toby
Champion Member
- Sep 29, 2009
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Maybe we shouldn't prolong this discussion on taxes, in the "Health" category, but I must make one more point: Canada is at a crossroads, and CRA needs to seriously repair its tarnished reputation as a fair tax collector.
Canada relies on taxpayers complying with tax law -- paying taxes voluntarily (prompted no doubt by the threat of an audit). Canadians largely still think of CRA as a fair institution, but respect is declining. In Italy, evading crushing taxes is a national sport; you're considered an idiot if you don't, since the government routinely misuses tax revenues, and taxes are so high.
In Canada, CRA (when it was called Revenue Canada) used to tell the taxpayer if he forgot to use a legitmate deduction, and voluntarily give a refund. Now, CRA quietly pockets the money (it's policy!).
Alan Baggett (in the Finance and Taxation category) cites a case where CRA argued on one side of an issue for case #1 in the morning, and in the afternoon, same court, same judge, took the opposite side in a second case. The purpose apparently was not to apply tax law impartially, fairly, but rather to take whatever tack netted more money.
If this continues, if CRA continues to tarnish its reputation, it spells an end to an effective voluntary tax system. And CRA makes it worse by insulting our intelligence, trying to tell us this is “fair” when it is simply business.
Canada relies on taxpayers complying with tax law -- paying taxes voluntarily (prompted no doubt by the threat of an audit). Canadians largely still think of CRA as a fair institution, but respect is declining. In Italy, evading crushing taxes is a national sport; you're considered an idiot if you don't, since the government routinely misuses tax revenues, and taxes are so high.
In Canada, CRA (when it was called Revenue Canada) used to tell the taxpayer if he forgot to use a legitmate deduction, and voluntarily give a refund. Now, CRA quietly pockets the money (it's policy!).
Alan Baggett (in the Finance and Taxation category) cites a case where CRA argued on one side of an issue for case #1 in the morning, and in the afternoon, same court, same judge, took the opposite side in a second case. The purpose apparently was not to apply tax law impartially, fairly, but rather to take whatever tack netted more money.
If this continues, if CRA continues to tarnish its reputation, it spells an end to an effective voluntary tax system. And CRA makes it worse by insulting our intelligence, trying to tell us this is “fair” when it is simply business.
