Filing your taxes shouldn’t be this difficult

Each year at tax time, constituents contact me to share their concerns. This year, I am hearing far more frustration than usual about how difficult it has become for some people—particularly seniors—to file their taxes.

April 30, 2026 is the deadline for most Canadians to file their income taxes. While many Canadians now file online, that reality does not apply to everyone. For those without reliable internet access, a printer, or confidence using online systems, the tax‑filing process has become more complicated and, in some cases, discouraging.

For decades, paper tax packages were mailed automatically and could be completed at home. That system worked reasonably well for many Canadians. Today, as the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) continues its shift toward digital services, paper filing still exists, but accessing the required forms and information takes more effort and is often less straightforward.

I am also hearing concerns about access to help. Volunteer‑run tax clinics play an important role in many communities but are frequently short‑staffed during peak tax season. At the same time, reaching the CRA by phone can involve long wait times. For someone on a fixed income using a pay‑as‑you‑go cell phone, spending two or three hours on hold can be both upsetting and expensive.

My office has also seen an uptick in frustration with the CRA’s process for accessing My CRA Account. Some people report being locked out despite following all required steps. Others complete identity verification as instructed, only to find that—for reasons that are not clearly explained—they still cannot access their account.

Many describe spending hours on hold, only to be told to repeat the same steps that have already failed. By the time someone contacts my office, they have usually exhausted every other reasonable option. It is therefore understandably frustrating to learn that CRA policy treats My CRA account access issues as matters that must be resolved directly by the taxpayer, and that the CRA will not respond to Member of Parliament inquiries on these issues. In practice, people are often referred back to the same instructions that did not work in the first place.

To me, this is an area that needs to change. Either the system must be improved, or Members of Parliament should be allowed to make inquiries when constituents are clearly stuck through no fault of their own.

When constituents ask my office for help with tax‑related matters, I also want to be clear about what we can and cannot do. My office does not prepare or file tax returns on behalf of constituents. Nor can we direct the CRA to take specific actions, as it operates independently at arm’s length under tax laws passed by Parliament.

What we can do—with your permission—is make inquiries with the CRA when there is a delay, error, or unresolved issue affecting your file. Before my staff or I can do so, written consent is required. Tax records contain highly personal financial information, and the CRA is legally obligated to protect it. This is the same authorization process used when someone hires an accountant or tax preparer.

Without clear, written consent, the CRA will not discuss a person’s tax file with anyone, including Members of Parliament. While this can feel like an extra step—particularly for those without easy access to a smartphone, printer, or internet—it exists for a straightforward reason: no one should be able to access your tax information without your explicit permission. My office routinely assists constituents with this consent process, while respecting these important privacy safeguards.

As your Member of Parliament, my role is to represent you, identify where systems are falling short, and assist where possible. That is also why I continue to send paper communications to households and invite written responses. Many Canadians still prefer to review information on paper and share their views that way, and I believe that option matters.

This week, I would like to hear directly from you.

How are you filing your taxes this year? What is working well, and what is not?

Your feedback helps inform the work I do on your behalf. You are welcome to share your thoughts on my Facebook page, or contact me at Dan.Albas@parl.gc.ca or toll‑free at 1‑800‑665‑8711.