CRA answered several questions about s. 163(1):
- A taxpayer who does not file a return cannot be subject to s. 163(1) penalties for the relevant taxation year.
- The potential of s. 220(3.1) penalties to drastically and unfairly exceed s. 163 penalties (discussed in Knight, for example) has been brought to the Department of Finance's attention several times.
- "The CRA does not routinely afford taxpayers the opportunity to make submissions on due diligence before a section 163(1) penalty is assessed." Such submissions will typically be considered at the objections stage.