Taxpayers who have been putting off filing and paying their income tax returns are given extra five days because of a memo mistakenly issued by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
On April 24, Canadians were given incorrect notifications which indicated that the deadline for all tax returns submitted electronically was on May 5. In clarification, the extension was not intended for all returns but for resubmission of corrected forms only.
The CRA then extended the deadline to May 5 for standard tax returns as well so as to avoid further confusion among taxpayers. For the self-employed and their spouses, however, their deadline remains on June 15.
Revenue Minister Kerry-Lynne Findlay spokesperson Carter Mann stressed that ‘Minister Findlay has made it clear that this incorrect information is unacceptable and therefore she has directed her officials to ensure no Canadians are penalized for the CRA’s error.’
On April 28, the CRA then issued another notice that said, ‘The CRA takes full responsibility for the error and our first priority is to ensure that no Canadian is negatively affected. As a result, and at Minister Findlay’s request, 2014 tax returns filed by midnight on May 5, 2015, will not incur interest or penalties.’
Penalties on any amounts owed and interest on outstanding balances are given to taxpayers who miss the tax filing deadline.
Last year, the CRA had also extended the tax filing deadline due to the Heartbleed bug which forced a shutdown on the agency’s electronic services.