Businesses, individuals affected by natural disasters can apply to have interest and penalties waived
The deadline for filing taxes was April 30, but Canadians struggling with massive spring flooding have been given a reprieve by the taxman.
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) said taxpayers who have been affected by the floods will have access to CRA’s taxpayer relief provisions.
“The CRA can provide relief to these taxpayers if they were unable to file their personal income tax returns and pay any balances owing before April 30, due to flooding,” the CRA said in a statement. “Business owners and self-employed individuals who were unable to meet their filing and payment obligations are also eligible for relief.”
Under the taxpayer relief provisions, taxpayers can apply to the CRA to have interest and penalties waived or cancelled if they are unable to file a tax return and make payments on time because of a natural disaster.
Taxpayers should submit their request in writing using form RC4288, Request for Taxpayer Relief. The CRA said will consider these requests on a case-by-case basis.
All Canadians have access to the CRA's taxpayer relief measures and will be considered for relief if they miss a payment or filing deadline because their lives were disrupted by uncontrollable weather events, including forest fires caused by lightning strikes, tornadoes, flooding, landslides and hurricanes.
For more information, visit www.cra.gc.ca/taxpayerrelief or call the CRA at (800) 959-8281 for individual enquiries, and (800) 959-5525 for business enquiries.
