Finance committee  We took our current yield, and we cut it in half. In other words, we took our current average yield, and to be conservative in a mathematical sense, we cut it in half.

Finance committee  I'll give you an example of the kind of thing we discuss. Recently, we audited the accounts receivable of companies who gave discounts in order to create fictitious losses. They manipulated their financial statements and accounts receivable. They sold those accounts to other com

Finance committee  Just quickly, consistent with some of the feedback you may be receiving, these budgeted dollars are targeted in specific areas. There were dollars specifically for the promoters of tax schemes. There were dollars specifically to focus on people participating in aggressive tax pla

Finance committee  Taxpayers with a debt would be assigned a collection officer, and they would have a direct phone number for that officer.

Finance committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just briefly, at any given time like today, we have 230 high-end cases that are before the courts with large dollar values at stake. However, each year we give 400,000 Canadians taxpayer relief. We resolve over 90,000 tax appeals, where a distinct part of

Finance committee  Sorry, Mr. Chair. I thought that was a signal to hurry up, which I was endeavouring to do.

Finance committee  We can't confirm that the document on the website is from the CRA. But, generally speaking, in a settlement case, the process is completely separate from the applicable voluntary disclosures program. In the case of a settlement, we consider the facts, the legal risks, and the co

Finance committee  Again, we can't confirm that the agreement posted on the website is an actual agreement. However, we would enter into that kind of agreement because, in the agency's judgment, in consultation with the Department of Justice, after hundreds of hours, we believe there is some legal

Finance committee  I can't comment on a specific taxpayer file. I can speak, though, in general terms about the agreement that is posted to the CBC website and how the CRA generally reaches those kinds of agreed-to settlements. In such cases, payment within 60 days is a clause in such agreements,

Finance committee  That would depend on the case, but absolutely some taxpayers do see costs, and in cases where the CRA refused a reasonable settlement, costs will be awarded to the taxpayer; in other words, the government would have to pay the taxpayer's legal costs. That does happen.

Information & Ethics committee  There is an administrative threshold of $50,000 Canadian in aggregate, I believe, from all accounts—chequing, savings, and so on. If somebody were below that threshold, the bank would have the option not to transmit the information.

Information & Ethics committee  The threshold I'm familiar with is $50,000.

Information & Ethics committee  I'm not sure I have an answer to the question. We'll take it back and then try to get you a written response.

Information & Ethics committee  I believe you are referring to a financial institution that contacted one of its clients to confirm her citizenship. I feel that it is perfectly normal for an institution to communicate with its clients. I believe that, further on, the article in question referred to funds in a r

Information & Ethics committee  I would add that it is not just the money that concerns the banks, there is also the burden of administering the withholding tax on all those funds. Basically, it is about the money, of course, but there is also a lot of work to do in making those deductions.