Principal Issues: The taxpayer suggests that the CRA's Web site needs improvement and the Income Tax Act should be made less complex.
Position: The CRA is making changes to its Web site to enhance accessibility for persons with disabilities, to improve usability, and to modify its visual appeal. Concerns about the complexity of the Income Tax Act relate to tax policy, which is the responsibility of the Department of Finance Canada.
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Dear XXXXXXXXXX :
Thank you for your correspondence of July 31, 2011, regarding our Web site.
As my predecessor, the Honourable Keith Ashfield, wrote in his response to you of September 29, 2010, we are constantly striving to improve the quality of our Web site and to provide taxpayers and benefit recipients with information and forms that are technically correct and easy to find, understand, and use. In the coming weeks, we will begin making changes to our Web site to enhance accessibility for persons with disabilities, to improve usability, and to modify its visual appeal. The views that users of our Web site express are very important to us, and your continued feedback is appreciated.
The Canada Revenue Agency is responsible for administering the current tax legislation as passed by Parliament. Your concerns about the complexity of the Income Tax Act relate to tax policy, which is the responsibility of the Department of Finance Canada. Any changes to the tax legislation must be proposed by the Minister of Finance and approved by Parliament. I am therefore forwarding a copy of our correspondence to the Honourable James M. Flaherty, Minister of Finance, for his consideration.
I trust that my comments and the referral are helpful.
Yours sincerely,
Gail Shea, P.C., M.P.
c.c.: The Honourable James M. Flaherty, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Finance
House of Commons
Ottawa ON K1A 0A6