Behind on Your Taxes? We Help You Catch Up

If you haven’t filed your personal taxes, corporate returns, GST/HST, or payroll remittances for years, you’re not alone!

Thousands of Canadians fall behind every year due to illness, stress, overwhelm, or life circumstances. The good news? We can help you fix it!

At TaxHelp.ca, we specialize in resolving long-term tax delinquency and helping clients regain good standing with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

Whether you’re behind by a single year or over a decade, we have the tools, team, and expertise to help.

What Happens If You Don’t File Your Tax Returns?

When you ignore CRA filing demands, they may issue an Arbitrary or Notional Assessment, an estimate of what you owe based on limited (often inflated) data. These assessments:

• Exceed what you would owe, if you had filed your tax returns
• Trigger Collections enforcement like wage garnishments or bank freezes
• Accumulate interest and penalties from the date of assessment
• Are only reversible if you file your real tax returns within a limited time frame

What Is an Arbitrary Assessment?

An Arbitrary Assessment (also called a Notional Assessment) is when CRA files a tax return on your behalf, without your participation. This may be issued for:

• Personal tax returns (T1)
• Corporate returns (T2)
• Trust returns (T3)
• GST/HST filings
• Payroll remittances

Once assessed, your file is transferred to CRA Collections, and you’ll be treated as any other debtor, regardless of the true amount owed..

Filing Multiple Years of Unfiled Returns

We’ve helped hundreds of Canadians file 5, 10, or even 15 years of back tax returns. Filing multiple years is not just about tax forms, it requires strategy:

• CRA may process late-filed returns out of order
• We optimize for RRSP carryforwards, loss carrybacks, HBP repayments, and deduction timing
• We coordinate with CRA Non-Filer and Collections Officers to pause enforcement during filing

No Records? No Problem – We Rebuild Your Tax History

Many individuals delay filing because they’ve lost key documents or never maintained proper records. Whether it’s due to:

• A business shutdown or bankruptcy
• Fire, theft, or flood
• Personal hardship or illness
• Long-term avoidance or procrastination

We’ve seen it all and we know how to help!

At TaxHelp.ca, we use a variety of tools and techniques to reconstruct your income and expenses, including:

• CRA’s internal slips (T4s, T5s, etc.) and third-party info
• Bank and credit card statements
• Estimates based on prior years, industry averages, or business activity
• Affidavits, supplier summaries, and vendor records
• CRA-requested proxy methods (e.g., gross margin calculations)

You don’t need perfect documentation. You just need a professional team that knows how to file credible, defensible tax returns based on what’s available.

Filing, even an incomplete return, is always better than avoiding the CRA. It may reduce your tax bill, stop interest and penalties from growing, and open the door to programs like Voluntary Disclosures or Taxpayer Relief.

Can I Go to Jail for Unfiled Taxes?

While not filing taxes is technically a criminal offense, incarceration is extremely rare for non-filers.

The CRA prioritizes compliance, not punishment. Voluntary filing is encouraged, especially under the Voluntary Disclosures Program, which can eliminate prosecution and reduce penalties.

Is There a Time Limit to File Back Taxes?

Yes, here is why:

• Corporate returns: The CRA has 3 years from the date of assessment to reassess. After that, the return is statute-barred
• Personal returns: Returns older than 10 years are generally not accepted unless there’s evidence of fraud or misrepresentation.

The longer you wait, the more limited your options become.

How We Help You Catch Up on Taxes

At TaxHelp.ca, we provide end-to-end support to resolve unfiled tax situations, no matter how far behind you are. Here’s how we help:

1. Review Your CRA Account and Filing History

With your authorization, we access your CRA account to identify:

• Missing tax years
• Slips already on file (T4s, T5s, etc.)
• Any arbitrary assessments or enforcement actions

2. Communicate with CRA on Your Behalf

We act as your authorized representative with the CRA. This allows us to:

• Handle all communications with CRA agents on your behalf
• Request extensions or holds on collections or enforcement
• Liase with CRA Non-Filer or Collections Officers to prevent escalation

3. Rebuild Lost or Incomplete Records

Missing documents? No problem. We reconstruct your income and expenses using:

• CRA-provided slip data
• Bank statements and credit card reports
• Supplier and client records
• Industry benchmarks or reasonable estimates

We build credible, audit-proof returns even with incomplete records..

4. Assess Eligibility for the Voluntary Disclosures Program (VDP)

If your non-filing was voluntary (i.e., the CRA hasn’t detected the non-compliance), we may be able to:

• Submit a Voluntary Disclosure
• Eliminate penalties
• Prevent criminal prosecution
• Significantly reduce interest charges

We’ll handle the entire submission and make sure it meets the CRA’s strict criteria.

5. Apply for Taxpayer Relief if You Qualify

If your non-compliance was due to hardship such as illness, loss, or mental health challenges, we assess your eligibility for Taxpayer Relief, which can:

• Waive or cancel interest
• Waive late-filing penalties
• Improve your financial recovery after compliance

We draft detailed, evidence-backed applications on your behalf.

6. Help You Resolve or Settle Any CRA Debt

Once your returns are filed, our support does not end there.
We help you:

• Set up affordable payment plans
• Negotiate with CRA collections
• Monitor for reassessments or enforcement risks
• Refer you to a licensed trustee for a consumer proposal

We’ll guide you through next steps to help you stay compliant and out of the CRA’s crosshairs.

Ready to Get Back on Track?

We’ve helped hundreds of Canadians with tax situations just like yours.