Finance committee  When it's at litigation with a taxpayer and a settlement is proposed, the CRA has an obligation to maximize value for the taxpayers. We will look at the strength of our case. We will look at the legal precedents. We'll look at the point of principle. Sometimes we stand on princ

Finance committee  You're correct that there are a number of factors that have increased the volume of accounts receivable at the CRA. One is aggressive compliance action such as the document posted to the CBC website that talks about going back 16 tax years. That's exceptional, and it really does

Finance committee  This is an ongoing matter. We have made known our intent to commence proceedings based on the facts available. The agency has demonstrated, through the investments committed in this budget, that it has made those who promote tax schemes a priority. Furthermore, such promoters hav

Finance committee  Just to complement the minister's response quickly, we have a two-tiered risk assessment system, broadly speaking. The first is automated, numbers, stats, comparisons, algorithms, what doesn't make sense. The second is human. At that human level, absolutely, the reputation of the

Finance committee  Thank you, Minister. I think this represents a paradigm shift in tax administration by receiving the information proactively. In other words, the tax authorities worldwide are receiving country-by-country reporting from multinationals as a matter of course. Under the common rep

Finance committee  Just quickly on that point, first, I think both the minister and the agency wouldn't characterize this as an amnesty. I think we've already pointed out that we can't confirm any specific agreement, but the document posted to the CBC website contains no immunity from criminal pros

Finance committee  Just quickly, the voluntary disclosure program is primarily targeted at Canadians who want to come forward. Often it happens with an estate. One generation of a family passes away. The next generation has this wealth that they weren't expecting, but they find out that it wasn't t

Finance committee  The OECD has released a BEPS action plan including 15 items, of which items 9 through 11 relate exactly to transfer pricing. Those new global standards very much represent the Canadian mode. This makes us feel that both in the past we were on a good footing and going forward we a

Finance committee  To take up your analogy again, I can't confirm that this document represents an actual offer, and I can't disclose any specific taxpayer information, but in cases like this, the analogy I would use is more, before the courts...and an accused who is willing to plead guilty but wan

Finance committee  To me, it's not simple. First I have to state, on the advice of the Department of Justice, that I can't comment on specific taxpayer situations. What I will say is that the CRA examines every case based on its facts. The Isle of Man situation has been applied. There could be va

Finance committee  Taxpayer confidentiality prevents me from responding specifically.

Finance committee  I think it's more interactive than that. The recent budget gave us money to imbed legal counsel with our investigation teams because I think we don't want to waste a lot of hours on a file just to find out that we don't have what we need. But you're correct. Prosecution often ta

Finance committee  Since we are short on time, I will just say quickly that our two commitments are up to date, particularly as regards the calibration of our risk assessment model. You can see the results. Our risk assessment model is working well.

Finance committee  I would say 200 a year are referred.

Finance committee  They would be 100% for tax evasion. In 2013 we made a strategic shift to focus more on offshore assets and promoters. In the two years prior to that shift, we had 26 convictions. Since then, from 2012 to 2015, we've had 30 convictions, but what's important is the jail terms. The