The CBC Goes Out of its Way to Cover Up for the CRA EH?

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-revenue-agency-paycheques-writeoffs-salary-clawed-back-1.4068087

Canada Revenue Agency grapples with 'phantom' worker pay

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 Artie Gibson

Anyone wonder about this >>, and why nothing was ever done about the alleged corruption?

>> www.cbc.ca/news/canada/blogs/montreal-revenue-canada-corruption-feared

David Raymond Amos

@Artie Gibson Perhaps you should Google David Amos Bank Fraud and see old documents on mine published on the Internet way back (not by me) and you may understand the corruption problem goes to the very top of the system's food chain.

David Raymond Amos

@Artie Gibson I you want to go deeper Google David Amos KPMG RCMP

 
Morsel Low

So the CRA wll write off payments sent to their former employees, but they go after the little piddly amounts owed by Canadians, never mind that they don't actively go after the rich that owe far more. There needs to be a total overhaul of the CRA, and it needs to start at the top...how much did the top dogs at the CRA get for bonus' siting a good job done?

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David Raymond Amos

@Morsel Low FYI The CRA killed my SIN years ago and did not much care untill I had to fight tooth and nail to get MY CPP. The CROWN has also stopped me fro renewing my drivers licence and even denied my getting Health Care card Now that the CROWN is trying to stop my receiving my old age pension while they cover up their own fraud and incompetence? Methinks I should sue the CROWN AGAIN ASAP.

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David Raymond Amos

@David Raymond Amos Why is it that I was not surprised that CBC blocked me out of the gate?

David Raymond Amos

@Morsel Low Methinks CBC and the CRA and two lawyers in particular should check their Twitter accounts and my blog ASAP N'esy Pas Minister Melanie Joly and Hubby Baby lacroix?

Darren MacDonald

@David Raymond Amos I'm sure they are on it already. It's on their priorty list for "must do" today.

David Raymond Amos

@Darren MacDonald Talk is cheap in CBC for Judges and the CRA

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/chief-justice-slams-federal-government-court-vacancies-1.4068702

But for certain lawyers May 24th is coming fast N'esy Pas?

http://cas-cdc-www02.cas-satj.gc.ca/IndexingQueries/infp_RE_info_e.php?court_no=A-48-16&select_court=All

http://cas-cdc-www02.cas-satj.gc.ca/IndexingQueries/infp_RE_info_e.php?court_no=T-1557-15&select_court=All

Hugh MacDonald

@Tarl Cabbot

"...those unlucky enough to be born outside of privilege, are near worthless fodder to the money making machine"

Fortunately ol' Justin was just the product of the working class.

Oh, wait a second...

David Raymond Amos

@Tarl Cabbot Methinks the top dogs in the CRA should read deeper in this thread

  

Mack MacEven

The Phoenix pay system is a problem made entirely by Liberal mismanagement.

If you are trying to decide who to vote for, Liberal or Conservative consider this:

Rob Ford lowered taxes, balanced the city budget, improved services and saved Toronto from bankruptcy.

This proves that even a Tory with drug addiction and alcohol problem can run things better than a sober Liberal with an enormous ego.

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David Raymond Amos

@Mack MacEven What planet are you from?

David Raymond Amos

@Mack MacEven I see that you are popular with CBC

Joseph Cluster

CRA giving a pass on their own employees seems to be a little bit of one sidedness. If the average wage earner out there had received $1.00 extra they'd be all over them with a penalty to boot.

David Raymond Amos

@Joseph Cluster I wonder how many Taxpayers are pissed off today

David Raymond Amos

@David Raymond Amos Whereas CBC unblocked this comment why not the rest as well?

Michael Geraldson

The CRA says "it has an automated system in place to reduce overpayments". Why doesn't it have a system in place to eliminate overpayments? Phoenix is a complete disaster!

David Raymond Amos

@Michael Geraldson How many CRA employees have you talked to that would tell you their name?

Dale Sullivan

@Michael Geraldson

The overpayments are not related to Phoenix which was implemented in April 2016. Overpayments happened before that..

David Raymond Amos

@Dale Sullivan A lot a folks don't seem to get that simple fact. Its strange to me that they would rather just slam the liberals instead of the CRA. Methinks liberal spin doctors should be concerned if the CRA is more popular than their political party particularly in tax season while liberals are explaining a big budget in the red, proposing carbon tax and arguing an omnibus bill that their leader promised not to use N'esy Pas?

 Ida Pomme

But when a working Canadian owes $20 in income tax, they will chase you and track you down and give you a fine.

 

David Raymond Amos

@Ida Pomme Perhaps folks should check my work in Federal Court

Jack Blackstone

@David Raymond Amos
Or maybe not

Or maybe not

David Raymond Amos

@Jack Blackstone FYI The CRA killed my SIN years ago and did not much care untill I had to fight tooth and nail to get MY CPP. The CROWN has also stopped me from renewing my drivers licence and even denied my getting a Health Care card Now that the CROWN is trying to stop my receiving my old age pension while they cover up their own fraud and incompetence? Methinks I should sue the CROWN AGAIN ASAP.

