For most, dealing with a Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) tax audit or dispute feels like stepping into unfamiliar territory where the rules aren’t always clear, and the consequences can be life-changing. The stress of a CRA tax audit or dispute doesn’t just live on paper or a screen; it follows people into homes, workplaces, and their bed at night.
Many Canadians, and even the CRA themselves, describe the CRA audit experience as potentially overwhelming. And it’s not just the taxpayers who have made a mistake. Simply having to navigate a system designed to scrutinize every detail is challenging enough for anyone. But when you factor in that both the Office of the Taxpayers’ Ombudsperson and Canada’s Finance Minister harshly criticized the CRA in 2025 for its poor communications with the public, poor service quality and delays, and in the case of the Finance Minister, have made demands for a 100-day improvement plan, even the most sophisticated taxpayers can find an audit or dispute with the CRA a gruelling experience. In moments like these, having the right guidance and audit protection makes all the difference between sleepless nights and steady progress toward a favourable financial resolution. But you have to act quickly.
What’s often overlooked is the human side of tax audits: the anxiety, the uncertainty, and the feeling of being overmatched. A partner who understands both the process and the pressure can shift the entire experience, replacing confusion and risk with clarity and giving clients a sense of control they thought was lost with tax audit help and tax dispute resolution help from proven professionals.
The Faris CPA Legacy and Launch of Tax Audit Help.ca
Sam Faris began his career in 2003 as an articling student at a mid-sized Toronto firm. What set him apart early on was a fascination with the most complicated corner of accounting: levelling the playing field for taxpayers experiencing tax disputes in Canada. While many professionals built practices around general tax filings, Sam immersed himself in the high-stakes world of tax audit representation, reassessments, objections, and voluntary disclosures. That focus shaped his expertise and the reputation that would later define his own tax consultant firm.
The Growth of a Specialized Firm
When Sam launched Faris CPA, he did so with a relentless commitment to the kind of clients who needed more than standard accounting support. Stories of him setting up a mattress in the office to work around the clock have become part of the firm’s lore: evidence of the dedication he brings to each file. Over the years, Faris CPA grew into a boutique practice recognized nationwide for its honesty, tenacity, and skill at diplomatically managing complex net worth audits and tax disputes favourably the first time, without the need for escalation.
Our work got us recognized as Financial Services Review’s top tax consultant accounting firm in Canada in 2025.
The Next Step: Tax Audit Help.ca
The launch of Tax Audit Help.ca is a natural extension of this legacy. The same senior CPAs who have guided clients through multimillion-dollar disputes and high-pressure negotiations with the CRA are behind this new platform. What’s different is accessibility: Tax Audit Help is designed as a dedicated hub where Canadians can find reliable resources, insights, and direct support tailored to CRA audit and dispute resolution. You can be assured that the same rigorous, detail-driven process that defines Faris CPA is the backbone of our new initiative, ensuring continuity of service while offering a clearer pathway to insights, guidance, and help.
Our Mission is to Help Taxpayers Confidently Navigate CRA Tax Audits & Disputes
The experience of being audited or investigated can feel isolating and intimidating. Our mission is to replace that worry over the future with the ability to breathe. We make sure each client understands what to expect and knows they are supported by a team that has dedicated its practice to disputes, audits, and objections.
What Sets Us Apart
Many accounting firms include tax work as part of a long list of services. Faris CPA, and now Tax Audit Help.ca, were built with a different philosophy. Sensitive cases are our specialty, and important tasks are never passed down to junior staff. Senior CPAs trained by Sam Faris personally manage and review each case. Two experienced professionals scrutinize every submission, ensuring the evidence is reconciled, defensible, and prepared for scrutiny. This dual-review model, combined with direct legal collaboration when needed, creates a level of preparation that few firms can match.
