CRA Notifies Man Of Tax Debt Sixteen Years Later : CCRA SOTW
Alan Baggett
Before reading this week’s Tax Tale you will want to familiarize
yourself with the February of 2003 Supreme Court of Canada ruling in
Markevich v. Canada.
http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:aBNsiE6HCbEJ:scc.lexum.umontreal.ca/en/2003/2003scc9/2003scc9.pdf+markevich+2003&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=ca
Government Notifies Man of Tax Debt 16 Years Later
COLIN MACLEAN
The Truro Daily News
ONSLOW MOUNTAIN — To say Eddie Hollingsworth was surprised to recently
learn he owed the federal government money from 16 years ago would be
an understatement.
“I’m pretty much at a loss for words to describe how I feel,” said the
Onslow Mountain resident.
Hollingsworth found out he owed the money after taking his taxes to
H&R Block in April. He was informed the business couldn’t do his taxes
because of an overpayment of $225 from 1992.
The news came as a complete surprise to Hollingsworth who had never
received any notification he owed money to the federal government.
“From 1992 until now they never even let me know about it.”
It is not so much owing the money that’s upsetting, he said, it’s the
fact the debt is more than 15 years old.
After making some inquiries with the Canada Revenue Agency,
Hollingsworth decided to send in his taxes with a letter explaining
the situation and asking that his debt be taken off his return.
However, he has since been told he must repay the $225 and will not
receive his tax return until he does.
“All they had to do was take that off. There was quite a bit left
over, put it in the bank. Everything would have been said and done
with,” he said.
Because of confidentiality issues, the Canada Revenue Agency cannot
comment on individual cases, said Roy Jamieson, director of
communications.
“If, for some reason, you were paid too much, which could be for any
number of reasons, then that would be recovered,” said Jamieson.
Normally, individuals would be notified through their notice of
assessment.
“We probably wouldn’t be taking extraordinary steps to collect it,” he
said, adding the money would be recouped the next time the individual
was owed money from a tax return.
There is, however, a fairness appeals process where an individual can
argue against paying the debt.
Hollingsworth plans to keep looking into the issue. He has been in
contact with local politicians and the Canada Revenue Agency. He even
received a response from the office of Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
“If you owed money to the bank they would be quick to let you know
about it,” he said.
**The story is kind of vague on details so it is not clear how the
Markevich decision might apply. I contacted Colin MacLean and the
Truro Daily News, hoping they might pass some info on to Mr.
Hollingsworth, but neither took the time to respond. Hopefully someone
can track Hollingsworth down and advise him to at least investigate
the Markevich decision.**
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Alan Baggett – Tax Collector’s Bible
catalpa
--"Alan Baggett" <canada.rev...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:5829c235-9dd0-42d8...@m36g2000hse.googlegroups.com...
--CRA Notifies Man of Tax Debt 16 Years Later :CRA SOTW
--
--Government Notifies Man of Tax Debt 16 Years Later
--
--COLIN MACLEAN
--The Truro Daily News
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--ONSLOW MOUNTAIN — To say Eddie Hollingsworth was surprised to recently
understatement.
--“I’m pretty much at a loss for words to describe how I feel,” said the
Onslow Mountain resident.
--
I know that Canada is laid back, but this does seem rather overdone on the
slow side.
Chrisb
"Alan Baggett" <canada.rev...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:5829c235-9dd0-42d8...@m36g2000hse.googlegroups.com...
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Having H&R Block doing your taxes..lol. Why not just get some homeless guy
with a pink crayon to do it.