CRA and the new childrens fitness benefit
#1
CRA and the new childrens fitness benefit
I got a nice letter from the CRA requesting receipts confirming the amount I'd claimed, with specific information required regarding the child, year of birth, etc.
One of my larger claims is my daughters dance class, who have always been rather catastrophic with paperwork- they don't answer the phone, and are bad at email (old school - suspect they think it exists to circulate jokes). The lady has said she doesn't understand why her old receipts won't do even though I've scanned and sent her the CRA letter! Problem is the studio is closed until after the return deadline. In the past I've managed to get stuff out of them by turning up when they're very helpful.
I've edited her receipt to show the required data but so far haven't had any approval to submit it from her (the amount is the same- just the details needed adding). I have an email trail showing lack of cooperation.
Should I just submit this edited receipt? Or play 100% straight and ask for an extension on these grounds- I could include a transcript of these emails?
I'm inclined to the former and get it out of the way....
One of my larger claims is my daughters dance class, who have always been rather catastrophic with paperwork- they don't answer the phone, and are bad at email (old school - suspect they think it exists to circulate jokes). The lady has said she doesn't understand why her old receipts won't do even though I've scanned and sent her the CRA letter! Problem is the studio is closed until after the return deadline. In the past I've managed to get stuff out of them by turning up when they're very helpful.
I've edited her receipt to show the required data but so far haven't had any approval to submit it from her (the amount is the same- just the details needed adding). I have an email trail showing lack of cooperation.
Should I just submit this edited receipt? Or play 100% straight and ask for an extension on these grounds- I could include a transcript of these emails?
I'm inclined to the former and get it out of the way....
#2
Re: CRA and the new childrens fitness benefit
I don't know for sure what you should do, not having encountered this situation myself. You can always try calling them first and explaining the situation and seeing what they say - they then could advise you to maybe wait and they can put a note in your file that you are waiting.
Else, I would write a letter explaining the circumstance and providing what you have, then writing that if they require further information to let you know and you can chase it up when the studio opens, but you didn't want to risk missing the original deadline so you are submitting just what you are able to submit for now.
Those would be my two options, doing the former first and the latter if it fails.
Else, I would write a letter explaining the circumstance and providing what you have, then writing that if they require further information to let you know and you can chase it up when the studio opens, but you didn't want to risk missing the original deadline so you are submitting just what you are able to submit for now.
Those would be my two options, doing the former first and the latter if it fails.
#3
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 12,830
Re: CRA and the new childrens fitness benefit
'Editing' anything and sending it to CRA to get a tax deduction or benefit, what do you think the answer should be?
#4
Re: CRA and the new childrens fitness benefit
I missed that the receipt was edited. Yeah, Pizza, definitely don't do that. That would be an exceptionally poor decision.
#5
Re: CRA and the new childrens fitness benefit
You could call the CRA (the letter should have a contact number on it) and ask for more time to submit the information, citing the reason why, and supplying the information to show the tortoise like approach of the dance school.
#6
Re: CRA and the new childrens fitness benefit
I should have hit this earlier- I only realised yesterday that the online submission requires signing up for a CRA account, which means they send you log in details by mail. So basically hopeless. There is a fax option, which I can use when I get back to the office on Monday. I'll fax requesting an extension and include my flight bookings (have been out of the country last 2 weeks) as justification why I couldn't even chase things up.
I guess I shouldn't be amazed that a business run by a dancing cradle should have such difficulty in issuing a receipt as required by their own effing government.
I guess I shouldn't be amazed that a business run by a dancing cradle should have such difficulty in issuing a receipt as required by their own effing government.
#7
Re: CRA and the new childrens fitness benefit
I should have hit this earlier- I only realised yesterday that the online submission requires signing up for a CRA account, which means they send you log in details by mail. So basically hopeless. There is a fax option, which I can use when I get back to the office on Monday. I'll fax requesting an extension and include my flight bookings (have been out of the country last 2 weeks) as justification why I couldn't even chase things up.
I guess I shouldn't be amazed that a business run by a dancing cradle should have such difficulty in issuing a receipt as required by their own effing government.
I guess I shouldn't be amazed that a business run by a dancing cradle should have such difficulty in issuing a receipt as required by their own effing government.
#8
Account Closed
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 0
Re: CRA and the new childrens fitness benefit
I should have hit this earlier- I only realised yesterday that the online submission requires signing up for a CRA account, which means they send you log in details by mail. So basically hopeless. There is a fax option, which I can use when I get back to the office on Monday. I'll fax requesting an extension and include my flight bookings (have been out of the country last 2 weeks) as justification why I couldn't even chase things up.
