Most people don’t set
out to not pay their taxes. Disputes with CRA, financial problems, issues with
businesses, etc. are all reasons why people end up with a tax debt that they
have not and cannot pay in full immediately.
If you have been
contacted by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) regarding your tax debt, then you
know that they always ask for payment in full. If they don’t have a lot of your
information to take collection action against you, they may offer a temporary,
short term payment plan in exchange for you completing a financial disclosure
form. Once you step out onto that ledge, there is no turning back. Once CRA has
the information they need to commence enforcement action, they will not leave
you alone until the debt is paid or you end up bankrupt. Trying to negotiate a
CRA payment plan directly is not just a bad idea - it can be dangerous. CRA knows how to play “good cop, bad cop” and
tax payers are often so surprised by how nice the CRA collector is (the taxpayer
feels lucky!) caution is naively thrown to the wind and you fall into the
trap. Remember, the CRA collector’s job
is to collect as fast as possible – he is your opponent and not your friend.
Maybe you think that
you have nothing to hide and are serious about repaying your tax debt in
installments so what harm could really come from showing CRA the state of your
finances? Unfortunately that is not how it works. As far as CRA is concerned,
the debt you owe to them should come before all others – personal loans, credit
card payments, etc. Any surplus cash flow you have therefore should be included
in your CRA payment plan – even if it means destroying your credit and putting
you further in debt with your other creditors.
And how the CRA collector sees surplus cash flow will definitely not be
fair to you.
When you try to
negotiate a CRA payment plan, what will CRA ask for? Full disclosure will
include providing information about where you work, where you bank, what you
own (including your home and any money you have saved for your children’s
education) and all income sources, all payments, etc. This information is then
used by CRA to develop a payment plan, which, if not followed, may lead to
further enforcement action, including wage garnishments, property liens, frozen
bank accounts, etc.
A voluntary CRA
payment plan is possible. However, these
are not normal negotiations. CRA
collectors have very harsh collection tools and complex agendas to satisfy
their managers. If you really want a
voluntary tax payment plan that is safe, one that CRA will accept and that you
can live with, we do not recommend that you try and learn how to do this
yourself. The consequences of getting it
wrong are severe and there can be no turning back. Please speak with a professional experienced
with negotiating binding CRA payment plans. This is a big buyer beware; your
average tax accountant may not have the depth of experience in dealing with the
enforcement arm of CRA and this can be tricky to navigate. Instead, opt for an
organization that specializes in working with people who have tax problems,
bringing to the table the expertise and know-how required to avoid further
trouble.
How will a tax
professional help you navigate these waters? By correctly presenting CRA with
the fair proposal that fits your budget and without giving CRA any further
financial ammunition against you. A tax professional should also be able to
discuss and evaluate your ability to qualify for various other programs that
may help you get rid of your tax debt.
Often a CRA payment
plan negotiated directly with CRA can become difficult, or even impossible, to
pay, leaving you in severe financial trouble. Don’t fall into the trap of
giving all of your information to CRA in the hopes that things will work out.
Get the right help from an organization experienced with dealing with all
different types of tax issues.
For more information
about how to negotiate a CRA payment plan, please contact Tax Solutions Canada
by calling 1-888-868-1400, or visit us at www.taxsolutionscanada.ca.
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