WTH CRA? You're so incompetent lately

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Hogwild
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WTH CRA? You're so incompetent lately

Post by Hogwild »

Just a rant:

For years, I had hardly any problems dealing with CRA. The last few months, not so much.

It took 7 months to process my personal (simple) tax return this year.

Next up: I called CRA on behalf of my Mom, because she was denied tax deduction credit for property tax payments. We hadn't provided adequate proof. First, CRA told us to get receipts from our local property tax dep't. Then, when I CRA that the local tax dep't said it wouldn't be possible, I was told by a CRA rep. that the bank statements showing "<municiaplity name> Tax" would suffice, as they could cross reference dates/times/amonts of payments claimed. Then, when i submitted those data, they reassessed saying bank statements were insufficient proof.

Then today, I get a letter from HST for an account we closed six months ago. We closed the account by mail and online, (or similar, but we did it using 2 diff methods). On top of that, they sent it to the wrong address-my place instead of my Mom's. We changed the address over a year ago.

So I call them, and get some guy who is obviously clueless, and can't even talk on the phone without hesitation. He keeps me on hold 3 times and then says he can't find out from his supervisors which number to call for HST inquiries for estates. Great, there's another 30 mins of my life I'll never get back again.

Call back and they say the call queues are full. This was at 9:00 AM.

Hmm...just went to log off the CRA website and got error:
"Internal Error occured while trying to process the logout request. Transaction ID: 76bb445e-f38c3dde-e624bd55-3a4e84b5-54f7639c-2 failed."

OF course, this is after the recent security breach, the sweetheart deal for offshore tax cheaters, the scandal about diabets patients and their
inability to get the DTC credit, the scandal about CRA lying about their numbers and giving people wrong and/or contradictory advice.

Damn, CRA. You are really starting to annoy the hell out of me.
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kcowan
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Re: WTH CRA? You're so incompetent lately

Post by kcowan »

This is why we have to be diligent about sticking to our claims. They are counting on us giving up. I would keep a trail of communications to send to the minister and copy our Finance Minister who seems to think that his CRA can administer complex rules!

I have done similar tactics with Sun Life on drug claims (including chat transcripts from 4years) until they finally capitulated this year and approved my claim for the standard 90% reimbursement.

We do the same thing in Mexico, refusing to be cheated out of change and other charges. It is not the money. It is showing them that we deserve respect.
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Koogie
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Re: WTH CRA? You're so incompetent lately

Post by Koogie »

“People shouldn't be afraid of their government. Governments should be afraid of their people.”

― Alan Moore, V for Vendetta
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Re: WTH CRA? You're so incompetent lately

Post by Insomniac »

I feel your pain.

Several years ago, my wife thought she would start a business. She changed her mind when she found out that there was no market for what she wanted to sell (don't ask). Unfortunately, one of her "friends" told her that it was a good idea to get a "GST number", which she did. She didn't use the number at all and didn't file any returns.

A couple of years ago, a cheque arrived. Yes, a GST refund. Obviously, she didn't deserve the refund, so the cheque was sent back. They wanted her to refile her return but there never was a return. Letters flew back and forth. Finally, a CRA guy in Winnipeg called; he would take care of it. After a couple of reassuring phone calls, he figured out who the cheque should have gone to. He also closed the business account since it was not used and never will be.

A couple of weeks ago, a letter arrived. It appears some business had withheld tax from an employee's paycheck and forwarded it to CRA. The letter was a statement to that effect. So, the business account was not closed and now someone's credit has been keyed to it. We have told CRA about the error, but haven't heard back.

I'm expecting another gong show.
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Re: WTH CRA? You're so incompetent lately

Post by CROCKD »

Obviously things have come full circle. Anecdote.
Years ago before the age of the internet (and before they were called CRA) I had my claim for my annual RRSP contribution denied. I was getting frustrated dealing with their representative and getting nowhere. I expressed my frustration to a friend of mine who worked for Revenue Canada (as it was then known). Earl was a known sxxx disturber. He said to me "Just file a T400A" - Notice of Objection, which I did by registered mail. He said that they hated things that should have been resolved lower down being kicked up to a higher level. I was contacted by a supervisor and the problem was quickly sorted out.
In the intervening years CRA advertised that usually problems could be sorted out by contacting them and it seemed that indeed that worked OK for some time. But now because of staff reductions, bureaucracy and other factors of competency etc. we seem to be getting an avalanche of stories with some of the worse horror stories hitting the media. With members of FWF representing a very small slice of the population it makes you wonder how many other people are getting screwed or just throwing up their hands and giving up.
" A verbal contract isn't worth the paper it is written on " Samuel Goldwyn
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Hogwild
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Re: WTH CRA? You're so incompetent lately

