CRA Data Breeches Put Taxpayer Information at Risk

An important deadline is coming up, around the same time that Canadians get ready to file their 2026 tax returns at the start of tax season 2027. Since 2020, more than 42,000 data breaches have occurred at the CRA. A class action lawsuit was launched in 2020 and a $8.76 million settlement was reached.  Eligible Canadians affected by these security incidents can now submit claims through the KPMG Claims Portal until February 3, 2027.  

C.J. McCarty, was a specified shareholder/employee of the company, C.J. McCarty, Inc, (CJ,Inc.); he had only one client over a three month period of time, MEG Energy Corporation (MEG) and he received a fixed hourly rate for his services as the construction manager of a major project. 

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) recently extradited a tax preparer back to Canada from Italy and put her into custody to serve a 10-year sentence for tax fraud after she claimed $58 million in false carrying charges and charitable donations on over 4,000 returns.

Many of us are blessed to have older family members enriching our lives, but they often require a significant amount of care, and their caregivers can, in turn, require more help. At a time when politicians and potential leaders debate subsidized child care, are we missing an opportunity to discuss whether the tax system is doing enough to recognize the real and increasing costs of elder care?

Especially for experienced tax and financial advisors, unique planning opportunities with Canada’s top experts will provide 10 CE/CPD Credits and access to 2015 tax calculators.

Operating across national borders is easier and more common than ever, driven by technology and economic changes that make it appealing for individuals and businesses to purchase investment property globally.

Let’s face it, we all appreciated the financial support we got when we were struggling students. For those contributing financially to someone else’s post-secondary education, those kind family sacrifices can bring tax rewards even though the amounts have neither risen nor been indexed recently.