Sister 1 (17yo Dec 2024) came in today because she needs to do a return (her first) related to an inheritance. When I tried to e-file it, I get the message another return has been paper filed for her SIN.
That’s when I realized the SIN on the RIF slip was different. Turns out, it’s sister 2’s SIN. Investia must have mixed up their SINs when they opened the accounts. Whoever paper filed sister 2s return, must have just copied the number off the slip when they filed the return.
I’ve sent them back to Investia to sort out the problem with the accounts themselves.
I’m actually thinking the problem might be sister 2s mostly. If I had the NOA, that is technically sister 1s return. It’s her SIN on it. She could set up her My Account from that NOA, and I could adjust the return. Sister 2 would then just have to file her own return again.
Any insight how to fix this efficiently would be very appreciated.
Why can’t you file a T1 ADJ for sister 1? Also, if you’re still within the 90-day widow of the assessment, I would file a NOO, to ensure CRA actually removes the income originally reported as a RIF slip. Of course, ask the client before you file a NOO on her behalf…
I found out today that it was definitely sister 2s first return as well. Both girls have the same RIF in terms of amounts because they both inherited from a deceased relative. That’s why nothing stood out to whoever did sister 2s paper return. This only got caught because I didn’t use the slip to set up her account in TC. When I set up the file, sister 1 read me her SIN from the issuing document.
CRA didn’t have any information on file to reject the paper return from sister 2 so they processed it. The CRA My Account that would be created from it will have sister 2s name and sister 1s SIN. My assumption right now is that even if I submitted a paper adjustment to correct the return for the SIN number of my client, CRA wouldn’t take it because the name doesn’t match their new account.
I don’t think we’re still in the 90-day window, but I don’t know yet. If sister 2 filed late too, then there is a chance we are. I’ve told sister 1 to ask sister 2 to contact me. Adding to the fun is the family dynamics and estrangements. Another 5-minute job that’s become a project .
Of course, the bank knee-jerked and are just certain this isn’t their fault, but I’m looking at the SIN issuing document and the RIF slip with a different number that says it is.
If the amounts on each sister’s RIF slip are the same, the only issue would be a mismatch between the name and SIN. If the bank got it wrong, CRA should have rejected the slip filing. If you have it wrong, you will get an error when trying to file the T1.
Thank you, Nezzer, I always really appreciate your insight, whether to me or responding to others. I’ve learned a lot from you so I hope this doesn’t come off as arguing. I’m trying to figure this out with half the puzzle. I still haven’t been able to talk to sister 2, so I haven’t seen or been able to ask her to check her NOA details.
Would CRA have anything to compare to if neither of them had filed a return before? Would the bank be able to upload the slip before a CRA account was established by a return? Maybe slip matching got delayed because it was paper-filed or a first-time return?
What I have seen on paper myself:
SIN issue letter sister 1 brought with her:
Name: Sister 1
SIN: 123 456 789
The RIF slip she brought with her:
Name: Sister 1
SIN: 123 456 987 (Sister 2s #)
Yes - every individual has a CRA account as soon as they have a SIN. You might not have a LOGIN to your account, but the account exists. Electronic slip filing should, at minimum, generate an error if the name/SIN typed into the software doesn’t match the name/SIN on the actual SIN card. I’m not sure if CRA’s system automatically rejects slip filing based on that, but I know it rejects T1 filing.
This is correct. Investia needs to check their e-File account for mismatched slips, because they DO have one!
In the meantime, I would paper file Sister #2 and include the paper copy of the RIF so you don’t get the call from CRA. I’d even go so far as to include an explanation of the situation. (But keep it brief or they won’t read it)
.