CRA implemented a new process for authorizing tax representatives this summer…fun stuff.
What are you doing to help folks that were not born with an iPad in hand to help them get you authorized? We have lots of seniors that need to add us…but they don’t know how. I have a to-do manual…but I feel like there are some folks that will not be able to get it done…what are you doing to prepare for the new tax year?
Yes, CRA is definitely making things difficult for us with this new policy. We are already reaching out to all clients who either do not have access to their CRA account or cannot remember how to access it, to help them either create a new CRA account or recover their existing one. We probably have about six months to get this done. Then, when new clients come in, for each client without a proper CRA account, we will need to spend at least another 15–20 minutes helping them set up the account. For many senior clients, we will likely need their permission to save their password and security question in our system as well, because I am 100% sure they will not be able to remember or safely manage that kind of information.
I have done a few of the paper authorizations, where you on behalf of the taxpayer submit the authorization request, and just need to get the taxpayer to sign the document and submit within 30 days. While it is more work, its been a straight forward process from my side.
Could be an easier process than trying to get into CRA my account with some clients.
Trying to do one right now and can’t get the signature page to go through…keep getting this message
“**
Warning alert**
Information unavailable at this time
Anyone else have issues?
Once more…this is CRA’s executive (read: Bob WK Hamilton) downloading THEIR WORK onto us.
I refuse to play ball with this and continue to suggest that we complain to our professional or other organizations and to our MPs….CRA is a complete *&^% show and no example is better than this. They are trying to ram MyAccount down everyone’s throats whether they want it or not.
I tried that with the AUT01. Did not work for me. The client doesn’t have MyAccount and doesn’t have the year of the return asked.
Didn’t have it last year and I just send whatever he gave me without seeing what is inside CRA.
I get what they are trying to do. They are trying to be more cost effective, yadiyadayada…HOWEVER, there are folks with REAL disabilities or circumstances that prevent them from getting online. This is supposed to be public service, but now low-income folks and vulnerable folks are now MORE affected by this than affluent people…and I don’t think that is right.
This is just one more place where they have to make special concessions for the Amish and Mennonite people who don’t have or use computers. The world is not as digital as CRA would like to think. If CRA could show that this technology allows them to operate with less staff, that would be one thing, but instead they are increasing staff.
We are fighting back by making all reqeusts for documents by mail. Let that eco friendly solution sink in. Every new client we reqeust coprehensive document list by snail mail. 12 years NOA and NORA, slips and statements. Client has right to request and this information is required. Someone create a form letter requesting the fix their problem and we should all include it with every request.
I have a ton of clients who are not tech savvy and/or who are unable or willing to setup a CRA My Account. I am willing to sign a petition requesting 3 items. Would anyone is the procommunity or at TaxCycle be willing to post this?
1- Best CRA call center response time.
2 - Reinstate EFiler initiated RepAClient authorization for professional software users.
3 - Better taxpayer authorized CRA Representative on-line requests for documents, for topic specific tier two recalculation. IE working balances in accounts.
Yes I had this issue all day, signature pages will not go through all of a sudden. Worked yesterday! Oh the fun of will it work today or not CRA game.
While I understand your frustration & I totally agree there should be an easier option for EFILE compliant businesses to submit authorization. I also understand WHY they have done this due to all of the account hacking etc. HOWEVER, since they also removed our ability to setup direct deposit. I am unsure where the risk really is with us having level 2 access say. We can’t update and personal information in their account. So where is the risk in getting access as a rep to their accounts via an EFILE auth vs them authorizing in their account, having prior year line 15000 or if they are a first time filer, it only requires a signature page.
Current solution to the clients you have that do not want to make an account, do you or they, have their most prior filed tax return? You can easily gain access with line 15000 from their last return also & they do not need an account.
I am trying to understand why all of your clients need to setup a CRA account? Did you not already have authorization to be their rep when they became a client? Why do new clients need to setup an account also? You may want to review the new auth process options, as it is not as limited as you are implying. You also cannot legally store passwords to CRA accounts for clients personal logins.
Good point. Well said. Maybe TaxCycle can advocate for us with our support. As far as I know,TaxCycle is part of the CRA and eFile consultation groups.
my assumption is that this was done due to privacy angle……in the past as long as you had the taxpayers name and SIN (along with whatever else is required on the form…DOB?) you could get instant access using efile software…so some bad actors could get access to information
corps are even worst if you are able to figure out the authorized signatory and business number/tel # which for many companies all this info is available online you could get access to corp accounts
that said current approach is not great either…i think a good balance was generating the authorization forms that needed to be signed…of course CRA doesnt have most signatures on file so I doubt it was being verified against anything but at least you could prosecute for fraud for forging signature
Contact the E-FILE association, whether you are member or not. They meet with CRA staff ever September to advocate for us.
@Amanda Couldn’t send it through again today…just called and was told by an Agent that the issue is on their end but couldn’t give me a timeline as to when it would be resolved.
Bringing them into the office and going through it together either on the computer or on the phone.
it is working again today! 
Just submitted my first authorization for a client that does not use the internet, nor has she ever filed a tax return since turning 18 a couple of years ago. I had her sign the AUTH form, I scanned it to PDF, then uploaded it to the CRA using the “Submit” button in the “Pending authorization requests” section of RAC. I dId it yesterday and have not received access to her account yet? Just wondering if anyone knows how long it should take to obtain RAC authorization for her, based on your experience with similar clients? Can’t find any verbiage on the CRA site to indicate expected timing. I did advise her that the CRA may call her to confirm – wondering what kind of turnaround that may take too? Thanks in advance!