I guess I shouldn't be amazed that a business run by a dancing cradle should have such difficulty in issuing a receipt as required by their own effing government.
I guess I shouldn't be amazed that a business run by a dancing cradle should have such difficulty in issuing a receipt as required by their own effing government.
CRA makes the IRS look efficient.
#9
Re: CRA and the new childrens fitness benefit
Never forget your password on CRA website, been dealing with trying to get back into mine for months, they can't seem to help and their stupid system says I cant reset my password, the phone people say they can't reset it or tell me what it is, so I remain locked out.
CRA makes the IRS look efficient.
CRA makes the IRS look efficient.
#10
Re: CRA and the new childrens fitness benefit
Do you know any of the other 'Dance Moms'? this must surely be an issue for most of the parents, maybe you could do what they've done?
#12
Re: CRA and the new childrens fitness benefit
Of the five receipts I needed, scouts came back the next day- they had already got something set up. The other three were almost immediate even the scatty Russian gym lady- I explained it to her and she just customised a receipt for me.
Its just the dance class lady that seems to have taken it as a personal affront.
I don't have an account with one of the required banks- I think I tried that.
#13
Re: CRA and the new childrens fitness benefit
I got a nice letter from the CRA requesting receipts confirming the amount I'd claimed, with specific information required regarding the child, year of birth, etc.
One of my larger claims is my daughters dance class, who have always been rather catastrophic with paperwork- they don't answer the phone, and are bad at email (old school - suspect they think it exists to circulate jokes). The lady has said she doesn't understand why her old receipts won't do even though I've scanned and sent her the CRA letter! Problem is the studio is closed until after the return deadline. In the past I've managed to get stuff out of them by turning up when they're very helpful.
I've edited her receipt to show the required data but so far haven't had any approval to submit it from her (the amount is the same- just the details needed adding). I have an email trail showing lack of cooperation.
Should I just submit this edited receipt? Or play 100% straight and ask for an extension on these grounds- I could include a transcript of these emails?
I'm inclined to the former and get it out of the way....
One of my larger claims is my daughters dance class, who have always been rather catastrophic with paperwork- they don't answer the phone, and are bad at email (old school - suspect they think it exists to circulate jokes). The lady has said she doesn't understand why her old receipts won't do even though I've scanned and sent her the CRA letter! Problem is the studio is closed until after the return deadline. In the past I've managed to get stuff out of them by turning up when they're very helpful.
I've edited her receipt to show the required data but so far haven't had any approval to submit it from her (the amount is the same- just the details needed adding). I have an email trail showing lack of cooperation.
Should I just submit this edited receipt? Or play 100% straight and ask for an extension on these grounds- I could include a transcript of these emails?
I'm inclined to the former and get it out of the way....
I managed to get all the info in to them just in time for the deadline - but I then received a letter stating they had not received it. Just before I posted the info, I had the forethought to copy it all so I then faxed all the stuff to them. All,that happened with me not meeting their deadline was that the file was closed and I owed the money to them that they had paid us for CTB and UCCB since 2012. Once they received my information, the file was reopened and they are working through it slowly.........
It still has not been sorted out properly - but at least we know that we don't owe them the money that our tax account states
They wanted originals of everything but they accepted the faxed copies - unless my original documents turned up.
If you send papers to them, make sure you take copies and also maybe send by some form of signed for mail.
#14
Re: CRA and the new childrens fitness benefit
I'm back in town and as she's ignoring emails/ calls again I guess it's time to turn up on the doorstep. I recall I had to do this to get the original tax receipt.
This probably isn't a problem for most parents as one will be at the dance lessons weekly but for me- it's the ex-wifes activity but I pay for it- there's an unusual gap. Plus the regular classes have stopped for break.
A pain in the but is all.
Good news is you can fax from the photocopiers in the office so faxing it all over to the CRA should be a doddle. Our team secretary was surprised I didn't know this. I'm surprised faxes still exist...
This probably isn't a problem for most parents as one will be at the dance lessons weekly but for me- it's the ex-wifes activity but I pay for it- there's an unusual gap. Plus the regular classes have stopped for break.
A pain in the but is all.
Good news is you can fax from the photocopiers in the office so faxing it all over to the CRA should be a doddle. Our team secretary was surprised I didn't know this. I'm surprised faxes still exist...
#15
Re: CRA and the new childrens fitness benefit
I would probably mail it all too just t be sure - I never received acknowledgment of whether they ever received my originals but I am assuming the went off my faxed sheets