Canada Revenue Agency Future-oriented Statement of Operations – Agency Activities

Notes to the Future-oriented Statement of Operations – Agency Activities

1. Authority and objectives

The Canada Revenue Agency (the “Agency”) previously named the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency was established as an agent of Her Majesty of Canada on November 1, 1999, under the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency Act (CCRA Act). The CCRA Act was amended, on December 12, 2005, and renamed the Canada Revenue Agency Act (CRA Act). The Agency is a departmental corporation named in Schedule II of the Financial Administration Act and reports to Parliament through the Minister of National Revenue.

The mandate of the Agency is to support the administration and enforcement of tax legislation as well as other related legislation. The Agency provides support, advice, and services by:

(a) supporting the administration and enforcement of program legislation;

(b) implementing agreements between the Government of Canada or the Agency and the government of a province or other public body performing a function of government in Canada to carry out an activity or administer a tax or program;

(c) implementing agreements or arrangements between the Agency and departments or agencies of the Government of Canada to carry out an activity or administer a program; and

(d) implementing agreements between the Government of Canada and First Nations governments to administer a tax.

The Agency collects revenues, including income and sales taxes, Canada Pension Plan contributions, Employment Insurance premiums, administers tax legislation, and delivers a number of social benefit programs to Canadians for the Federal government, as well as for provincial, territorial, and First Nations governments and collects amounts for other groups or organizations. It is responsible for the administration and enforcement of the following acts or parts of acts: Air Travellers Security Charge Act, the CRA Act, the Children’s Special Allowances Act, Part V.1 of the Customs Act, section 2 of the Energy Costs Assistance Measures Act, the Excise Act, the Excise Tax Act (including the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and the Harmonized Sale Tax (HST) except for GST/HST on imported goods), the Excise Act, 2001, the Income Tax Act, the Software Lumber Products Export Charge Act, 2006, the Universal Child Care Benefit Act, and others.

In delivering its mandate, the Agency operates under the following program activities:

(a) Internal services: Provides internal services across the Agency, such as human resources management, financial management and information technology, to support the needs of programs and corporate obligations;

(b) Reporting compliance: Verifies complete and accurate disclosure by taxpayers of all required information to establish tax liabilities;

(c) Assessment of returns and payment processing: Processes and validates taxpayer returns; registers, establishes, and maintains taxpayer accounts and; receives payments;

(d) Accounts receivable and returns compliance: Identifies and addresses non-compliance with taxpayer filing and remittance requirements;

(e) Taxpayer and business assistance: Assists taxpayers in meeting their obligations under the self-assessment;

(f) Appeals: Provides a dispute resolution process for taxpayers who disagree with decisions taken by the Agency;

(g) Benefit programs: Provides Canadians certain income-based benefits, credits and other services on behalf of federal, provincial (except Québec), and territorial governments;

(h) Taxpayers’ Ombudsman: Addresses requests for reviews made by taxpayers and benefit recipients with respect to service matters.

2. Underlying Assumptions

This future-oriented statement of operations has been prepared:

(a) as at December 31, 2008;

(b) on the basis of government policies, government priorities, and external environment at the time the future-oriented financial information was finalized;

(c) according to the requirements of Treasury Board Accounting Policies which are based on Canadian generally accepted accounting principles for the public sector;

(d) on the basis that the resources provided will enable the Agency to deliver the expected results specified in the Report on Plans and Priorities;

(e) on the basis of historical costs.

3. Variations and Changes to the Forecasted Financial Information

While every attempt has been made to accurately forecast final results of 2008-2009 and 2009-2010, actual results are likely to vary from the forecast information presented, and this variation could be material.

The Agency will not be updating the forecasts for any changes to appropriations or forecast financial information made in ensuing supplementary estimates. Variance will be explained in the Departmental Performance Report.

4. Summary of significant accounting policies

For financial reporting purposes, the activities of the Agency are divided into two sets of financial statements: Agency Activities and Administered Activities. The future-oriented statement of operations – Agency Activities includes only those operational revenues and expenses which are managed by the Agency and utilized in running the organization. The purpose of the distinction between Agency and Administered activities is to facilitate, among other things, the assessment of the administrative efficiency of the Agency in achieving its mandate. No future-oriented financial statements were prepared for Administered Activities because it is analogous to information presented by the Department of Finance.

This future-oriented statement of operations – Agency Activities has been prepared using accounting principles consistent with those applied in the preparation of the financial statements of the Government of Canada. The accounting principles used are consistent with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles for the public sector. A summary of significant accounting policies follows:

(a) Parliamentary appropriations

The Agency is financed by the Government of Canada through Parliamentary appropriations. Accounting for appropriations provided to the Agency does not parallel financial reporting according to Canadian generally accepted accounting principles, as they are based in large part on cash flow requirements. Consequently, items recognized in the statement of operations may be different from those provided through appropriations from Parliament. Note 5 (b) provides a high-level reconciliation between the two bases of reporting.

(b) Forecasted expenses

Forecasted expenses are recognized when goods are expected to be received and/or services are expected to be rendered.

