O O Ø O O O O
A Taxing System
Every year is a new stupid experience when it comes to filing my taxes. This year’s stupidity centered around my move in 2006. Not a particularly odd event—people apparently do it all the time—but for me this was my first in nine years. Being a government agency the Canada Revenue Agency has all the appearances of keeping with the times, but hilariously manages to add just enough red tape to make even the simplest of tasks annoying.
Using some common tax software I processed my taxes two days before this year’s deadline. I knew I owed so I didn’t bother to file early. I had all my T4, T5, T16, T32 (T64? T128?) documentation, and thought I was set. I plowed through the basics in ten minutes, then fought for an hour to determine how to file some capital gains from stock sales. I jumped that hurdle and got to the point of NETFILE-ing. I tapped in my standard-issue über-secret four digit tracking code, and was promptly awarded with a warning indicating that I changed my address. Thanks to the CRA, not a thing was mentioned on the NETFILE card that if I had had the temerity to change my address in the past year, I should first call before filing.
I went online to determine which dragons must be slayed in order to change my address. I tried dialing the No-Help-Line—but two days before the deadline—I couldn’t get through. I decided to wait until Monday.
Monday comes, and still no carrier. Pint Day is the deadline. I fatefully decide to wait until Monday night thinking there would of course be extra staff available for the deadline. (Who was I kidding?) At 10:12pm Mountain time, I get through to the recording indicating I have to phone back Monday to Friday between 9am and 4pm, Eastie time.
Subsequent browsing of the CRA website unveils that I can change my address through My Account. I don’t have a My Account,so I try to register online. The process is painless enough aside from the slightly cryptic validation section where I have to supply address info and taxable income amounts. (I had just received a reassessment and it turned out they didn’t want the new number, they wanted the actual original incorrect amount filed.) I slogged on to the last step, where I received the happy news my My Account security code would be mailed to me within ten civil service days. Fabulous.
Given that online banking allows me to make a payment I decided to go ahead and pay the gubment if I ever miraculously manage to file my return they can’t bill me interest. (In fact, by paying online on May 1, they receive the payment about five days sooner than if I had mailed a cheque.)
Two weeks go by. No code. A day later and I received a pleasant letter indicating I hadn’t filed my taxes yet and here’s the amount they expect.
I phoned the No-Help line again and actually spoke to a pleasant drone who, in validating my details, asked for my taxable amount from line 150. As though I have access to that tidbit while at work.
Also, I learned that I didn’t get the required My Account code because it would have gone to my old address, unforwarded.
Honestly? It’s like dealing with a goddamn bank.
Dave “Bighair” Wilson
July 3, 2007
OOØOOOODCCCXXVIII
July 3rd, 2007 at 9:42 pm
I loved it when the netfile service used to only be available from 6am Eastern Burocrat Time time to 6pm Eastern Burocrat Time. Perfect for anybody in the West trying to file their taxes from home. Pish. Like that happens!
Apparently at some point a few years ago they finally learned about hot backups and you can file in the evening now… welcome to the late 80’s…