Finance committee  Thank you for the question. Yes, there are a number of free filing options that are operated by industry that are currently available to Canadians. A key one is through free, DIY tax software that Canadians can access just by going on the Internet. There are several options that

Finance committee  Yes, that's correct.

Finance committee  I think the best answer I can give on that is that it's millions of dollars annually in tech investment.

Finance committee  Yes, generally speaking, our industry has the software and we have the ability to deploy that software to individuals who need to file their taxes. Where the government could be very helpful is if they would agree to publish the aggregate statistical data that they may have on

Finance committee  Absolutely. It is a troubling prospect that I don't think has gotten enough attention in the public policy discussions we've had with government stakeholders on how best to support low-income people and non-filers. The CRA, I don't think, has recognized how significant this confl

Finance committee  Thank you for the question. We certainly see that in our offices as well throughout the year. Individuals come in, and they haven't filed in several years. Typically, they think they owe money or that they may be in trouble with the government. When we have a chance to work with

Finance committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair and other committee members, for the opportunity to appear before you this evening on behalf of H&R Block Canada and our broader industry. I also serve as co-chair of the board of directors for Tax-Filer Empowerment Canada, the national industry associa

Finance committee  Thank you, Francesco. It's good to hear from you. That's an excellent question. The electronic signature piece has been a game-changer for the industry. It's given us the ability to take the work a tax preparer does and have it all done potentially virtually. Whereas before by l

Finance committee  Thanks very much for the question. It's a great question. I think all of us, to varying extents, who deal in the tax business or affiliates in the tax business, are getting a lot of information thrown at us very quickly. Government is making decisions on almost a daily basis an

Finance committee  We have here in Canada, as you know, a voluntary compliance system. The onus is on the taxpayer to declare their income to the government. In making that declaration, it's the government's role to then conduct audits and do enforcement as it deems necessary. It's a good system. L

Finance committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I thank you and the committee members for the opportunity to appear before you today. Our company is the largest assisted tax preparation firm in Canada. During tax season, we have approximately 1,100 service locations, both company and independent f