(c) Services received without charge from other government agencies and departments

Estimates of the cost for services received without charge from other government agencies and departments are included in expenses. Costs are estimated using the cost recovery methodology.

(d) Capital assets

All costs of $10,000 or more incurred by the Agency to acquire or develop capital assets are capitalized and amortized over the useful lives of the assets. Similar items under $10,000 are expensed.

Amortization of capital assets is done on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of assets as follows:

Assets under construction/development are not amortized until completed and put into operation.

(e) Employee future benefits

(i) Pension benefits

All eligible employees participate in the Public Service Pension Plan administered by the Government of Canada. The Agency’s contributions reflect the full cost as employer. These amounts are currently based on a multiple of an employee’s required contributions and may change over time depending on the experience of the Plan. The Agency’s contributions are expensed during the year in which the services are rendered and represent the total pension obligation of the Agency. Current legislation does not require the Agency to make contributions with respect to any actuarial deficiencies of the Public Service Pension Plan.

(ii) Severance benefits

Employees are entitled to severance benefits, as provided for under labour contracts and conditions of employment. The cost of these benefits is accrued as employees render the services necessary to earn them.

(f) Vacation pay and compensatory leave

Vacation pay and compensatory leave are expensed as the benefits accrue to employees under their respective terms of employment.

(g) Employee benefit plan

The Government of Canada sponsors an employee benefit plan (health and dental) in which the Agency participates. The Agency’s contributions to the plan are recorded at cost and charged to personnel expenses in the year incurred. They represent the Agency’s total obligation to the plan. Current legislation does not require the Agency to make contributions for any future unfunded liabilities of the plan.

(h) Contingent liabilities

Contingent liabilities are potential liabilities that may become actual liabilities when one or more future events occur or fail to occur. To the extent that the future event is likely to occur or fail to occur, and a reasonable estimate of the loss can be made, an estimated liability is accrued and an expense recorded.

(i) Forecasted non-tax revenues

Forecasted non-tax revenues are recognized when the services are expected to be rendered by the Agency. Non-tax revenues reported in this statement exclude administered revenues such as interest and penalties collected under the authority of the Income Tax Act, the Excise Act, the Excise Tax Act, or other similar legislation.

(j) Measurement uncertainty

The preparation of the future-oriented financial information requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of all the assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses reported in the future-oriented statement of operations. Assumptions are based upon information available and known to management at the time of development, reflect current business and economic conditions, and assume a continuation of current governmental priorities and consistency in departmental mandate and strategic objectives. At the time of preparation of this statement, management believes the estimates and assumptions to be reasonable. Nonetheless, as with all such estimates and assumptions, there is a measure of uncertainty surrounding them. This uncertainty increases as the forecast horizon extends.

5. Parliamentary appropriations

The Agency receives most of its funding through annual Parliamentary appropriations. Items recognized in the statement of operations in one year may be funded through Parliamentary appropriations in prior, current, or future years. Accordingly, the Agency has different net results of operations on a government funding basis than on an accrual accounting basis. These differences are reconciled below.

(a) Reconciliation of Parliamentary appropriations to be provided and used:

(b) Reconciliation of net cost of operations to total Parliamentary appropriations to be used:

6. Employee future benefits

(a) Pension benefits

The Agency and all eligible employees contribute to the Public Service Pension Plan, which is sponsored by the Government of Canada. Pension benefits accrue up to a maximum period of 35 years at a rate of two percent per year of pensionable service, times the average of the best five consecutive years of earnings. The benefits are integrated with Canada/Québec Pension Plans benefits and they are indexed to the increase in the Consumer Price Index.

The Agency’s and employees’ contributions to the Public Service Pension Plan for the forecasted years are expected to be as follows:

The Agency’s responsibility with regard to the Plan is limited to its contributions. Actuarial surpluses or deficiencies are recognized in the financial statements of the Government of Canada.

7. Expenses by Category

In the statement of operations, expenses are presented by program activity. The following presents expenses by category.

8. Non-tax revenues by category

In the statement of operations, non-tax revenues are presented by program activity. The following presents non-tax revenues by category. The nature of each category is defined by the treatment permitted from a Parliamentary appropriations perspective.

9. Related party transactions

The Agency is related in terms of common ownership to all Government of Canada departments, agencies, and Crown corporations. The Agency receives services, which are obtained without charge from other government departments as presented below. All related party transactions entered into by the Agency are in the normal course of business and on normal trade terms applicable to all individuals and enterprises.

Services received without charge from other government agencies and departments:

Over the course of the two forecasted years, the Agency will receive various services without charge from other government agencies and departments. The estimated costs for significant services provided without charge include:

10. Board of Management

Pursuant to the CRA Act, a Board of Management is appointed to oversee the organization and administration of the Agency and the management of its resources, services, property, personnel and contracts. Forecasted expenses relating to the Board’s activities for the forecasted years are estimated to $1,849,094 (2009 – $1,697,917) and are included in the net cost of operations. This includes payments in respect of the Board of Management, secretariat staff, travel, and other expenses.

Date modified:

2009-03-30