Carol Becker

I thought the problem was lack of training, then I read it is something eles. Now I read that the people incharge got bonus payments for a job well done. Unbelievable.

David Raymond Amos

@Carol Becker It seems to me that its just another case bureaucrats looking after bureaucrats with the complete knowledge that their temporary political bosses will never hold them accountable. No news there. However I must say that its kinda comical that CBC broke this story during tax season though.

 
David Green

This article not just speaks volumes of the people who are working in CRA, the article also tells the character of those who retired from CRA. Why didn't they return those cheques which clearly didn't belong to them?

David Raymond Amos

@David Green Have ever encountered anyone even remotely nice working with the CRA?

Neil Gregory

Always remember that Phoenix is just another one of Harper's many legacies to Canada.

Dwight Williams

@Neil Gregory

'There is NO SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE between them.'

So you'd be just as happy having Harper back again?

LOL

For all the empty wind, I'm betting not.

David Raymond Amos

@Neil Gregory At least Harper had a name and we could look up how much we were paying him. Who are these sneaky CRA employees who did not deserve to be paid and why are they not being prosecuted in Federal Court just like we are when we run afoul of the CRA?

Neil Gregory

@Dwight Williams

"So you'd be just as happy having Harper back again? "

How did you reach that conclusion?

David Raymond Amos

@Neil Gregory I was wondering about that statement as well.

Pierre Dupuis

@Harold Fitzgerald
BS
The old system had already been scrapped (before the Liberals had even taken office) for making place for the Phoenix system.
There was NO TURNING BACK.

Harper, the stink still remains...

David Raymond Amos

@Pierre Dupuis Methinks this story is about the corruption within the CRA not Harper's old mandate or Trudeau's for that matter

 

mo bennett

just more proof positive of the complete and total incompetence inflicted on Canadians by the government of this country! and it just doesn't matter which flavor they are because they are all the same when it comes to useless!

David Raymond Amos

@mo bennett "just more proof positive of the complete and total incompetence inflicted on Canadians by the government of this country"

Oh so true and who better to prove for us in April than their greedy minions in the CRA?

 

Robert Borden

$2.4 billion in payroll and they let things like off shore accounts to go free. We are definitely overpaying the CRA. Time for a complete overhaul.

David Raymond Amos

@Robert Borden That is the understatement of the year

David Raymond Amos

@David Raymond Amos Anybody but me notice at least one comment thread missing already?

Page is closed to commenting.

David Raymond Amos

@David Raymond Amos I stand corrected I found it

  

Star Shepherd

Well that is just a great big bucket of cow patties! I bet those phantom employees never even had to pay taxes on the free money that no doubt came out of hard working Canadians pockets. The government are all a bunch of crooks!

David Raymond Amos

@Star Shepherd I smell a lot of fertilizer from the male gender of that animal as well

Frank Jenkins

The Liberals were told it was not ready but again Trudeau being the Drama Teacher he is said put it in , then blame it on Harper so we can waste Billions more in cover up's you watch

Dale Sullivan

@Frank Jenkins

The overpayments were before the Phoenix system in April 2016.

David Raymond Amos

@Dale Sullivan I understood that as well

Karen Dodds

It is very interesting how the CRA can track down working Canadians if a mistake is made on our income, no matter how small the amount is but at the same time they cannot find millions of dollars in offshore accounts even though they are aware of them I.e KPMG. Now they cannot even administer a payroll system correctly. Have we become a country where our government is so unaccountable, it is easier to write off its mistakes than do the right thing for taxpayers.

David Raymond Amos

@Karen Dodds Try Googling my name and KPMG sometime

Bob Loblaw

This government is bleeding cash from every orifice.

David Raymond Amos

@Bob Loblaw Not really. From my perspective it is the taxpayers who are bleeding from the beating the government is serving upon them.

 
Mike Trout

Quickly now CBC, run some stories about "Dear Leader" Justins socks or his latest vacation in the sun as he is getting a bit of a (deserved) rough ride due to the Liberals incompetence. No doubt G.Butts will be texting you shortly..........along with a reminder about the $150,000,000 year bump in funding.

David Raymond Amos

@Mike Trout Remember last year when the PCO got an extra 600 grand to promote his sunny ways in Facebook etc?

https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/03/05/privy-council-office-wants-600000-more-to-update-trudeaus-website.html

 
Rob Winters

Strange they have no problem finding the extra $3.00 I owe

David Raymond Amos

@Rob Winters That is strange. How much was the fine?

  
John Gaunt

The cra, like every other government department, is infested with middle managers. A story about their incompetency is not surprising.

What is surprising about this event is the low dollar figure.

$2 million seems really low.

David Raymond Amos

@John Gaunt Seems like a lot of money to me particularly when considers how many beancounters work for the CRA. Their bookkeeping should be perfect.

 
Lisa Eato

Why the government agencies always have payroll issues under the Liberal’s governing?

Why Trudeau and his Liberals always have some kind of connection with the fraudsters and bribers ?

