Terrace Review — Wednesday, February 13, 1991. B5

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V7

Information for this special section of the Terrace Review has
been provided by the Certified General Accountants Asaociation

of B.C., Canada News and hocal

‘Declaration of Taxpayer Rights

Did you know you're entitled to full informa-
lion, lo impartialily, to courlesy and to the
presumption that you're not trying to cheal?
It's a fact. It says so right there in Revenue
Canada’s “Declaration of Taxpayer Rights".

Furthermore, the department says. you're
entitled to know your rights, to Insist on pel-
ling them, to be heard and to be dealt with
fairly.

And it's “an Important role of the staf ~ to
make sure you don't miss out.

RevCan says its declaration consolidales tax-
payer rights in the stalules, common law and

1 the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

In ftself, the declaration is nol a legal docu-
ment, “but It does summarize (he most Impor-
(ant rights concerning the fair treatment of
Canadian taxpayers.” RevCan says.
This statement says everyone is entitled:
«to expect that the government will inake
every reasonable effort to provide you with

access and timely information about the In-
come Tax Act and your rights under it.

«to an impartial determination of law and
facts by departmental staff who seek to collect
only the correct amount of tax, no more, no
less.

“to courtesy and considerate treatment
from National Revenue Taxation at all times.
including when it requests information or ar-
ranges interviews and audits,”

“to be presumed to be honest unless there
is evidence lo the contrary.” _

Furthermore, the declaration says everyone
is enlilled to privacy and confidentiality, to an
independent review if you think you've been
over -assessed, to an impartial hearing before
payment of disputed amounts. and to com-
munications in English or French, as you
choose.

Now doesn't that make you feel a whole lot
better?