News release

Tax officials kick off national Small Business Week with a campaign of information visits for small business

October 20, 2003... Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (CCRA) officials are taking tax information to the streets with the launch of a week of community visits targeted to small business.

The information blitz will be conducted by representatives from tax services offices (TSO) in every region across the country and is scheduled to coincide with national Small Business Week, which runs from October 20 to October 24. Nationally, the goal is to visit 4,600 businesses in 59 communities.

The purpose of these information visits is to ensure that business owners are aware of the information and services available to them from their nearest TSO. During the community visit, TSO representatives will provide information and answer questions on topics such as filling out tax forms, filing on time, and helping business owners access any further information they need from the CCRA. These visits reflect the CCRA's belief that, given the right information and the right services, individuals and businesses will comply with Canada's tax laws.

In addition to providing assistance and information, the information visits ensure that businesses are aware of the importance of voluntary compliance with tax laws in order to combat the underground economy and thereby level the playing field. The underground economy is often associated with the exchange of goods and services for cash where no records are kept. For those individuals and businesses who choose not to comply with the law, the CCRA will take the appropriate enforcement action.

CCRA is committed to ensuring that the public can trust the integrity and equity of the tax system. Agency officials promote voluntary compliance with the law by providing information and services, informing Canadians of the risks associated with the underground economy, and taking appropriate measures against those who do not pay their fair share of taxes.

The community visits program is an ongoing outreach initiative. This is the first time visits have been coordinated to take place during the same week across the country.

This document is also available for download in .pdf format.

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