Ottawa, Ontario, November 30, 2012… The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) reminds taxpayers and all tax registrants that they have until December 31, 2012, to file requests under the taxpayer relief provisions for the 2002 tax year and any reporting period that ended during the 2002 calendar year.
The taxpayer relief provisions of the Income Tax Act (ITA) limit the discretion of the Minister of National Revenue to cancel or waive penalties and interest when taxpayers are unable to meet their tax obligations due to circumstances beyond their control; to accept certain late-filed, amended, or revoked income tax elections; and to issue income tax refunds beyond the normal three-year period (for individuals and testamentary trusts only). With the exception of interest relief requests, this limit applies to tax years that ended within the 10 calendar years before the calendar year in which the request is made.
For interest relief requests made under the ITA, the Minister may cancel or waive the interest that accrued within the 10 calendar years before the calendar year in which the request is made for any tax year. Taxpayers have until December 31, 2012 to make a taxpayer relief request for the interest that accrued during the 2002 calendar year.
The taxpayer relief provisions of the Excise Tax Act (both for GST/HST and non-GST/HST purposes), the Air Travellers Security Charge Act, and the Excise Act, 2001 limit the Minister’s discretion to cancel or waive interest and certain penalties that accrued within the 10 calendar years before the calendar year in which the request is made for any reporting period. Registrants have until December 31, 2012 to make a taxpayer relief request for the interest and penalties that accrued during the 2002 calendar year.
Some taxpayers or registrants may be involved in a tax process with the CRA (for example, an audit, objection, or appeal) for the 2002 tax year or a reporting period that ended in 2002. Some taxpayers or registrants might not be sure if they need taxpayer relief in their situation. If so, they should make a request before the deadline. Any request related information that is not available at deadline time can be sent later.
Taxpayers and registrants or their authorized representatives can make a taxpayer relief request by completing Form RC4288, Request for Taxpayer Relief.
For more information about the taxpayer relief provisions, go towww.cra.gc.ca/taxpayerrelief.
