Canada Revenue Agency - tax return question

[Dragon120]

I filed my own taxes and was surprised to see a Notice of Reassessment in the amount owing of $xxxx. I called and was told that an employer of 3 years ago submitted a T4 slip income of $xxxx. I asked for the address that it was sent to, they (the previous employer) had sent it to my PREVIOUS address (keep in mind I haven't work for them in TWO years). Obviously I would have omitted that income in calculating my Net Income.

I don't have an issue paying the amount owing, I just don't want my file/account to be flagged as being a "tax evasion/omission", etc.

I have already called my previous employer and hope they'll call me back.

Am I at fault for not knowing? Shouldn't my previous employer has my most updated address by looking up my SIN number from the Government of Canada?


Thanks.

[bobbycat]

a T4 from 3 years ago?

did you not include that income in your tax return
when you filed your tax 3 years ago? :confused:

[thelefteyeguy]

Am I at fault for not knowing?


Yes, it is your responsibility for obtaining and filing your T4.

In fact, even without a T4, any (most) income that you receive should be reported (ie tips, commissions, etc)

[Dragon120]

OK, perhaps I haven't properly explained myself.

1) 2006 T4 was submitted to CRA by a previous employer that I haven't worked for 3 years ago.

2) I DID NOT receive any income from them; hence, I didn't even realized I earned that amount in 2006

3) I reported all the income from that employer during my employment period (ending in 2004), nothing was omitted.

Hope this clarifies some confusion.

[bobbycat]

well if no income was received then why would you have to report it? :confused:

need to clarify with CRA

[Dragon120]

well if no income was received then why would you have to report it? :confused:

need to clarify with CRA

That is exactly what I told the rep @ CRA. She said xxxx Inc. has submitted a T4 to them so I have to deal with xxxx Inc. myself. CRA is keeping their hands out of this issue, I have to deal with the employer myself. If that amount was transferred to me in anyway, I would have definitely noticed since I check my financial summary on a weekly basis and it'd be foolished of me to think that I can get away with that incremental income.

[thelefteyeguy]

sounds like you have it under control

Seek the employer and resolve the issue. A letter confirming that you did not receive income 3 years ago from them is the key.

Then you'll prob need to head to the tax office to further clarify the situation with proof of letter.

Else, CRA is going to tax you.

(perhaps the employer sent you a "cheque" to the wrong address also...and is still owing you for that amount...)

[grant]

Am I at fault for not knowing? Shouldn't my previous employer has my most updated address by looking up my SIN number from the Government of Canada?
Ostensibly your SIN is private and no government agency is going to tell anyone anything about you just by having it.

Sounds like a serious screw-up if that employer is filing false T4s for people it hasn't employed for 2 years.

In you place I would be very impatient about the issue, none of this "i hope they call me back," i'd be on the horn or banging on their door every day til their HR department sorted things out for me.

[Just Confused]

If you didn't get any money from XXX Inc. this year then it sounds like XXX Inc. payroll dep't fouled up something in one of two ways:

1/ With an incorrect T4 in 2004 when you did work there, and they are now submitting a correct revised T4 (to lower their own taxes). You'll need to check your return from 2004 to see if the old T4 matches what they actually paid you back then. You should do that routinely every year just to make sure the payroll dep't was on the ball.

2/ They've submitted a revised T4 in error. You'll have to look at your 2004 income from them and confirm the old T4 was actually correct and that this new T4 is incorrect. Get them to submit another revised T4 (follow grant's advice at this point) Talk to them because it might be over some taxable benefit rather than cash. Ask them why they filed a revised 2004 T4.

CRA won't be tagging your file with any secret codes over a revised T4 but they will expect tax to be paid if you don't rectify the situation asap.