From: AlanBaggett@volcanomail.com   
      
   'Emotionally draining': Halifax woman battles CRA over mom's tax return : CRA   
   SOTW    
      
   Cathy McDonald has struggled to get answers on why it's taken 4 months to   
   process her elderly mother's return    
      
   By Richard Woodbury, CBC News Posted: Sep 28, 2017 6:30 AM AT Last Updated:   
   Sep 28, 2017 6:30 AM AT    
      
   A Halifax woman is frustrated that she incurred thousands of dollars in   
   expenses to help pay for her mother's health care after the Canada Revenue   
   Agency took months to process the 88-year-old woman's tax return — even   
   though it was filed in May.    
      
   Both the 2015 and 2016 tax returns for Evelyn Keezer, who has Alzheimer's   
   disease, were filed by H&R Block in the spring. While the 2016 return was   
   processed quickly, the 2015 one was delayed for months — and only processed   
   after CBC News got involved.    
      
   Because nursing home costs are based on residents' income and there was no tax   
   return on file, Keezer didn't qualify for any assistance in 2015. In addition   
   to the $3,700 tax refund she's due, she overpaid her 2015 nursing home costs   
   by about $14,000.    
      
   "It's been very emotionally draining and financially as well, so it's not a   
   good time," said Keezer's daughter, Cathy McDonald.    
      
   McDonald quit her job in the insurance industry four years ago and started her   
   own dog-walking and pet-boarding service so she'd have more time to devote to   
   her mom.    
      
   Between running her business and taking care of her mother's affairs, she said   
   it's been a stressful time.    
      
   For months, McDonald tried to get an update from CRA on when the 2015 return   
   would be processed and money refunded. She was given multiple deadlines, all   
   of which passed. She also had a hard time getting hold of anyone at CRA and   
   frequent calls to the    
   tax agency were met with a recording that the queue was full.    
      
   The delays meant she's had to pay around $4,000 out of pocket for things like   
   ambulance fees, a wheelchair rental and medication.    
      
   CBC News gets involved    
   After CBC News contacted CRA for comment earlier this month, McDonald said she   
   received a call from the agency that same day, assuring her the matter was   
   being dealt with.    
      
   Earlier this week, she finally received a call letting her know the return had   
   been processed and a refund would be given immediately.    
      
   After months of trying to get the matter resolved, McDonald said she's   
   concerned about what other seniors would do in a similar circumstance if they   
   didn't have someone fighting on their behalf.    
      
   "What if I wasn't there in being her advocate? What would happen? Would they   
   kick her out of the nursing home if her bills weren't paid?" she said.    
      
   Response from CRA    
   CRA spokesperson John Power said if two tax returns are filed at the same   
   time, they may not be processed together because of technical and procedural   
   reasons, such as a return needing more information.    
      
   CRA is committed to providing timely service and is hiring additional staff to   
   provide more efficient processing and better handle calls, Power said.    
      
   "The CRA is committed to working with individuals and ensuring they receive   
   the benefits and credits to which they are entitled," he said in an email.    
      
   "Any time the CRA becomes aware of a situation, where an individual is   
   experiencing difficulty in receiving benefits, the CRA makes every effort to   
   resolve the situation as soon as possible."    
      
      
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