Ensure that the Canada Revenue Agency proactively contacts those who are entitled to, but are not receiving, tax benefits.

What success looks like

More Canadians receive the tax benefits and credits to which they are entitled, including vulnerable Canadians and Indigenous people on-reserve.

Government's narrative on progress

In October 2017 the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) proactively contacted 300,000 Canadians who were potentially eligible for tax benefits but were not receiving them. As a result, a total of 37,934 returns were filed and over $6.98 million in tax refund payments and $32.4 million in credits and benefits were paid to Canadians. The 2018-2019 letter campaign was launched on October 26, 2018 with 205,425 letters sent. Results will be compiled in February 2019 and reported by March 2019. The CRA has also undertaken other initiatives to ensure that all Canadians are receiving the benefits they are entitled to, including: • Proactively promoting the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) in Indigenous communities. Between April 2018 and February 2019, in-person visits were conducted in 290 Indigenous communities in order to promote the CCB and other benefits; 210 of these communities were visited in partnership with Service Canada. • Making it easier for Canadians to file their income tax and benefit returns. • Investing Budget 2018 funding to implement an enhanced outreach program to proactively reach out to those individuals and vulnerable groups who may be eligible to, but not receiving tax benefits and to promote the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP) through in-person community visits. Budget funds are also being invested to increase support for CVITP-participating organizations and to extend this support year-round to enhance access to the free tax preparation services supported through the CVITP. • Opened three new Northern Service Centres in Whitehorse, Yellowknife, and Iqaluit on February 11, 2019 to enhance services to individuals and businesses in the territories. The CRA employees based in these new centres will expand the activities of the Outreach Program, the CVITP, and the Liaison Officer service in the territories.

Note: this is the government's own description, not an independent assessment.