Most CRA auditors polled say Canada's tax system is skewed to protect the wealthy

The new PIPSC poll traces many of the CRA's problems to massive cuts in 2012
under the Conservative government of Stephen Harper

A new survey of more than 1,700 tax professionals at CRA suggests agency lacks tools to make the rich pay

A union-sponsored survey of more than 1,700 auditors and other tax professionals who work for the Canada Revenue Agency suggests that even the insiders believe the cards are stacked in favour of the rich.

Nine out of 10 surveyed agreed with this statement: "It is easier for corporations and wealthy individuals to evade and/or avoid tax responsibilities than it is for average Canadians." That's according to a summary of results released by the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC), which conducted the poll.

More than eight out of 10 of those polled agreed that "tax credits, tax exemptions, and tax loopholes disproportionately benefit corporations and wealthy Canadians compared to average Canadians." And 45 per cent agreed that CRA's mandate has been "compromised by political interference" (the survey did not define the term, leaving it up to members to interpret).

The online survey, conducted between Feb. 20 and March 6, included managers, forensic accountants, economists, statisticians and actuaries — the tax professionals who generally are assigned to the accounts of large corporations and the wealthy, rather than those of average taxpayers and small businesses.

"Nobody knows better how income from all sources is assessed and turned into tax revenue," says the poll summary.

"These responses validate the widely held belief that those with the means are able to shirk their tax responsibilities while everyone else is left to pick up the slack."  (more...)

Most CRA auditors polled say Canada's tax system is skewed to protect the wealthy

More coverage:

Canada's Tax System Is Rigged To Help The Rich, 9 In 10 CRA Professionals Say