CRA Audit & Dispute Representation
CRA audit representation means someone else deals with the CRA on your behalf, reads the letters, meets the deadlines, decides what to send and what not to, and argues your position in the language the CRA responds to.
Most people who need it didn’t expect to. A review letter arrives about a deduction from two years ago, or an audit is opened, or an assessment shows a balance owing that doesn’t match anything you filed. The instinct is to reply immediately and explain everything. That instinct is usually wrong.
What CRA audit representation covers
Review letters and information requests. The CRA’s most common contact. Often resolvable by sending exactly what’s asked for and nothing more — but what counts as “exactly” is a judgment call.
Audits. Field audits, desk audits, and the correspondence in between. We act as the point of contact so you’re not answering questions off the top of your head under pressure.
Reassessments. When the CRA changes your return after the fact and you disagree.
Collections. When there’s a balance the CRA is actively pursuing, and the question is what arrangement is realistic.
Taxpayer relief requests. Applications to cancel or waive penalties and interest where circumstances warrant.
Why representation matters
The CRA isn’t adversarial by design, but it operates on documentation and precise language, and it records everything you say. An explanation offered casually to be helpful can open a line of inquiry that wasn’t there before. A partial answer can look like an incomplete one.
There’s also the matter of scope. Audits expand. What starts as a question about one expense category can become a broader review if the initial response suggests there’s more to look at. Managing that boundary is most of the work.
And the deadlines are real. Objection periods don’t move because you were gathering documents.
What to do right now
Don’t ignore the letter. The situation gets worse on a schedule.
Don’t reply immediately either. Note the deadline, then get advice before responding.
Keep the envelope and the date. Deadlines run from dates on the notice, and knowing exactly when it was issued matters.
Gather what you have — returns, receipts, bank records for the years in question — but don’t send anything yet.
Working with us
You work directly with Robert Occhiuto, CPA, CA. Over 20 years in public accounting including three years at BDO Canada, and CPA Canada’s In-Depth Tax certification — which matters here because most disputes turn on the technical position, not on tone.
The first conversation is free and we’ll tell you honestly how serious it looks. Sometimes the answer is that you can handle it yourself with a single well-drafted letter, and we’ll say so.
Common questions
How long do I have to file a Notice of Objection?
Generally 90 days from the date on the notice of reassessment. Extensions are possible in limited circumstances but shouldn’t be relied on. If you’ve received a reassessment you disagree with, the date on it is the thing to note first.
Can you deal with the CRA directly on my behalf?
Yes. With authorization on file we become the point of contact, which means correspondence comes to us and we handle the calls.
What does it cost?
It depends entirely on scope — a single review letter is a different matter from a multi-year audit. We’ll give you a range in the first conversation, before you commit to anything.
Will hiring a CPA make the CRA think I have something to hide?
No. Representation is routine and expected. The CRA deals with representatives constantly and it doesn’t affect how a file is treated.
Received something from the CRA?
Book a free consultation, or call directly. Bring the letter and we’ll tell you what it actually means and what it needs.