agency as it delivers enhanced service to Canadians, inspires confidence in the integrity and fairness of our administration of taxes and benefits, and reports on the results of our efforts.
Original signed
Bob Hamilton
Commissioner of the Canada Revenue Agency
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