Archives: What's New

December 2011

The Taxpayers' Ombudsman has posted a new blog entry where he shares details of his presentation to tax professionals and his visit to the Tax Services Office while in Kitchener, Ontario last month. To read the entry, visit the Outreach Blog.

November 2011

The Taxpayers' Ombudsman has posted a new blog entry in which he shares details of his recent visit to Moncton, New Brunswick, as part of his national outreach initiative. To read the entry, visit the Outreach Blog.

October 2011

The Taxpayers' Ombudsman's Annual Report, tabled in Parliament on October 19, 2011, outlines the achievements of our Office in our third year of operations, and how we have made a difference in the lives of Canadians.

We have raised awareness of the Taxpayer Bill of Rights and the role of the Ombudsman, assisted thousands of taxpayers with their complaints and enquiries, and brought about significant improvements in the way the Canada Revenue Agency serves and treats taxpayers.

Read the report in our Annual Reports section.

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The Taxpayers' Ombudsman spoke about taxpayer rights and the role of his Office at the annual general meeting of the EFile Association of Canada. Association members gave the Ombudsman valuable insights into their service-related experiences with the Canada Revenue Agency. Visit the new look Outreach Blog for more information.

August 2011

The Taxpayers' Ombudsman has released his third Special Report, "Knowing the Rules," which addresses the confusion experienced by many Canadians about the rules governing the Tax Free Savings Account.

Read the report in Special Reports.

July 2011

The goal of the Taxpayers' Ombudsman's annual outreach campaign is to build and sustain relationships with stakeholders including businesses, tax professionals and the public. The Ombudsman will continue to visit communities across Canada to raise awareness among Canadians of the service rights they are entitled to when dealing with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

New to the Ombudsman's outreach initiatives this year is participation in the Canada Pavilion, part of the Government of Canada's Exhibitions Program. This offers a unique opportunity for the Ombudsman and staff to meet directly with Canadians, to inform them of their rights as taxpayers, and to hear any concerns they may have about the service provided by the CRA.

To receive regular updates on the Ombudsman's 2011 outreach initiatives, subscribe to our electronic mailing list.

March 2011

Canada's tax filing season is now well underway. Although the deadline for filing personal income tax returns is May 2, 2011, some taxpayers are already starting to receive their Notices of Assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

In the coming months, you may have further dealings with the CRA. You may need to contact the CRA with questions regarding your assessment, or the CRA may be asking you for more information.

The Taxpayers' Ombudsman has put together several tips to help guide you when communicating with the CRA. To view these tips, visit our Tips for Taxpayers page.

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The Taxpayers' Ombudsman Web site now offers an electronic mailing list.

By signing up, you can keep up to date with important events, systemic issues, new reports and updates to the Office's Web site through messages sent directly to your email address.

You can also subscribe to the Taxpayers' Ombudsman's RSS feed.

February 2011

We are pleased to announce that Mr. J. Paul Dubé, who became Canada's first Taxpayers' Ombudsman in February 2008, has been reappointed for a five year term. More information is available in the Minister of National Revenue's official announcement released on February 9, 2011.

December 2010

The Taxpayers' Ombudsman has released his second Special Report, "Proving Your Status." The report analyzes issues surrounding proof of eligibility for the Canada Child Tax Benefit program which is administered by the Canada Revenue Agency.

You can read the report in Other Reports, or contact us for a hard copy.

November 2010

The Taxpayers' Ombudsman has released his report, "The Right to Know." The report examines the sufficiency of information in decision letters from the Appeals Branch of the Canada Revenue Agency.

You can read the report in Other Reports, or contact us for a hard copy.

October 2010

The Taxpayers' Ombudsman has released his second annual report. This report highlights the activities and achievements of the Office during its second year in operation.

To read the report, visit Annual Reports.

September 2010

The Taxpayers' Ombudsman will be launching the next phase of his national outreach initiative this fall.

The Ombudsman will make several presentations to stakeholders across Canada, including taxpayers, tax professionals, and employees of the Canada Revenue Agency, in an effort to increase awareness of the Taxpayer Bill of Rights and the role of the Taxpayers' Ombudsman.

August 2010

Tax Free Savings Account for individuals
We've Heard You!

Many taxpayers are calling the Office of the Taxpayers' Ombudsman with questions about their tax-free savings account (TFSA).

If you have received a return from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) regarding your TFSA, you should consult the CRA's Web page on TFSA returns and payment of taxes to understand your options and obligations. A statement issued jointly by the Minister of National Revenue and the Minister of Finance also contains updated information.

The Minister of National Revenue has announced that the deadline for signing and sending back your TFSA return has been extended to August 3, 2010. More information about what you need to do can be found in a news release issued on July 26, 2010.