A Human Approach
Numbers and regulations are only one side of a tax audit, and we know all too well that the emotional toll is just as real and can be crushing. Our clients often share the relief they feel when someone finally explains the process in plain language and shares how similar situations were resolved. Our mission extends beyond technical expertise. We prioritize transparent communication, confidentiality, and availability at the very moments clients feel most anxious. Whether that means answering calls evenings and weekends to provide immediate reassurance or going over submissions with a fine-tooth comb, the focus is always on restoring peace of mind.
The Basics Every Taxpayer Should Know About CRA Tax Audits
Why Audits Happen
Most Canadians will never face a full CRA audit, but when they do, it usually stems from specific risk factors rather than random chance. Lifestyle that appears inconsistent with reported income, unusually high business expense claims, or patterns that differ sharply from industry norms can all raise questions.
The CRA also pays close attention to how you report foreign accounts and assets, cryptocurrency transactions, and other emerging sources of income. While not every unusual pattern leads to an audit, these are common triggers that put a file under the microscope.
What the Process Looks Like
The audit process generally begins with a request for information. This can range from simple document verification to detailed reviews of bank accounts, receipts, and contracts. Not all CRA audits look the same. Some are straightforward desk reviews, others are far more intensive, such as field audits that involve in-person visits. Typically, the process goes this way:
- The CRA auditor reviews your submitted documentation to verify reported income, deductions, and credits, checking for discrepancies and requesting additional materials if necessary.
- The auditor may conduct follow-up communications and ask clarifying questions; you may be asked to provide more records or explanations relating to specific transactions or items flagged during the review.
- For more complex audits or unresolved issues, the auditor may schedule an on-site visit to your home, business, or representative’s office, or continue remotely by requesting electronic copies through secure CRA channels (not email).
- During an on-site audit, the auditor may examine physical records, check inventory or assets, and interview staff or individuals familiar with the accounting processes, potentially reviewing family and related entities’ records if relevant.
- If necessary, the auditor will make copies or temporarily borrow original documents, issuing detailed receipts for anything taken and returning items when finished.
Once the examination is complete, the auditor will issue an audit proposal or interim report outlining any preliminary findings, adjustments required, or concerns identified; you have an opportunity to respond or provide additional supporting documentation.
After considering your response (if any), the auditor finalizes the audit with a report detailing their conclusions and any reassessment, penalties, or other actions resulting from their review. There are steps you can take if you disagree with the findings, which we discuss in the Resolution and Reassurance Beyond the Audit section below.
Tailored Services for Every Audit Situation
Each type of audit presents its own challenges, from clarifying receipts to rebuilding years of financial history.
Why Professional Support Matters
Many taxpayers assume they can manage an audit on their own, but the process often unfolds in ways they don’t expect. For example, a small business owner might think that providing receipts is enough, only to discover the CRA is questioning whether expenses were reasonable for their industry. Without professional audit representation, a simple misunderstanding can snowball into penalties or reassessments.
Similarly, an individual with foreign holdings may try to disclose only some assets or sources of income, not realizing that incomplete or poorly timed submissions could close the door on relief opportunities. Competent professional audit protection and tax dispute resolution prevent these missteps. With an experienced team guiding the response, every document is reconciled, every claim is defensible, and the taxpayer avoids unintentionally strengthening the CRA’s case.
Personalized Strategies for Lasting Results
At Tax Audit Help, we don’t apply cookie-cutter solutions. Each file is treated as a unique matter requiring its own strategy. For a client facing a net worth audit, that might mean reconstructing financial flows from original bank statements to challenge flawed CRA auditor assumptions. For someone applying to the Voluntary Disclosures Program, timing becomes critical, and we act quickly to preserve eligibility before enforcement begins.
By tailoring our approach, we craft submissions that are made to last beyond the audit, into any future objections or appeals. The result provides more than short-term relief. It is a durable resolution that restores client peace of mind moving forward.
Resolution and Reassurance Beyond the Audit
The CRA often issues reassessments and audit findings that the taxpayer strongly disagrees with. At that stage, options remain. Filing a formal notice of objection within 90 days, entering into negotiations, or even pursuing an appeal through the Tax Court of Canada are all options for recourse.
