Serving You Better: How the CRA is helping small and medium businesses

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In the fall of 2018, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) received feedback from small and medium businesses and accountants that was used to help make our programs and services more streamlined and client-centric.

Following these consultations the CRA committed to advancing the action items below.

This action item has been completed.

This action item is not being pursued at this time.

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1. We will continue to modernize and raise awareness of the CRA’s digital services

Table 1 - Completed

Action item	Status
Improve the Submit Documents service for a better user experience. For example, you will be able to upload up to ten documents at once. You will also be able to electronically submit documents for new owner updates and provide estate documents electronically.
Make the processing status of certain special elections and returns available in MyBA. For example, Schedule 89 - Request for a Capital Dividend Account Balance Verification and Form T2054 – Election for a Capital Dividend Under Subsection 83(2).
Businesses will be able to sign-up to receive an email confirmation when documents are sent to the CRA.
Make Represent a Client available for estate accounts.
Make our How-to videos available on relevant Canada.ca pages in addition to being available on the CRA’s YouTube channel.
Enhance the Represent a Client interface to add an easy to find “What’s New” link in the portal that will help representatives find reference materials while still maintaining their secure connection.
Make more correspondence available in the online portals. For example, soon you will be able to get certain appeals letters, charities letters and non-filer letters in MyBA.

2. We will continue to make tax information easier to access, understand, and use

Table 2 - Completed

Action item	Status
Expand the Liaison Officer service to incorporated businesses.
Update the email notification to individuals and businesses to let them know what type of correspondence is waiting for them in the online portal.
Explore the feasibility of extending the hours of our Business Enquiries telephone service.
Establish the Dedicated Telephone Service for tax preparers as a permanent service.
Create a new Canada.ca page that lists all services the CRA offers to small and medium businesses.
Examine ways to make it easier for authorized representatives to navigate the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) options.

3. We will continue to clarify information about payment options

Table 3 - Completed

Action item	Status
Businesses can sign-up to receive an email confirmation when a payment has been applied to their account.
Create educational products to better inform GST/HST sole proprietors about the options available to make payments on their GST/HST account and ensure that our Business Enquiries agents have proper training and information when addressing calls on this matter.
Introduce a new “Pay” button that will be available in MyBA and some GST/HST digital filing venues.
Implement a new electronic payment option allowing employers to make garnishee payments to the CRA.
Allow businesses and their representatives to print certain types of remittance vouchers.

4. We will continue to improve services related to the audit, collections, and appeals processes

Table 4 - Completed

Action item	Status
Develop an internal process for trusts (similar to the process created for T1) that will automate the process and reduce the time it takes to process a clearance certificate.
Develop new videos on taxpayer relief, which will be available in the CRA’s Business video gallery.
Revise form RC 4288 Request for Taxpayer Relief - Cancel or Waive Penalties or Interest form to make it easier to fill out.
Make more correspondence related to objections available in the CRA’s online portals.
Explore the development of an online fillable version of form TX19 Asking for a Clearance Certificate, allowing authorized representatives to request a clearance certificate directly through Represent a Client.
Release an electronic version of form RC 4288 Request for Taxpayer Relief - Cancel or Waive Penalties or Interest.
Develop new videos on the objections process which will be available in the CRA’s Business video gallery.

2025-12-16