Canadian ombudsperson urges safeguards in automatic tax filing bill
The watchdog says proposed deemed filing could interrupt benefits and recommends prioritizing pre-filled returns taxpayers can review.
Event / data period: 2026-10-05
Published: · Updated:
Canada’s Taxpayers’ Ombudsperson has asked the House of Commons Finance Committee to scrutinize Bill C-31 provisions for automatic tax filing. The office says deemed filing without a taxpayer’s consent could create service problems because the proposal sets no specific notification or filing date and eligibility may end after three years without a return.
The ombudsperson recommends prioritizing pre-filled returns through CRA accounts, which taxpayers could review and approve before filing. The service is expected to launch in March 2027, according to the release. These are recommendations about proposed legislation; the statement does not describe Bill C-31 as enacted or the pre-filled service as currently available.
Data
Steps in Canada’s automatic tax filing plan
Current and planned filing approaches discussed in the ombudsperson’s recommendation.
- Automatic filing approaches
- 3 count
- 2026-10-05 · Observed
Methodology
The release identifies three approaches: SimpleFile, deemed filing without consent, and pre-filled returns in CRA accounts.
Updated:
Subjects and places
Subject proposals
- Politics and governmentSuggested
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