Minister Lebouthillier announces improvements to tax filing services for Canadians

OTTAWA, Jan. 8, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is taking steps to make it easier for Canadians to file their income tax and benefit returns, no matter which method they choose.

The Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of National Revenue, today announced the launch of a new automated telephone filing service called File my Return. Over 950,000 eligible individuals with low income or a fixed income that is unchanged year-to-year will be invited to file their income tax and benefit returns simply by answering a series of short questions and giving some personal information. Canadians eligible to use File my Return will receive personalized invitation letters starting in the middle of February 2018. This service allows all the deductions, benefits and credits that the user is entitled to, without the need for any calculations or paper forms to fill out.

Minister Lebouthillier also announced that taxpayers who filed using paper tax forms in previous years will now receive a tax package by mail. Canadians who use paper guides and forms now do not have to visit a Canada Post, Service Canada, or Caisse populaire Desjardins outlet to get the General Income Tax and Benefit Guide and the forms book for the 2017 tax year. This will help all those who file using paper forms. However, to ease the transition to this service, limited quantities of guides and forms will still be available in these locations.

By making filing returns easier and simpler, these services will help millions of Canadians do their taxes.

Quote

Improving service to Canadians is my top priority. We know that Canadians lead busy lives and doing taxes can sometimes be a challenge. This is especially the case for people with reduced mobility, people who live far from service locations and people without Internet access. The CRA is working to make it easier and simpler to find, complete and file a return. The new services we are now providing are more user-friendly and convenient, especially for Canadians with low or fixed income.

- The Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of National Revenue

Quick Facts

"FILE MY RETURN" SERVICE

• File my Return lets eligible Canadians file their income tax and benefit return by providing some personal information and answering a series of short questions through a dedicated, automated phone service, making tax-filing easier and simpler.
• Approximately 950,000 eligible Canadians with low income or a fixed income that is unchanged year-to-year will receive personal letters inviting them to use File my Return.
• File my Return uses information the CRA has on record plus answers the user gives during their automated phone call to complete and file income tax and benefit returns. It allows all the deductions, benefits and credits the user is eligible for.
• The File my Return service is available 21 hours a day, from 6 a.m. to 3 a.m., Eastern time, 7 days a week, throughout the tax-filing season.

TAX AND BENEFITS PACKAGE – PAPER

• The tax package will include everything individuals need to file a 2017 income tax and benefit return: two copies of the federal tax forms and schedules, two copies of provincial and territorial tax forms and schedules (not applicable to the province of Quebec), the 2017 General Income Tax and Benefit Guide and a pre-addressed return envelope.
• To ease the transition to the new service, limited quantities of printed products in both official languages will be available at Canada Post, Service Canada and at most Caisse populaire Desjardins outlets starting February 26, 2018. If the documents have run out at these locations, information will be available to tell individuals how to order them by phone or online in their preferred language. Beginning in 2019, the documents will be available only from the CRA.
• Before going to an outlet or calling the CRA, we ask Canadians to wait until February 26, 2018. By then, all packages will have been mailed to the filers concerned. Individuals can download and print the forms online.
• Those who want to file on paper and haven't received a guide and forms book from the CRA by February 26, 2018, can order them at online or call the dedicated telephone lines for ordering forms packages: 1-855-330-3305 (for service in English) or 1-855-330-3310 (for service in French).
• Paper filers who have moved and have not updated their address with the CRA will need to contact the CRA or visit a Canada Post, Service Canada or Caisse populaire Desjardins outlet to get a tax package.

Associated Links

• General income tax and benefit package

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SOURCE Canada Revenue Agency

John Power, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of National Revenue, 613-995-2960; Media Relations, Canada Revenue Agency, 613-948-8366