Natural disasters do not pay attention to tax deadlines; they can strike any time. This year, Canadians in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario are battling flood waters and are focused on dealing with their homes and families. In response, the Canada Revenue Agency is offering some understanding for those caught off-guard by this natural disaster.
If you missed the filing deadline or need to make a tax payment, you can apply under taxpayer relief provisions to request that penalties and interest be waived or cancelled. You need to complete a RC4288 Request for Taxpayer Relief and submit it to the CRA. Each request is reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
The taxpayer relief provisions may be used if you are affected by uncontrollable weather events such as tornadoes, flooding, landslides, hurricanes or forest fires caused by lightning strikes. The Taxpayer Relief Provisions do apply in other situations but those must be beyond your control in order to qualify.
An application does not always lead to relief but, if you think you qualify, it is worth filing the form with the CRA.