About the Taxpayer Bill of Rights

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) operates on the fundamental belief that you are more likely to comply with the law if you have the information and other services that you need to meet your obligations. These obligations may include paying taxes or providing information.

We want to make sure you receive all of your entitlements and that you understand and can exercise your rights. We describe and define these rights in the RC17, Taxpayer Bill of Rights Guide: Understanding your rights as a taxpayer.

The Taxpayer Bill of Rights describes and defines 16 rights and builds upon the CRA's corporate values. It describes the treatment you are entitled to when you deal with the CRA. You can expect that the CRA will serve you with high standards of accuracy, professionalism, courteousness, and fairness. The Taxpayer Bill of Rights also sets out the CRA Commitment to Small Business to ensure their interactions with the CRA are conducted as efficiently and effectively as possible.

Commitment to Small Business

In addition to the 16 rights that apply to all taxpayers, the Taxpayer Bill of Rights also has a five-part Commitment to Small Business. The five commitments made to small business acknowledge their importance as the engine of growth in the Canadian economy. These commitments also complement the Government's pledge to create a competitive, dynamic, business environment in which Canadian businesses will thrive. They recognize the role the Canada Revenue Agency can play in minimizing the compliance burden, specifically the amount of paperwork involved in complying with the tax system.