The CRA Audit Experts

Disagree with the CRA? โ€จFacing an Audit?
Those Are Our Specialties

Even Simple Disputes with the CRA Audits Can be Stressful. Donโ€™t Face Them Alone

We understand how overwhelming it can feel if youโ€™ve received a request for further information, a GST/HST or income tax audit notification, or an assessment/reassessment that significantly changes the amount of taxes you owe.
The CRAโ€™s power and resources are vast, placing the burden on taxpayers to prove their cases convincingly if they want to reverse CRA decisions and avoid an unfair tax bill. 
Thatโ€™s what we do.

Disagree with a CRA Assessment of Your Finances?

We File Objections to Assessments, Reassessments & CRA Audits That Succeed
Disputing income amounts, disallowed expenses, or penalties? A well-prepared objection can lower your tax bill considerably.

Tax Return Adjustments

If you disagree with a Notice of Assessment/Reassessment or a nominal assessment (a return filed by the CRA on your behalf), the CRA recommends contacting them at either the number provided in the Notice or their contact page. This can help clarify minor misunderstandings, as you can provide any missing information and fix mistakes on your T1 (personal), T2 (corporate), or T3 (trust) returns at this stage.

If the issue is more than a simple miscommunication or clerical error, you have the right to formally request a change to a previously filed tax return. For individuals, this often means using the Change my return service through CRA My Account or submitting a T1 Adjustment Request (T1-ADJ). Both let you change details like income, deductions, or credits after filing, whether you missed something or received new documentation.โ€จ

Filing a Notice of Objection to an Assessment, Reassessment or Tax Audit

If your dispute isnโ€™t resolved, you disagree with the outcome of an audit or a review, you feel the CRA misinterpreted the facts or applied the law incorrectly to your case, or your disagreement isnโ€™t something that can be solved by simply providing missing information, you need the professional opinion of an expert who is on your side.

What Happens After We File a Notice of Objection?

Once your objection is filed, the CRAโ€™s Appeals Division will assign an appeals officer to review your case. They may contact you for further discussion or clarification.

The Appeals Division can come to these conclusions:
  • Allow the objection in full (reversing the assessment)
  • Allow it in part (adjusting the amount due, for example)
  • Deny the objection (upholding the original assessment

Appealing to the Tax Court of Canada

If you disagree with the decision at this stage you can appeal to the Tax Court of Canada.

You do, however, need valid grounds to appeal. Your Notice of Appeal must set out the reasons for your appeal and the relevant facts, including details of the assessment, the taxation years or GST periods at issue, and the relief you are seeking (what you want the court to do). An appeal must be based on specific issues and material facts, rather than a general disagreement with the CRA. You have 90 days from the CRAโ€™s confirmation or reassessment to file a Notice of Appeal.

Contact us for CRA Audit Help Today

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Getting Audited by the CRA

What Happens During a CRA Tax Audit?
Getting audited by the CRA can be stressful and confusing, and you may be audited even if youโ€™ve done nothing wrong. A tax audit means the CRA is taking a closer look at your return to verify the accuracy of the information youโ€™ve provided. That doesnโ€™t always mean they think youโ€™ve made a mistake. Sometimes, itโ€™s random. Sometimes, itโ€™s triggered by a red flag. Either way, itโ€™s important to take it seriously.

The audit process typically starts with a notice from the CRA. That letter will outline the tax year(s) being reviewed and the documentation they need from you. It might be a desk audit (handled by mail or online), or a field audit, which involves an in-person review at your home, business, or accountantโ€™s office. Youโ€™ll be asked to provide receipts, bank statements, contracts, and other records to back up the numbers on your return. From there, the CRA can accept your original return, propose changes, or reassess your taxes.

What Can I Do About My Income Tax Debt?

  • Know Your Options if Youโ€™re Struggling with Taxes, Interest, and Penalties You Owe the CRA

    Owing money to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) isnโ€™t just stressful; it can quickly snowball into a serious financial problem. Income tax debt can happen because of unreported income, disallowed deductions, incorrect claims, or simply falling behind on payments.

    Once there's a balance owing, interest compounds daily on the unpaid amount. If it stays unpaid, the CRA doesnโ€™t wait around. They have wide-reaching collection powers, including freezing bank accounts, garnishing wages, and even registering liens against your home. For self-employed individuals or small business owners, tax debt can be especially disruptive, putting both your personal and business finances at risk.

    But there are solutions, and the earlier you act, the more options you may have.
  • Payment Plans & Taxpayer Relief Applications

    You can start by negotiating a payment arrangement with the CRA. This typically involves monthly payments based on what you can afford, not just what you owe.

