They Can't Fix a Checkbox. Now Ottawa Wants Them Filing Your Taxes.

$60,000. That's what the CRA demanded from a woman in Quebec because one of its employees marked her as an immigrant. She was born here — and the CRA couldn't fix it. Now Parliament is looking at a law that would let the same agency file your tax return for you, without your consent. Patsy Lajoie, semi-retired, from Pintendre, got a reassessment for 2019. Then 2020. Then every year through 2025. Final notice: $60,024, due in three weeks. An agent told her it was a mistake at the Jonquière tax centre — then told her they couldn't fix it, and couldn't tell her who could. Since August, collections has called her at work every day. Two weeks later, same town, a second case: a nurse, Canadian citizen since 2024, recorded as having just immigrated. Her refund became a $5,000 bill and her child benefit was cut off. What finally fixed it? A newspaper and a Member of Parliament. Bill C-31 would allow "deemed filing," where the CRA files your return "without the taxpayer's consent or involvement." Those are the Ombudsperson's words, not ours. If this happens to you: File a notice of objection, and don't miss the deadline. Ask whether that limits collection action. Document every call: agent ID, date, and what they said. File a service complaint, then go to the Ombudsperson, and call your MP. Has the CRA miscoded you, lost your file, or sent you to collections over its own mistake? Tell us — you can stay anonymous: https://crauncovered.com/submit-story Sources: Le Journal de Québec, Sept. 12 & Sept. 26, 2026; Office of the Taxpayers' Ombudsperson, Oct. 5, 2026 (canada.ca/taxpayers-ombudsperson); Taxpayers' Ombudsperson annual report, via The Hub, July 2, 2026; Office of the Taxpayers' Ombudsperson, "Alive and Well" special report; House of Commons Debates, Oct. 7, 2026 (openparliament.ca). Photos: Saffron Blaze, CC BY-SA 3.0; Óðinn, CC BY-SA 2.5 CA; Route 173, Pintendre — Vintotal, CC BY-SA 3.0; all via Wikimedia Commons. Map: Hanhil, Wikimedia Commons, public domain. Some images are AI-generated illustrations and are labelled on screen. This video is commentary and general information only. It is not professional tax or legal advice.