In responding to a question as to where and why bank and credit card statements are required in CRA’s audits of individuals and shareholders, CRA stated:
In the case of a sole proprietorship or a corporation with one or few shareholders, there may be a commingling of business and personal funds. Therefore, when conducting indirect reviews, auditors also request personal financial information from other individuals including the spouse or common-law partner of the sole proprietor, shareholder or any person who contributes financially to the household income and expenses or lives in the same residence as the sole proprietor or shareholder.
The authority to request the personal bank statements of the shareholder and other persons named above is set out in, inter alia, subsection 231.1(1). That provision allows the CRA to inspect, audit or examine the books and records of other persons to the extent that information in those books or records could relate to information that is or should be in the books or records of the taxpayer who is the subject of the inspection, audit or examination.