Taxpayer and Business Assistance (PA1)

Program Overview

The Taxpayer and Business Assistance program activity is responsible for providing tools, assistance, and information that facilitate voluntary compliance with tax obligations. We also supply taxpayers, businesses, and registrants with rulings on legislative policy and procedural entitlements and obligations in accordance with relevant federal and provincial/territorial legislation. This program activity is divided into two sub-activities: Enquiries and Information Services and Legislative Policy and Regulatory Affairs.

Program Strategy

Enquiries and Information Services

We will provide information products and answer enquiries to encourage taxpayers to meet their obligations and build on our position as an innovative service leader by strengthening service delivery.

Over the planning period, we will:

• make our services easier to use to encourage participation in the Canadian tax system, which in turn facilitates compliance;
• address changing demographics through outreach programs that are fine-tuned to meet the needs of specific taxpayer or business groups; and
• increase online and self-service tools to reduce reliance on print media and telephone support.

Legislative Policy and Regulatory Affairs

We will engage in education and outreach programs, respond to enquires, provide rulings and interpretations, register plans and charities, and administer duty programs for certain commodities. Our strategies will focus on strengthening service delivery and enhancing our efforts to address non-compliance.

Over the planning period, we will:

• strengthen the charities program by increasing electronic service offerings and access to charities program information;
• enhance our collaboration with provincial and territorial governments to improve the overall regulatory environment with respect to charities;
• enhance the effectiveness of our Excise programs;
• continue to apply a high frequency of audits and regulatory reviews (compliance visits) to tobacco manufacturers;
• streamline the registration process and increase the audit coverage for deferred income plans; and
• support Canada’s national security agenda by continuing to implement the Charities Registration (Security Information) Act.

Date modified:

2008-03-31