From: AlanBaggett@volcanomail.com   
      
   Canada Revenue Agency bureaucracy erodes patience :CRA SOTW   
      
   Enjoyed your editorial about "expensive cheerleaders," Jan. 30 Citizen. I   
   could not agree more.    
      
   It immediately brought to my attention the experience the last time I was at   
   city hall. Due to an error on my part, I forgot to inform them that I was   
   claiming the homeowner's grant on my latest residence as I sold the house I   
   previously claimed the    
   grant on. My property taxes are combined with my property mortgage. To make a   
   long story short, I overpaid my 2017 taxes by $1.031.   
      
   I emailed the city the necessary paperwork. A couple of days later, being in   
   the neighborhood I went to city hall to see when my refund would take place.   
   The lady at the counter verified that everything was in order and my refund   
   was approved. I asked    
   when can I expect it. She stated it will take six weeks.    
      
   Astounded, I asked why would it take six weeks.   
      
   The reply was that they were extremely busy. I told her I'm a senior citizen   
   (75 years) and could use the money. Her reply was "sorry"! I was there about   
   10 minutes at about 2 p.m., there was nobody else in the queue and there were   
   at least five other    
   staff members there chatting and having coffee.   
      
   During this same time period, I was "trying" to get a refund from Revenue   
   Canada on my 2014 taxes. On that year's return I hit the wrong box (Turbo Tax)   
   and got taxed on my gross rental income and not on the net rental income. Very   
   easy to verify,    
   especially when CRA has all my documentation. They received my amended tax   
   return on Dec.14, 2016.    
      
   I made numerous calls (that's when I could get through on their phone system)   
   starting February 2017. Promises, excuses,etc. (most of the times they are   
   extremely busy). Seems I heard "extremely busy" before. As you are well aware   
   the CRA phone system    
   and their service were headlines in the news media. I was one who got trapped   
   in their mess. It took them ten months to finally send me my refund!   
      
   I spent over 40 years in the mining industry, three years on a railway project   
   in Africa. By profession I'm an accountant. Before I retired I was the   
   administration superintendent at Huckleberry Mines southwest of Houston.   
   Accounting and human resources    
   were my responsibility. We had 220+ employees, all payroll including head   
   office employees was done at site, all purchasing and payments was done at   
   site. On the accounting side I had two employees in addition to myself.    
      
   I need someone to tell me why it takes the city six weeks to get a cheque out   
   and why the CRA needs 10 months?   
      
   I don't always agree with Conrad Black's articles but I'm with him on the   
   public sector being "underworked, overpaid, over pensioned and over   
   unionized." I'm not sure about the "over unionized' being part of his   
   statement but he has had articles on this.   
      
   I enjoy your editorials but as with Conrad Black's do not always agree. I   
   value other people's opinions and it makes for interesting conversations.   
   During my career I started out as a union member before getting my degree and   
   going into management. I    
   learned there are two sides to every story and it also helped me to be more   
   understanding.    
      
   Should I wait to hear the City and CRA's side? At my age I have to admit my   
   patience is wearing out.   
      
   Frank Zubek   
   Prince George   
      
      
   -----------------------------------------------------------    
   Miss a Tax Tale Miss a lot!    
   Pop the link below into your browser to view the entire CRA SOTW    
   Library!    
   http://canada.revenue.agency.angelfire.com    
   ------------------------------------------------------------    
   Alan Baggett - http://www.taxcollectorsbible.com/ - Tax Collector's Bible    
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)