Most common tax issues allow the taxpayer ninety days to file a notice of objection, which initiates the CRA’s formal dispute resolution mechanism. In most (but not all) cases, the CRA provides an additional one-year within which to request an extension of time to file an objection may be filed. Taxpayers must meet some conditions for the CRA to grant these requests, although the CRA is generally quite generous in allowing these extensions.
However, beyond this one-year period, CRA does not have discretion to allow extensions, virus or no virus. After that point, it can be possible for the CRA to address some tax issues through filing an amended return or requesting an adjustment. A lapsed objection deadline makes obtaining adjustments much more difficult.
Over the next few months, it may significant additional time for the CRA to confirm receipt of any objection and/or allow extension requests. In light of this, taxpayers should be particularly careful about maintaining records of the date they submit objections.