Digital service collaboration plan between the CRA and Tax-filer Empowerment Canada

Summary of the subject

The CRA and Tax-filer Empowerment Canada (TFEC), an association of Canada’s leading tax preparation and software firms, have signed a joint digital service improvement plan to improve services for Canadians.

The primary goal of this collaboration is to produce and promote innovative, secure, and convenient electronic tax filing services. The plan sets out overall directions, defines roles and responsibilities of the CRA and TFEC, consistent with the OneGC approach, the government-wide strategy to seamlessly integrate GC services into existing digital platforms for Canadians, and highlights high level plans and goals.

In order to improve service to Canadian taxpayers and support TFEC in its innovative efforts, the CRA will continue to make core system improvements and to make enhancements to initiatives such as the Online Mail initiative, Auto-Fill, Express NOA and ReFile. The CRA will also expand the availability and improve the interface of its applications, consistent with OneGC, in order to allow TFEC to better integrate their software products with CRA systems. Regular meetings with TFEC and the software industry will be held to collaborate on ideas, exchange perspectives, and clarify goals and priorities.

TFEC recognizes the importance for the CRA to offer tax filing services that are easy to use. CRA’s digital services provide a wider range of tax filing options for Canadians that are fast and secure. To that end, TFEC will work collaboratively with the CRA to raise awareness and encourage Canadians to adopt digital services, such as Online Mail, Auto-fill, Express NOA and ReFILE.

It is a top priority for both the CRA and TFEC to assist Canadians in northern and remote locations, where computer and internet access along with tax preparation services may not be readily available.  As part of this agreement, they will work together to offer additional targeted services and products in order to reach and serve these important taxpayer communities.

Meetings

October 18, 2018

• Readout of the roundtable discussion