G6 Consulting Inc Canada's R&D Tax Credit Experts
How the CRA Strike will Impact the SR&ED Tax Credit Program
The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) went on strike on Wednesday, April 19, 2023, at 12:01 am. This strike has raised concerns among businesses involved in the Scientific Research & Experimental Development (SR&ED) tax credit program. In this blog post, we’ll discuss how the strike may impact the SR&ED program and what to expect during this period.
Summary
The PSAC strike will not directly impact the evaluation and review process of the SR&ED tax credit program, as SR&ED-specific personnel are not part of the striking union. The primary concern lies in potential delays at tax centers in processing SR&ED claims. Automated processes remain unaffected, and the strike is expected to be short-lived. Stay tuned for updates on the situation and any potential changes in the SR&ED tax credit program during the strike. For more detail, read the complete article below
SR&ED Specific Personnel Unaffected by the Strike
First, it’s essential to note that the SR&ED-specific personnel within the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), including Research and Technology Advisors (RTAs) and Financial Reviewers (FRs), are not part of the union which is striking. This means that the evaluation of SR&ED claims, determination of reviews or acceptances, and the conducting of SR&ED reviews will continue as usual during the strike.
Potential Delays at Tax Centers
After the SR&ED-specific personnel have completed their evaluation, the claims are sent to the tax center for processing. It is currently unclear if tax centers will process SR&ED claims during the strike. G6 Consulting Inc reached out to a SR&ED local office on Wednesday afternoon and received information from someone in the SR&ED department that they are uncertain if the tax center will have employees working rotationally, on an emergency basis, or not at all.
CRA Business Tax Enquiries Phone Line Closed
The Business Tax Enquiries phone line is closed during the strike, which means that businesses and individuals who have questions about their SR&ED claims may not receive immediate assistance.
For updates on the status of your SR&ED claim, we recommend calling your local SR&ED office. You will be required to leave a voicemail, then within 48 hours you will receive a call back and be able to check on the status of your SR&ED claim.
Here is a link which lists all CRA SR&ED local offices: LINK
Automated Processes Unaffected
It’s worth mentioning that automated processes already processed by the tax center, such as mail and email notifications and scheduled direct deposits, are not affected by the strike. These processes will continue to occur as planned.
Short Duration Expected
The strike is not expected to last long, which means that any potential impact on the SR&ED tax credit program should be relatively short-lived.
G6 Consulting can work with you to build your claim, co-ordinate with your accountant, submit your claim and get you your cheque. No cost until you get paid
Check our our SR&ED overview page to learn more about SR&ED and how to qualify
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