Strategic Framework Summary for the Canada Revenue Agency’s Indigenous Portfolio

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has a number of programs that impact Indigenous peoples with an overall goal of supporting full participation in the Canadian tax and benefit system. A key focus is ensuring that anyone who is eligible for benefits and credits can and will access them. The Strategic Framework for the CRA’s Indigenous Portfolio (the Framework) encompasses the CRA’s entire Indigenous portfolio, supporting coordination of related activities across the CRA, and outlining the Agency’s objectives in this area.

The CRA interacts with Indigenous individuals and entities in three distinct capacities, and the Framework holds a commitment to each.

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Our Vision

The overarching objective of the Framework is to ensure Indigenous peoples, organizations, businesses and governments are able to participate fully in the Canadian tax and benefit system.

  • Taxfilers – All Indigenous taxpayers have access to information and tools enabling them to participate in the tax system.
  • Benefit Recipients – Indigenous peoples have access to the benefits and tax credits to which they are eligible.
  • Clients – The CRA is accountable to the Indigenous governments for whom it administers tax.


Significant efforts have been undertaken by the CRA to improve its understanding of barriers to tax-filing, and to increase Indigenous peoples' uptake of benefits and credits, including the Canada child benefit (CCB).

These initiatives include:

These research projects are being used as a basis to inform more targeted outreach efforts.

The CRA continues to expand its outreach presence and the availability of volunteer tax clinics in Indigenous communities.

Given the diversity of taxpayers' personal circumstances, the CRA accepts letters from third parties as supporting documentation when determining a taxpayer's entitlement to child benefit payments, including letters from band councils.

Next Steps

The CRA will continue to build on the progress made to ensure that all Indigenous peoples and governments have the information, tools, and support they require to participate fully in the tax and benefit system.

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