    If you're experiencing real financial hardship, you might also qualify for the Taxpayer Relief Application, also referred to as a โ€˜CRA fairness application.โ€™ This is a formal request asking the CRA to cancel or waive penalties and interest when exceptional circumstances make it difficult to meet your tax liabilities. Applications must be based on specific circumstances, like:

    • Extraordinary circumstances: serious illness, accident, mental or emotional distress, disasters (natural or human-caused), service disruptions and civil disturbances, or your representative experienced a qualifying extraordinary circumstance.
    • Financial hardship: you canโ€™t pay or make arrangements to pay because of the interest, or paying the interest would make it difficult to afford necessities like food, shelter, medicine, or, in the case of businesses, paying the interest would jeopardize operations, employee jobs, or the community.
    • Actions of the CRA: mistakes made or delays caused by the CRA that contribute to your tax debt.
    • Other circumstances: situations not covered in the above categories. We know what works and what doesnโ€™t.

    In all cases, trusting the Tax Audit Help team with your application can boost its chances of acceptance and save you significantly more than our fees.

  • Bankruptcy & Consumer Proposals

    In more serious situations, there are other options under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act. These actions shouldnโ€™t be taken lightly, but theyโ€™re legal tools designed to help you reset financially when debt becomes unmanageable.

    Consumer proposals arenโ€™t very well known, but theyโ€™re a popular alternative to bankruptcy. A consumer proposal is a legally binding offer to your creditors made through a Licensed Insolvency Trustee (LIT), which allows you to pay back a reduced amount of your debt on a structured payment plan if approved by a majority of your creditors. It protects you from further collection actions and interest, and it doesnโ€™t carry the same long-term credit consequences as bankruptcy. However, like bankruptcy, a consumer proposal is a public record. In certain circumstances, this is a structured and realistic way to resolve tax debt while avoiding the stigma and full impact of bankruptcy.

    In more challenging financial situations, bankruptcy may be the option if youโ€™re facing overwhelming tax debt. It involves assigning your non-exempt assets to a LIT, who then uses the proceeds to pay off your creditors. Once complete, most unsecured debts, including income tax debt, are discharged. The CRA can oppose a discharge if thereโ€™s evidence of tax evasion or significant non-compliance, but in most cases, income tax debt is included.

    If a person passes away with unpaid tax debt, the issue doesnโ€™t vanish. Estate tax obligations mean the CRA will look to the deceased personโ€™s estate to settle outstanding amounts before any assets are distributed to heirs. The executor of the estate must ensure all tax filings are current and that the CRA has issued a clearance certificate confirming the estateโ€™s obligations are settled. Without it, the executor could be personally liable for any tax debt that slips through.

    The key to managing income tax debt is getting ahead of it. Understanding your rights and options, and having a clear strategy in place can make all the difference. Whether itโ€™s a matter of challenging the amount owed or finding the best way to repay it, professional advice can help you avoid unnecessary penalties and resolve your debt on terms that work for you.

Proper Estate Planning

Donโ€™t Leave a Legacy of Tax Disputes for Your Loved Ones
Estate planning is about more than drafting wills or distributing assets; itโ€™s about anticipating tax obligations and minimizing the risk of costly disputes with the CRA. When itโ€™s done properly, estate planning ensures your assets are protected, your wishes are clear, and your loved ones arenโ€™t left sorting out tax troubles while mourning.

The CRA treats death as a deemed disposition of all assets at fair market value. That can trigger capital gains tax on things like real estate, investments, and business shares. Without a plan, your estate might face a hefty tax bill, leaving your beneficiaries significantly less than you intended.

A good estate plan includes strategies to defer or reduce taxes. That might mean rolling assets to a surviving spouse tax-free, setting up trusts, or coordinating RRSP and RRIF withdrawals.

Why Tax Representation Matters

Protect Your Rights & Level the Playing Field with Expert Help
From surprise audits to collections notices to disputes over what's owed, tax problems can escalate quickly if youโ€™re not equipped to handle them. 

The tax consultants and representatives at Tax Audit Help understand how to navigate the system because we work in it every day. We know how to communicate with the CRA, how to prepare supporting documents, and how to negotiate successfully. And more importantly, we keep you from saying or signing something that could hurt your case.

If you're being audited, we know which questions you have to answer and which ones you donโ€™t. If youโ€™re behind on taxes, we know how to push for payment arrangements or relief programs that reduce interest and penalties. If you're disputing a reassessment, we know how to frame the argument and file the proper objections or appeals.

