New Question on Tax Return

Tax Topics
1

Why are we being asked to ask our clients if they want to have their email address sent to Government of Alberta and Ministry of Surgical Health Services?? Is this really a question that should be on a Tax Return

2

Don’t ask and don’t answer if you don’t like it. Easily solved.

3

I’m not in Alberta, so I don’t know why the Alberta government wants that info, but I can’t see it as any different than asking clients if they want CRA to give their name and address to Elections Canada - in that case it saves Elections Canada from sending enumerators to their door. CRA can’t give out that info without the taxpayer’s permission, but most of my clients prefer getting a card in the mail rather than an enumerator knocking on their door, so they give consent. Might be something similar in Alberta - the taxpayer would have to provide that info separately. Getting it from CRA saves the taxpayer that extra work (though it puts the onus on us as tax prepares…)

4

Other provinces already have this as a question. It’s no different than the elections canada question. Was introduced via Bill C-210

5

Thank you.

D&D Professional Services
Dara Dallyn
780 819 9486

Someone replied to your post.

| Nezzer
March 5 |

  • | - |

I’m not in Alberta, so I don’t know why the Alberta government wants that info, but I can’t see it as any different than asking clients if they want CRA to give their name and address to Elections Canada - in that case it saves Elections Canada from sending enumerators to their door. CRA can’t give out that info without the taxpayer’s permission, but most of my clients prefer getting a card in the mail rather than an enumerator knocking on their door, so they give consent. Might be something similar in Alberta - the taxpayer would have to provide that info separately. Getting it from CRA saves the taxpayer that extra work (though it puts the onus on us as tax prepares…)

6

In Ontario, we are asked to ask the client if they are willing to have CRA provide their information to Province of Ontario so they can contact them about organ donation. In most cases, I just say no because I am not willing to ask the client.

1 Like
7

I have a couple clients in Alberta. I was surprised by it too. It’s one thing to update an address with elections. Wanting to send emails is something else, but I hate being on email lists.

If it’s effective in increasing the donor pool, I guess that’s worth it though.