2017-0684491C6 CPA-BC & CRA Roundtable 2017

Principal Issues: Whether the CRA will re-introduce a dedicated phone line for tax professionals.

Position: The CRA’s Income Tax Rulings Directorate will introduce a new dedicated telephone service (DTS) for income tax service providers in July of 2017. The DTS will give service providers access to experienced CRA staff who can help with more complex issues than those typically dealt with by staff under the general enquiries service.

Reasons: Introduction of the DTS is in response to action plan commitments following Red Tape Reduction consultations.

Author: Posadovsky, Tom
Section: -

CPA-BC & CRA Roundtable 2017

Question 16:

We were very excited about the introduction of the CRA’s “professional designated phone line”, only to find out that this was meant for small practitioners who have no tax advisers. Are there any plans for the re-introduction of a dedicated phone line for tax professionals who need to talk to experienced CRA staff about complex matters?

CRA Response:

As you have noted in your question, in July 2017, the CRA’s Income Tax Rulings Directorate will introduce a new dedicated telephone service (DTS) for income tax service providers. The CRA understands that income tax service providers - accountants and others who are in the business of preparing income tax returns - play a key role in income tax compliance. The DTS will give service providers access to experienced CRA staff who can help with more complex issues than those typically dealt with by staff under the general enquiries service. The DTS will be launched as a three year pilot program, initially providing service to Chartered Professional Accountants in Ontario and Quebec. If the pilot is successful, the DTS may be expanded nationwide and to more income tax service providers on a permanent basis.

The DTS is intended to be a technical resource for service providers rather than a problem resolution line. Accordingly, DTS officers will not have access to taxpayers’ accounts. Also, the DTS is not intended for specialized tax professionals, whose services focus on complex tax planning and whose issues should continue to be addressed by seeking an advance income tax ruling or technical interpretation. More information about these and the other services provided by the Income Tax Rulings Directorate is available in Information Circular IC70-6R7, Advance Income Tax Rulings and Technical Interpretations, at cra.gc.ca/E/pub/tp/ic70-6r7.

Tom Posadovsky
2017-068449
February 13, 2017

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