Skip to content

Atamanenko feels tax filing changes hurt many

MP asserts that traditional mailing of physical documents is counted upon by numerous citizens
83319castlegarAtamanenkoWEB
BC Southern Interior MP Alex Atamanenko

Local MP Alex Atamanenko is taking issue with the recent announcement from Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) that it will not be mailing the T1 general tax package this year. He's also displeased about changes to NETFILE and the termination of the Telefile service which has been used by hundreds of thousands of Canadians.

“Many Canadian seniors, Canadians with limited internet access, and Canadians living in remote or rural areas have expressed serious concerns about access to tax forms,” stated the BC Southern Interior MP.

Canadians are receiving notification that the traditional income tax package will not automatically be sent by mail this year. People who are not using the NETFILE option have been encouraged to download their forms from the CRA website or to pick up a tax package at their Canada Post or Service Canada location.

Atamanenko points out that citizens are entitled to receive documents by mail. They must contact CRA directly at: 1-800-959-7383 as soon as possible to have documents mailed to them.

“I have also received several calls from concerned constituents expressing their concerns about privacy in response to new NETFILE requirements to use a Social Insurance Number and a birth date in place of a personal code and PIN number previously used to file tax returns online,” stated Atamanenko.

A March 4 press release from the Member of Parliament describes how, "The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada has raised concerns about the NETFILE changes and has sought further information from the CRA. The New Democrat Party’s Privacy and National Revenue critics have been in contact with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner regarding this matter and are awaiting the results of that investigation."