Minister Lebouthillier announces improvements to better serve northern residents
News Release
October 20, 2017 - Yellowknife (Northwest Territories) - Canada Revenue Agency
The Government of Canada is committed to making it easier to access the services of the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). The work done by the Agency will allow it to provide programs and services that help northern residents meet their tax obligations and receive benefits.
Today, the Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of National Revenue, announced the CRA’s Northern Consultations Action Plan to better serve northern residents. The plan, which can be found online in the Report on the Canada Revenue Agency’s consultations with northern residents, outlines concrete and meaningful actions the CRA will take over the next two years to make its services to northern residents more helpful and easier to use.
Under the Northern Consultations Action Plan, the Agency will:
- Expand partnerships in northern communities;
- Improve tax-related services for Canadians living in the North; and
- Help taxpayers better understand how to claim the northern residents deductions and explore options that can help taxpayers identify the lowest return airfare.
One of the ways in which the CRA will deliver on its Action Plan commitments is by expanding the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP). Through the CVITP, individuals with a modest income and simple tax situation can get help with their taxes from a local community organization. Last year, CVITP organizations and volunteers filed more than 768,000 tax returns for individuals across Canada.
Last month, the Agency announced a suite of services to better serve Yukon residents including the opening of a CRA-supported tax preparation centre, with volunteers from the CVITP. For Yukoners who need further support, CRA outreach officers will expand their activities under this initiative to include quarterly visits to Whitehorse, along with annual visits to smaller, remote communities.
The CRA action plan was made possible by northern residents who shared their unique challenges in meeting their tax obligations during the 2016 Serving You Better consultations held in Whitehorse, Yellowknife and Iqaluit.
To find out more about the CRA’s plans to better serve Canadians who live in the North, go to canada.ca/cra-northern-consultations.
Quotes
“During the Serving You Better consultations, we heard about the unique challenges that northern residents face when meeting their tax obligations. To ensure that the Canada Revenue Agency provides services and programs that meet the needs of our northern communities, I’m proud to announce the Northern Consultations Action Plan. The action plan is part of our government’s ongoing efforts to ensure that northern residents are getting the help they need to meet their tax obligations and, most importantly, receiving the benefits to which they are entitled.”
- The Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of National Revenue
Quick Facts
-
During the 2016 Serving You Better consultations, the CRA received feedback from small and medium businesses and accountants to help make its programs and services more helpful and easier to use.
-
Through programs like the CVITP, the CRA is working to address barriers that prevent vulnerable Canadians from accessing important benefits and credits.
-
Individuals who need help doing their taxes, have a modest income, and a simple tax situation may be able to get help from a local community organization. For more information, go to canada.ca/taxes-help
-
Free tax help is available to Quebec residents through the Volunteer Program, offered by Revenu Québec.
-
Individuals who have a basic understanding of income tax and are interested in helping out their community can consider becoming a CVITP volunteer. To register, go to canada.ca/taxes-volunteer.
Contacts
John Power
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of National Revenue
613-995-2960
Media Relations
Canada Revenue Agency
604-587-2533