Post by Hogwild »

Interesting stories...thanks for those. I would not consider my story a horror story. That being said, I just find it very disheartening how our government seems to regularly mess things up.
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optionable68
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Re: WTH CRA? You're so incompetent lately

Post by optionable68 »

At least you got through the phone lines. For the bulk of 2017, anytime we have called CRA, we always get a phone message saying they are unable to answer the phone with no option to at least wait on hold. Frustrating for Canadians who simply want to pay their taxes.
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lacrosse905
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Re: WTH CRA? You're so incompetent lately

Post by lacrosse905 »

I worked in the constituency office of a Federal MP and found we had access to Revenue Canada employees who had a higher level of knowledge, and the systems to get filed info quickly and fix problems. This was a few years ago, but if I was having a high frustration level with issues today, that is the route I would take.
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Re: WTH CRA? You're so incompetent lately

Post by schmuck »

Hogwild wrote: 14 Dec 2017 13:52 Just a rant:

OF course, this is after the recent security breach, the sweetheart deal for offshore tax cheaters, the scandal about diabets patients and their
inability to get the DTC credit, the scandal about CRA lying about their numbers and giving people wrong and/or contradictory advice.

Damn, CRA. You are really starting to annoy the hell out of me.
You're not alone!
While the media is finally beginning to enlighten us with outrageous examples of tax evasion by wealthy foreign property owners in Vancouver and Toronto (eg. Douglas Todd), it is highly unlikely that the CRA will even attempt to touch such a politically incorrect topic that may imply racism.
In the meantime, the CRA assault on Disability Tax Credits is not just confined to diabetes patients, but applies to all disabilities, including the mentally handicapped who are the least able to defend themselves:
http://www.macleans.ca/politics/ottawa/ ... sabilities

The CRA has never been more incompetent and dysfunctional under the leadership of her honorable Diane Lebouthillier.
If the CRA needs to be totally gutted and rebuilt fro scratch, so be it.
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Re: WTH CRA? You're so incompetent lately

Post by kcowan »

schmuck wrote: 20 Jan 2018 15:06If the CRA needs to be totally gutted and rebuilt fro scratch, so be it.
Before DWs Cousin retired from there 11 years ago, they had established hiring standards that encouraged women and minorities, especially First Nations. Numeracy was not a requirement. We are now experiencing the long term impacts of such a policy.
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Re: WTH CRA? You're so incompetent lately

Post by hboy43 »

Hogwild wrote: 15 Dec 2017 01:28 Interesting stories...thanks for those. I would not consider my story a horror story. That being said, I just find it very disheartening how our government seems to regularly mess things up.
It is the nature of government to mess things up, like it is the nature of water to be wet.
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Re: WTH CRA? You're so incompetent lately

Post by SQRT »

Never had an issue dealing with them. Just lucky I guess.
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CROCKD
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Re: WTH CRA? You're so incompetent lately

Post by CROCKD »

An article by the G&M's tax specialist Tim Cestnick
The culture at the CRA is changing – and we should all be concerned
" A verbal contract isn't worth the paper it is written on " Samuel Goldwyn
"The light at the end of the tunnel may be a freight train coming your way" Metallica - No Leaf Clover
JaydoubleU
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Re: WTH CRA? You're so incompetent lately

Post by JaydoubleU »

Just curious, for those living in Ottawa, is it possible to walk into the CRA office and ask for an appointment? I mean, anyone could do this, but living in Ottawa makes it a little less inconvenient.
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ghariton
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Re: WTH CRA? You're so incompetent lately

Post by ghariton »

JaydoubleU wrote: 09 Mar 2018 17:52 Just curious, for those living in Ottawa, is it possible to walk into the CRA office and ask for an appointment? I mean, anyone could do this, but living in Ottawa makes it a little less inconvenient.
Not any more.

They used to have a physical presence on Albert Street (I think), with a cashier's window where one could pay one's bills. There was also a number of employees who would dispense help. It helped to have an appointment, but there was a waiting room, and you could take your chances. I never waited for more than twenty minutes.

All gone. You deal with CRA online or, if you're very patient, by phone.

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Re: WTH CRA? You're so incompetent lately

Post by IdOp »

I got the NOA for my paper return. I was due a moderate refund, so following the stated options in the Guide, I had attached a note to my return asking for the refund to be applied to the installment payment account. Instead, they sent me a cheque for the refund. Now, I don't mind getting the cheque really, but

(a) I thought they'd stopped paying refunds by cheque a few years ago? :?

(b) It's not exactly confidence inspiring that they ignored my instruction. :(
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