Tens of thousands of Canadian seniors have reportedly been unable to file their 2021 tax returns following an error made by Service Canada in regards to their federal tax slips. Taxpayers have a May 2, 2022 deadline to submit their tax returns. The CRA has not extended this deadline.
Senior taxpayers are concerned that this delay in receiving the tax slips could affect their ability to file returns on time and get information to the CRA that is needed to continue receiving the benefits they are entitled to. Tax professionals like Shirley Maier or Total Tax & Accounting in Calgary report that some seniors were worried as some supplements they received were due to begin in July, a date that is close to the filing deadline. She noted that a failure to file in time could mean missing out on the first payment of such supplements.
In a statement from Employment and Social Development Canada, the government however assured that there should be no impact as individuals had until May 2, 2022, to file. They also provided details on what caused the delay.
Service Canada stated that in August 2021 they issued a one-time payment of $500 that went to 3.4 million seniors. Those that qualified were to be 75 years as of June 2022. An administrative error however led to some 67,797 recipients of this payment getting incorrect T4A tax slips that recorded this payment twice. Upon realising the mistake, Service Canada halted sending out more slips to correct the problem, with those that received incorrect tax slips being sent amended ones. Efforts were also made to get in touch with affected recipients on the phone.
Service Canada has added that most seniors had already received their slips by 28 February and that the rest would get them by the week of March 14. However, some seniors still report having not received their tax slips as of this week. Service Canada has also assured that the correct data had been sent to the Canada Revenue Agency and those that checked their My CRA account would find the correct slip online. Those that do not receive their slips are advised to visit the CRA website for guidance.
Maier is however contending that these online solutions are not accessible to some seniors who do not have computers, printers, and an understanding of how to sign up for My CRA accounts. Taxpayers like Art Proulx also argued that the most vulnerable were being left at risk of financial ruin with many seniors likely to be in need of early refunds at this time.
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