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No, separate from other CRA debts that may be reported on your tax account, or create a refund set-off where the CRA takes your refund and/or benefits amounts qualified, and applies it to pay off your other debts, it is UNLIKELY for you to owe money in income taxes, UNLESS you earn a large amount of your income from untaxed sources – tips, self-employment, and capital gains are the most common reason. In Canada, only about 25% of ALL tax returns filed owe money to the CRA in income tax and/or penalties. Late-filing penalties and interest are ONLY a % of the amount you still owe, so if you don’t owe, there is NO PENALTY FOR LATE FILING. The vast majority of my clients who are not self-employed or earning tips, have no amounts owing, and those who are low income, are likely to receive large amounts of refund and/or low-income benefits from the CRA after we file.

No, as soon as you authorize me as your CRA Authorized Representative, [barring any access problems] I’ll be able to immediately access your CRA online account associated with your SIN number, which will show all your relevant carryforward details, and your employer/source-reported income earned.

As long as you’re regularly communicating with the CRA collections officer and/or making voluntary payments to the CRA, you’ll be allowed to take as long as you NEED, to pay off your debt. CRA debt is charged 8% interest currently (Q1 2025), and can change each quarter.

Yes, if it’s reasonable and I feel you’re likely to be approved. Please note my fees are $150 +HST for any Voluntary Disclosures Program or Taxpayer Relief Request application, and the CRA can take 12+ months to issue you a preliminary decision. 

It is ONLY likely for you to owe money to the CRA (income taxes) IF you have self-employment (untaxed) income or earn a lot of money in tips. Most of my clients who are employed only, and especially those who are LOW-INCOME, tend to receive refunds & full amounts of benefits from the CRA. On average, 76% of tax returns filed receive money FROM the CRA.

Usually 10 days after efiling. Benefits are sent at a prescribed schedule. Paper-filed years (2015 & 2016 are required paper-file), will be assessed in 5-8 months after filing.

I work hard to juggle and balance ALL my clients’ needs and the opportunity to get money BACK from the CRA for them, so I always prioritize 1 year only returns & multiple year clients that are most likely to have a refund (no deadline), and can be completed in a single work session. If you are likely to owe money to the CRA, I will GUARANTEE filing before the filing deadline for your returns.

Yes, if you have a specific deadline issued by the CRA or any personal reason, and you need to have your returns efiled by ANY deadline during tax season (other than the CRA standard deadlines), or outside of tax season any deadline within 7 days of receiving all your required details, an additional RUSH/PRIORITY fee of $250 +HST will apply. I normally prioritize working on clients who have provided ALL necessary details at the beginning, and who will be likely receiving a REFUND. If you’re most likely to owe money, I will be working on your returns as soon as possible (after all the current, fully-paid clients, who are anticipating a refund amount), and I guarantee filing by April 30, IF you have provided all the necessary details and are likely to owe.

No, unless you are ALSO planning to pay your full amount owing before April 30th, and you are willing to COMPLETE and have me efile your returns before April 30th, and you have provided me all your tax return details by April 14th at the LATEST. Otherwise, you are advised to pay as much of your tax bill as you have in savings, by the deadline, and then you will receive a refund or additional amount owing, after your returns are filed.

Potentially. If it makes sense, and won’t cause you troubles with the CRA. There is also a $250 +HST additional fee for any extra grouped/staged filing of years (EXCEPT for 2024 returns, for clients who pre-pay for multiple years before 2024 can be efiled).