The Faris CPA Process in Action
Every audit file is built as if it will eventually be challenged, meaning submissions are complete, documented, and backed by evidence that can withstand further review. Each file receives two sets of experienced CPA eyes to catch inconsistencies or weak points before the CRA has the chance to exploit them. On the very rare occasion when an audit results reassessment arrives, our clients already have a defensible foundation that supports a strong objection or negotiated settlement.
Avoiding Escalations and Delays
Disputes with the CRA can drag on for years when cases are poorly presented. Missing documents, inconsistent explanations, or unsupported claims often force matters into drawn-out battles.
Our philosophy is to prevent those unnecessary extensions by delivering airtight submissions at every stage. By anticipating the CRA’s perspective, we reduce opportunities for pushback and keep the process moving toward resolution rather than escalation.
Peace of Mind in Difficult Times
Instead of reacting to each CRA demand with uncertainty, our clients know that their file has been prepared to the highest standard. This is where reassurance comes in: the confidence that every detail has been accounted for, and that a favourable resolution is possible and achievable.
Why Choose Faris CPA & the Tax Audit Help Team
Choosing the right partner for a CRA tax audit or dispute resolution is about finding trust, precision, and proven results. At Faris CPA, every case is managed with the same intensity as if it were the only file in the office. Clients know that nothing will be overlooked because Sam Faris has built a practice where missed details are simply not an option.
Who Uses Faris CPA?
This approach has delivered results for a wide spectrum of clients, from entrepreneurs to new-economy earners such as crypto investors, Amazon sellers, and those needing help filing Uber taxes and OnlyFans taxes in Canada, as they are suddenly facing significant tax exposure. The team applies the same rigorous process regardless of a client’s background, ensuring every submission is built to withstand CRA scrutiny.
Honesty is Our Best Policy
What also sets this team apart is honesty. We always tell clients the truth about their circumstances, their risks, and their options. Sam does not overpromise or take on matters that will not benefit from specialist intervention. That level of candour, combined with meticulous preparation and senior-only involvement, gives our clients the confidence that their file is being handled with the highest professional standard available in Canada.
Looking Ahead with Tax Audit Help.ca
Tax Audit Help is only at the beginning of its journey. This platform is designed to grow into a trusted hub where Canadians can find clarity and direction on some of the most complex tax challenges they will ever face. In the months ahead, we will continue expanding our library of insights, practical guidance, and case-driven perspectives to help taxpayers understand the audit process with better information.
We invite you to stay connected as new resources are published, each aimed at making the world of CRA tax audits & disputes less overwhelming and more manageable.
If you are facing an audit, remember that timing is critical. Acting before the CRA takes enforcement steps can make the difference between options lost and opportunities secured. Reach out today, and let our team give you the guidance and protection you need to help you keep more of your hard-earned money.
Success Stories & FAQs
Snapshots of Clients We’ve Helped
One client with offshore assets exceeding $40 million needed to regularize holdings. Through careful planning, we secured acceptance into the Voluntary Disclosures Program, avoiding penalties and securing interest relief.
Another client faced a proposed reassessment of several million dollars based on aggressive assumptions. By reconstructing the financial model from source records, we successfully challenged those assumptions by the CRA auditor, reducing the assessment. These outcomes highlight our commitment to rigorous preparation and durable resolutions.
Do you accept clients outside Toronto?
Yes. We represent clients from every province. Location is never a barrier.
What size disputes do you handle?
Generally, cases where the potential tax, penalties, or exposure justify specialist fees. Smaller issues are referred or coached toward more cost-effective options.
Who will work on my file?
Every file is reviewed by at least two senior CPAs. Sam personally directs strategy and remains closely involved in serious matters.
How do you approach confidentiality?
We treat every case with the same discretion as a criminal matter. Strict confidentiality is guaranteed.
What communication can I expect?
Timely, clear updates. If your anxiety spikes, our team responds outside standard business hours to provide reassurance and direction.