Canada Revenue Agency and Tax-Filer Empowerment Canada collaborate on providing digital services to Canadians

OTTAWA, Sept. 27, 2018 /CNW/ - Canadians deserve high-quality services delivered in a timely and efficient way. The Government of Canada is committed to modernizing its services to better reflect the values and expectations of Canadians.

The Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of National Revenue, today announced the signing of a joint digital services collaboration plan between the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and Tax-Filer Empowerment Canada (TFEC), an association of Canada's leading tax preparation and software firms.

The success of CRA's digital services, along with innovations from the tax preparation and software industry, have helped transform tax filing in Canada, making it easier than ever for Canadians to meet their tax obligations and get the benefits they are entitled to. This plan builds on the existing long-term relationship between the CRA and the tax preparation and software industry, which has been central to the innovations that have given Canadians a greater range of choices in how they file their taxes.

Canadians will see many service improvements from this agreement. In the upcoming tax season, tax filers will have faster and easier access to their notice of assessment, through the new Express Notice of Assessment (NOA) feature, which allows taxpayers to get their assessment seconds after filing. ReFILE will also be incorporated into all tax software, so if tax filers need to make changes to their return, they will be able to do so using the certified software of their choice, increasing the speed at which they receive their refund. The CRA will also continue to improve and enhance other digital services, including Online Mail and Auto-Fill. These improvements are just the beginning of what Canadians will see over the life of this plan.

This collaboration supports the Government of Canada's OneGC Strategy, a vision where Canadians can seamlessly access any government service digitally, using any device on any platform through any partner or service provider. This industry-government collaboration also aligns with the government's newly launched Digital Services Standards, which emphasize identifying and creating partnerships to help deliver value to users. The CRA will continue delivering improved tax filing services by leveraging leading industry innovations, and continuing its commitment to assist Canadians in northern and remote locations who may not have internet access by offering targeted tax filing services and products.

The Minister will host a roundtable discussion with TFEC and CRA representatives in October in Ottawa to identify additional areas where industry and government can collaborate to assist Canadians in filing their taxes and receiving the benefits to which they are entitled.

Quotes

"The CRA is committed to ensuring that Canadians have access to secure and convenient electronic tax filing services. This collaboration will further increase the level of cooperation between the Government of Canada and the tax preparation and software industry. It is a significant step forward in working together to improve services to Canadians, including those in northern and remote locations, by providing easier to use innovative digital services." 

-The Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of National Revenue

"TFEC is pleased to be collaborating with the federal government to ensure that Canadians will continue to benefit from the innovative tax filing and software options that are delivered by the private sector. Minister Lebouthillier and the Canada Revenue Agency have embraced a greater level of collaboration with the tax preparation and software industry and our members look forward to a productive relationship moving forward."

-Chris Gray, Executive Director, Tax-Filer Empowerment Canada

Quick Facts

• Approximately 90% of individual and benefit 2017 income tax and benefit returns were filed online.
• The CRA has certified 21 EFILE and 28 NETFILE tax preparation software products for use when filing an income tax and benefit return for the 2017 tax year. A list of certified tax software packages is available online, some of which are free.
• Canadians who use tax preparers, discounters, or other professionals can choose from over 64,000 certified electronic filers registered with the CRA. Of that total, over 15,000 are part of the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program.
• Approximately 7.9M Canadians have registered for online mail, the fast, easy and secure way to manage your tax correspondence with the CRA.
• The Express NOA service is available to deliver notices of assessment seconds after filing in EFILE and NETFILE-certified tax preparation software.
• Adjustments can also be submitted electronically through the tax preparation software of your choice using ReFILE or using Change My Return in My Account, CRA's secure online digital services platform.
• Tax-Filer Empowerment Canada (TFEC) is an eight-member national industry association that includes some of Canada's leading tax preparation and software firms. It was created to promote a greater collaboration between government stakeholders such as the CRA, the tax preparation and software industry, and Canadians.

Associated Links

Backgrounder - Digital service improvement plan

Digital Service Collaboration Plan

EFILE for individuals

NETFILE for individuals

Certified software for the 2018 EFILE program

Certified software for the 2018 NETFILE program

Discounter information for individuals

REFILE: Online adjustments for income tax and benefit returns

My Account for individuals

Tax-Filer Empowerment Canada

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Digital service improvement plan with TFEC

Canada Revenue Agency

Backgrounder/Fact Sheet

Digital service collaboration plan between the CRA and Tax-filer Empowerment Canada

Summary of the subject
The CRA and Tax-filer Empowerment Canada (TFEC), an association of Canada's leading tax preparation and software firms, have signed a joint digital service improvement plan to improve services for Canadians.

The primary goal of this collaboration is to produce and promote innovative, secure, and convenient electronic tax filing services. The plan sets out overall directions, defines roles and responsibilities of the CRA and TFEC, consistent with the OneGC approach, the government-wide strategy to seamlessly integrate GC services into existing digital platforms for Canadians, and highlights high level plans and goals.

In order to improve service to Canadian taxpayers and support TFEC in its innovative efforts, the CRA will continue to make core system improvements and to make enhancements to initiatives such as the Online Mail initiative, Auto-Fill, Express NOA and ReFile. The CRA will also expand the availability and improve the interface of its applications, consistent with OneGC, in order to allow TFEC to better integrate their software products with CRA systems. Regular meetings with TFEC and the software industry will be held to collaborate on ideas, exchange perspectives, and clarify goals and priorities.

TFEC recognizes the importance for the CRA to offer tax filing services that are easy to use. CRA's digital services provide a wider range of tax filing options for Canadians that are fast and secure. To that end, TFEC will work collaboratively with the CRA to raise awareness and encourage Canadians to adopt digital services, such as Online Mail, Auto-fill, Express NOA and ReFILE.

It is a top priority for both the CRA and TFEC to assist Canadians in northern and remote locations, where computer and internet access along with tax preparation services may not be readily available.  As part of this agreement, they will work together to offer additional targeted services and products in order to reach and serve these important taxpayer communities.

SOURCE Canada Revenue Agency