This is an update on our goal of getting the local Canada Revenue Agency re-opened.
Thanks to several volunteers, who have spent countless hours outside our local CRA office at the Elijah Smith building, informing people of the closure and asking for signatures, Whitehorse is slowly getting informed that the tax office services they have come to use and need in their daily living has come to an end.
The 15th of each month is an important payment date for businesses with employees. Oct. 15 was the first time that CRA office was not open. I have heard from some of the banks that they had many complaints when taxpayers were coming in to make their payments, as one alternative to using the CRA office.
Any payment made at a bank will not likely be considered accepted on the bank stamped date, but on the date CRA gets it from the bank, so if your payment is recorded as late when it shouldn’t be. If you are given penalties as a result of these late payments, file an objection as soon as possible after receiving the notice.
As Canada Revenue Agency has forgot to post a sign on their door, they should put ads in the paper or send notices to all taxpayers informing us of the closure. In my opinion all penalties should be waived, but only by appealing will you have the chance to make that happen.
My staff and I started a petition in early September and our volunteers have got the clipboards with the petitions at approximately 30 locations. If you haven’t seen one and would like to add your signature to the concerned citizens list, please drop by our office at 211 Elliott Street and sign the one on our counter. To date, we have approximately 1,500 signatures and we plan on continuing to gather these signatures right through tax season if we have to.
MP Ryan Leef’s office has stated that there will be a public meeting in the near future, but has also indicated that only people on his contact list will be notified. If you want to make sure you are on the contact list, please inform his staff, either in Whitehorse or in Ottawa.
In addition, you can send in a service complaint form (RC153) to CRA and can pick one up at our office or the CRA website and fax it to the number on the back.
Thanks for all the encouragement, calls, letters and emails we have received in support ... here’s hoping!
Carol Church
H&R Block, Whitehorse