Why Canadians Trust TaxAuditHelp.ca

Know the Basics of Successful Audit Planning & Prep
  • Led by CPA Sam Faris, with 20+ years of CRA audit experience
  • Strategic, confidential, judgment-free support
  • We donโ€™t provide โ€œchurn-and-burnโ€ service; we passionately fight every clientโ€™s case
  • Proven results in defending and resolving audits and disputed assessments
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Top consulting firm I have ever dealt with. Donโ€™t listen to any other professionals but Sam Faris. He is honest, trustworthy and very professional on both personal and business levels. He won my case against the CRA and the audit went through very smoothly because of his top notch service and expertise. I wish I met Sam before. I paid other professionals but they were disappointing and did not deliver what Sam delivered. Many thanks Sam and I will definitely refer my clients and family to him.
I was referred to Sam Faris by a tax lawyer to handle my a complicated tax audit by the CRA and to refile all my outstanding corporate and personal tax returns. He was highly recommended by the tax lawyer and by other professional. The minute I hired Sam to sort out the big mess that I had with the CRA, I felt I am safe and in a good hands. He and his team were responsive to my questions and my concerns. Once he completed his work, he insisted to meet in person with the auditor and the team leader. His work quality was second to none. He backed up all accounts prepared a perfect reconciliation. On that basis, he presented his work confidentially and was able to convince the CRA team with his position and his calculations. I must admit that Sam Faris is the best tax consultant and he is a life saver. As a side note, his fee is very reasonable considering to other professionals and more importantly the work quality and the results that he achieved are unbeatable.
I was referred to Mr. Faris by another professional who recommended him to deal with my multiple years of outstanding corporate and tax returns. I interviewed Sam and was impressed in his confidence and transparency. He did not promise the moon just to get my business. Sam was able to file all returns under the voluntary disclosure program. After completing filling all tax returns, I realized the amount of money he saved me. I enjoyed very much working with him. He ensured that the work progress flow smoothly without any complications. He took to consideration the emotional stress factor and he was available to speak with me even beyond business hours just to make me more calm and to make me feel that he is on top of the matter and it will be resolved to my satisfaction. Indeed, this is what happened. The matter was resolved to my satisfaction and CRA concluded that the returns which Sam filed are reasonable and there is no need to further audit me nor my company. In summary, Sam is a life saver. He saved me and saved my family and now I am in the right track where all my tax filing obligations are met and I donโ€™t owe any taxes. So grateful to Sam and his dedication while working on my file.
Sam is an excellent CPA and the best tax consultant in the country. He helped me to deal with a very complicated tax audit with the CRA where the CRA sent me a proposal assessment of 1.5 million dollars based on their net worth audit calculation and analysis. Sam was able to provide a counter analysis which highlighted significant mistakes that the auditor made with his assumptions and calculations. Itโ€™s ridicules that CRA wanted to taxed me on a loan that I obtained from my bank. Sam dealt with this audit perfectly. He demonstrated a very high level of expertise and CRA had to accept his counter analysis with no question asked. Many thanks to Samโ€™s efforts and high business standards in dealing with this issue and resolve it to my favor. I will have Sam as my primary CPA going forward so I can focus on doing business and will have a peace of mind in terms of the high quality of work done by him. Well deserved this review with the 5 stars rating.
Sam Faris helped me with a complex cross border tax matter. This issue involved 12 years of tax returns and it was as a result from mistakes that my previous accountant did. He was able to perfectly address the issue with the CRA and to fix the returns under the voluntary disclosure program. End results; CRA accepted Samโ€™s work with not a single question and the returns were reassessed to my satisfaction without penalties and interest. Many thanks to Sam brilliant work.
I found Samโ€™s firm online and I read the excellent Google reviews about him and his team. I decided to hire him to help me navigate an issue with the CRA. Sam delivered as expected and as promised. Results were to my satisfaction and I am very happy with how the process was handled. Highly professional and extremely knowledgeable.
after the initial assessment I had with Sam, he proposed a strategy to dispute CRA decision. He knew up front how to approach my case as he seemed that he dealt with similar cases many times. I hired him the end results were as promised and no surprises. Sam is very trust worthy and has a high business standards. May thanks Sam.
I recently turned to Faris CPA for help with my tax filing, and I must say, I'm over the moon with the results! The whole process was a breeze, saving me time and stress. What really stood out was the friendly professionalism, impressive expertise, and crystal-clear communication from Sam and his team. They made what could've been a daunting task feel like a walk in the park! If you're looking for a warm, approachable tax expert who genuinely cares about his clients, I wholeheartedly recommend Sam and the folks at Faris CPA - they're great tax consultants!

What to Expect When You Work With Us

Consultation

We discuss your situation, review your CRA documents, and advise you of your rights, potential outcomes, and next steps based on your instructions.

Audit & Dispute Defence

We organize your paperwork, prepare a response package, and communicate with the CRA on your behalf.

Resolution

Our goal is to present airtight submissions that deliver the best outcomes, reduced penalties, fair assessments, and peace of mind.

Real Results From Clients Like You

  • Case Study #1:

    CRA Audit Withheld $800K in HST โ€” Full Refund Secured
    A Toronto business owner hired us after facing major issues with the Canada Revenue Agency. His income tax and HST returns had been audited, and the CRA refused to release an $800,000 HST refund. The audit had been triggered by significant errors made by his previous accountant, and the agency believed our client wasnโ€™t entitled to the refund.

    To overcome the situation, we made the strategic decision to reconstruct the companyโ€™s financial records from the ground up, tracing back to the very beginning of operations. We conducted a full reconciliation of all accounts, including HST filings and shareholder balances. This involved securing complete backup documentation, verifying each amount, and carefully categorizing every transaction to build an accurate and defendable set of books.

Get Trusted Help with Tax Disputes & Problems

Book an assessment today to know where you stand.
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