Appeal Process.

Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) Requests

You may want to submit a request to access all documentation related to the CRA assessment process. All documents should be provided, even emails if the CRA assessor queried CRA legal or utilized medical advisors in the determination of eligibility. Be sure to include all personal information, including your S.I.N. with your request as follows:

  1. Any and all information, including but not limited to: notes, electronic and written, in the audit and assessment of my T2201 application by all reviewers of the application file. 
     
  2. A copy of the answers provided by my qualified medical practitioner Dr. XXXX in regard to the CRA request for additional information from (state month and year). I have not been advised if medical advisors at CRA headquarters reviewed this application, but if so, I request their report as well.  As is within the Access to Information and Privacy statute, I am requesting that you ensure all email communications in the review of my original application for eligibility for the disability tax credit be included within this request.  I request any such email or other requested documents in their entirety, including all related reports and instructions and attachments.

The filing fee is $5 and the cheque or money order made out to the Receiver General of Canada should accompany the letter to:

Canada Revenue Agency
Access to Information and Privacy Coordinator
555 MacKenzie Avenue, 5th Floor
Ottawa ON K1A 0L5

Please note: You can also submit your request online and you will need proof of ID, such as a driver’s licence or passport and a credit card to make the payment.  

Objection

If you do not agree with the reason(s) to disallow the  Disability Tax Credit  (DTC), you may register a formal complaint by filing an Objection to have the decision reviewed by the Appeals Branch of the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). The Objection must be filed with the regional tax office of CRA within 90 days of the date of the Notice of Assessment disallowing the tax credit. A letter is also acceptable. Provide the reasons for your Objection, along with all of the pertinent information, including name, address, phone number, Social Insurance Number, and taxation year(s) under appeal. Stress the disabling effects of your "prolonged and severe impairment" with as much detail as possible. Attach copies of any supporting medical documents. Also, include a copy of the Notice of Determination. If the DTC was granted in previous years, include this information. Keep copies of all correspondence. 

Note: Residents with a Postal Code starting with letters A to P may send their objection to the Eastern Intake Centre, and residents with a Postal Code starting with the letters R to Y may send their objection to the Western Intake Centre.

Western Intake Centre
Vancouver Tax Service Office
9737 King George Boulevard
PO Box 9070, Station Main
Surrey BC  V3T 5W6

Eastern Intake Centre
Sudbury Tax Service Office
1050 Notre-Dame Avenue
Sudbury ON  P3A 5C1

Note: If you did not file your objection on time because of circumstances beyond your control, you can apply for a time extension by writing to the Chief of Appeals at your Appeals Intake Centre  or by using the My Account online services. You will need to explain why you did not file your objection on time and enclose your objection. Apply as soon as possible, but the application must be made within one year after the expiration of the time limit to file an objection.)

You will receive one of two letters:

Notice of Appeal

A Notice of Appeal must be filed with the Tax Court of Canada within 90 days of the date of the Notice of Confirmation from CRA. A letter is also acceptable under the Informal Procedure.

(Note: If you have missed the deadline, because of circumstances beyond your control, you also have up to one year to file an application requesting an extension to file the appeal. Provide details of your case, the reason why you need an extension and a copy of the Letter of Confirmation. Send your letter to The Tax Court of Canada, 200 Kent Street, Ottawa, ON K1A 0M1.)

Provide the reasons for your appeal in detail along with all of the pertinent information including your name, address, phone number, Social Insurance Number and taxation year(s) under appeal, the date of the Letter of Confirmation and the name of the agent or lawyer if you have someone acting on your behalf. Submit the original and two copies of the Notice of Appeal to the Tax Court in your area.

When you file the Notice of Appeal, you are identified as the Appellant and can be represented by an agent such as a relative or friend if you do not wish to represent yourself or you may retain a lawyer. (If you are represented by an agent or lawyer, you will need to inform the Tax Court by letter.)

The following steps have been summarized. Visit Tax Court of Canada Rules for the Informal Procedure or call 1-800-927-5499 if you have any questions.

You may also find the following document useful: Preparing and Arguing a Tax Appeal: Pracitical Tips.

Respondent's Reply

The lawyer acting on acting on behalf of the Department of Justice must file the Respondent's Reply to the Notice of Appeal within 60 days outlining the facts CRA relies on for its assessment, along with statutory provisions supporting its assessment. Generally speaking, the Reply sets out which facts in the Notice of Appeal that CRA admits to and which facts the CRA denies.

The Answer

The Appellant must file the Answer with the Tax Court within 30 days. Although it is not mandatory to file an Answer, it provides you with an opportunty to identify new facts in light of the Reply from CRA.

Hearing

After you have received a Notice of Hearing with the date and location, the CRA lawyer will be contacting you.

If you have evidence to present, provide copies of all documents, including copies of relevant Tax Court cases, to the lawyer at least a week prior to the Hearing so that he/she will have an opportunity to review your evidence. You will also need two additional sets of copies of all documents for the Judge and the recording secretary at the time of the Hearing.

Consent to Judgement

If the lawyer acting on behalf of CRA is not confident that he or she has a solid case, you will be contacted with a settlement offer and asked to accept the Consent to Judgment acknowledging your entitlement to the DTC for the taxation year(s) in dispute.