The answer is ----- The new Liberals are same as the old corrupt Liberals.

http://www.theprovince.com/news/local+news/panel+hears+about+company+used+alleged+fraudster+sponsor+lunch/13301406/story.html

David Raymond Amos

@Lisa Eato Perhaps you should read this article again?



 bill chagwich

being on the government pay roll systems bring you benefits with being un employed, and we all notice that the inept Trudeau liberals are now trying to push legislation where the PM only has to attend one day a week and then the MPs that want only 4 days or less work week, Canadian tax payer has never won against a government and never will TAX TAX

Pete Shartin

@ron snell

the Bombardier thing looks to be just another liberal kickback scam , the one exec is also a board member on the trudeau foundation and now there is investigations into corruption with liberal MPs having their travel paid by the trudeau foundation the whole thing stinks to high heaven corruption very similar to adscam

adscam part deux

David Raymond Amos

@Pete Shartin Anytime one sees the word "Foundation" associated with a politician's name it should be painfully obvious that nothing ethical is going on.

 
Juan Perry

Unfortunately it wasn't their money they 'wrote off'. It was ours. And on that note... Get It Back!

David Raymond Amos

@Juan Perry I agree

  

Fred Volkman

Horse hockey.
Anyone cashing a cheque or receiving e transfers for payroll and not returning it to a current or former employer is guilty of fraud.
Have the RCMP visit each and everyone of these people and suggest they have 60 days to return the money otherwise they will be charged with fraud.
Taxpayes should not be asked to "write off" any or all of $2 million issued in error but not earned,

David Raymond Amos

@Fred Volkman I CRA can simply suck it out of their bank accounts just like they do to the rest of us. The RCMP are too fat dumb and happy being allowed to protest without their yellow stripes to bother doing anything remotely ethical on behalf of the taxpayers who pay their salaries and cover their pension plans.

Canada Revenue Agency grapples with 'phantom' worker pay

CRA trying to collect $2M in paycheques mistakenly sent to former employees

By Dean Beeby, CBC News Posted: Apr 16, 2017 5:00 AM ET 

The Canada Revenue Agency is trying to claw back some $2 million in paycheques it erroneously sent to people who don't work there. (CBC)

Call them the phantom tax collectors.

They're the thousands of Canadians who received paycheques from the Canada Revenue Agency, even though they're not actually on the payroll.

It's a $2-million headache for the agency, which is responding partly by writing off the erroneous payments and letting those phantom workers keep the cash.

The CRA last year wrote off more than 40,000 payments it mistakenly sent to Canadians who are not on the payroll. (Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press)

The problem has persisted since at least 1999, yet the agency continues to send out paycheques to people who once worked at the CRA, but then left for various reasons.

The federal Treasury Board rapped the agency last year for the shoddy payroll practice, noting that about half of the erroneous payments had not been clawed back after more than a year.

"CRA is encouraged to actively pursue the collection of its accounts receivables and when the debts are deemed uncollectible, timely action should be taken for the writeoff, remission, forgiveness, or waiving of debts," says an April 2016 document obtained by CBC News under the Access to Information Act.

$40,752 in writeoffs

The agency last year wrote off $40,752 in salary overpayments, the highest level since 2011. That helped whittle down the overpayment inventory to about $1.9 million in 2015-16, from about $2.3 million the year before. (The 2016-17 overpayment inventory level will be reported next month.)

"The CRA continues to administer long-term recovery methods to receive salary overpayments for inactive employees," the agency said in response to Treasury Board's criticism.

The federal government has come under fire in recent months for its wonky Phoenix payroll system, whose signature failure is the withholding of salaries from actual workers who earned their paycheques.

The CRA payroll problem is the mirror image — sending paycheques to non-workers — and is unrelated to the Phoenix boondoggle. The agency migrated part of its compensation system to Phoenix only in April 2016, and the overpayment problem pre-dates the changeover.

'The CRA recognizes the seriousness of this issue.' - Agency spokesperson Lise Newton

The agency was first confronted with its phantom worker issue in October 2008, when an internal audit found there was $3 million outstanding in these undeserved salary payments. The 2008 audit triggered a wave of writeoffs, some $234,000 worth of erroneous payments declared uncollectible over the next three years.

At the time, the agency had about 43,000 workers, a level that has been trimmed to about 40,000 today — that is, a smaller payroll with slightly fewer paycheques to go astray.

"The CRA recognizes the seriousness of this issue and is committed to improving the way it handles these cases," agency spokesperson Lise Newton said in an email, noting that the annual payroll is $2.4 billion and the missing money but a fraction of the total.

Automated system

"Salary overpayments … most often are the result of late notice of an employee going on leave without pay or leaving the CRA," she said.

"The CRA now has an automated system in place to reduce overpayments.… This has reduced the amount of overpayments over the past few years."

CRA officials say they have new systems in place to reduce the number of paycheques they cut by accident for 'phantom' workers. (CRA)

The agency has also said salary overpayments are sometimes the result of the death of an employee, or unexpected leave without pay because of illness or family emergencies.

Newton said the CRA can collect amounts owing by ex-workers by withholding money from pension payments, severance payments, and even through tax-refund setoffs where the money is clawed back from any tax refunds owed to individuals.

Follow @DeanBeeby on Twitter