Discussions

Sometimes a person just wonders about government agencies that have way too much power. I can't even remember how many years ago it was when I first heard of people who were in private business receiving reassessment notices, even after using reputable accounting firms.  
I read this story and it makes me wonder how many others have been treated the same way, or maybe not the same way, but treated in a way that resulted in paying excess taxes, because fighting revenue Canada seemed like a hopeless battle.  
 
Read the link, and see if it upsets you, glad the judge ruled as he did.  
 
https://ca.yahoo.com/finance/news/cra-slammed-apos-reprehensible-malicious-235227560.html

I have been doing my mom’s taxes for 15 years. Every year she is “randomly selected for re-assessment”. With this, every year I provide them with the additional required paperwork and they back off. After 15 years, I wonder how many others are “randomly” selected like her every year!

I am a very proud CPA, I had done my grandma’s tax return every year until her passing in 2017. When I worked at a local firm and submitted the taxes there were no reassessments or requests for support for things like medical expenses. Since I have left the firm in 2011, she was audited and reassessed without success (on their part) each year. It makes you wonder for the hassle of it isn’t worth going to a larger tax prep company to avoid unnecessary scrutiny.

JasonRoblin said "I am a very proud CPA, I had done my grandma’s tax return every year until her passing in 2017. When I worked at a local firm and submitted the taxes there were no reassessments or requests for support for things like medical expenses. Since I have left the firm in 2011, she was audited and reassessed without success (on their part) each year. It makes you wonder for the hassle of it isn’t worth going to a larger tax prep company to avoid unnecessary scrutiny. "

I worked at CRA for a number of years in the compliance section. Unless things have changed (which I imagine they haven't), filing/transmission method doesn't have any bearing on being selected, nor does whether or not a tax preparer is used. Generally you are selected for the type of claims you make, some of which are notorious for not being claimed properly. A good example is the claim single parents make at line 305, which is often claimed incorrectly especially in the first year. Occasionally, programs are run to determine the rate of compliance with certain types of claims for future projects as well.  
 
Using a tax professional doesn't change whether or not you're going to be selected for review, as you know your client signs a document saying that the return is prepared based on the information provided by the client. That means the onus is on the client, regardless of who does the taxes, to provide the information requested and to ensure the taxes are filed correctly.  
 
Back to the original article posted by the OP, I can tell you that the "professional glee" is rampant and frankly, disgusting. It was one of the reasons why I ended up disliking my job immensely.

Ive been doing my own taxes (on paper)for the past 8 years and have never got audited. If you have a simple return, it's a waste of money to take it to a "professional". I think it's a waste for all personal taxes, since you provide all your slips and receipts anyway. It's really not that difficult.