Understanding CRA Audits

Getting audited by the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) can be a stressful process for many taxpayers. It's often surrounded by an air of mystery, which leads to all sorts of questions. One of the most common inquiries among citizens is: how many audits does CRA do a year? With the aid of the government's website, mobile app, and call centre, we aim to provide the answer in this article.

What Does CRA Audits Mean?

Before we delve into the precise numbers, let’s first clarify what the term 'audit' means in the context of CRA. Simply put, an audit is an examination of a taxpayer’s returns and supporting documents to ensure that the financial information being presented is accurate and complies with the tax laws.

How Many Audits Does CRA Conduct Each Year?

According to the information provided by the CRA on their website, more than 30,000 businesses are audited each year. As for individuals, that number is not precisely known, as CRA does not publicize those figures in the same way. However, it is believed to be a significantly higher number.

Navigating Through CRA’s Website

The CRA website is a goldmine of information. It provides a myriad of resources, one of them being the Audit Statistics. Here you can find an overview of the audit activities that the CRA carries out each year. Visit www.cra.gc.ca, click on 'Businesses', then scroll down to 'Audit' for more in-depth information.

Using CRA’s Mobile App

If you're more comfortable using mobile applications, CRA also has the “MyCRA mobile web app” that serves as an instant, secure, and user-friendly channel of communication between taxpayers and the agency. You can find specific details about audit activities under the 'Audit' section within the app.

Contacting CRA’s Call Centre

You can also gain firsthand insight into the audit process by calling the CRA's call centre. Trained representatives are ready to answer your queries. This way, you can get your information straight from the source. Reach the CRA's general inquiry line at 1-800-959-8281.

Conclusion

While the exact number of audits conducted by CRA each year may not be public knowledge, the frequency of these audits underscores the necessity for taxpayers to accurately report their income to the best of their abilities. Whether you choose to get your information through the website, mobile app, or call centre, the CRA has ensured that the resources are available for your peace of mind.