What to expect when the Canada Revenue Agency calls you

What to expect when the Canada Revenue Agency calls you
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It is possible that the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) will contact you by phone for legitimate tax reasons.

During such phone calls, the CRA officer must validate your identity and therefore will ask for certain personal information, including your date of birth, your address, and in the case of a business some account specific details.

CRA MAY The CRA officials will act with professionalism and will not be aggressive or make threats. To help you identify possible scams, use the following guidelines:
CRA WILL NOT ask for information about your passport, health card, or driver’s licence
CRA MAY validate your identity by asking for certain personal information, including your full name, date of birth, your address and, in the case of a business, details about your account
CRA WILL NOT request personal information by email
CRA MAY notify you by email when new mail is available for you to view in CRA secure portals such as My Account, My Business Account or Represent a Client
CRA WILL NOT email you a link requesting you fill in an online form with personal or financial details
CRA MAY email you a link to a CRA webpage, form, or publication in response to your telephone enquiry
CRA WILL NOT send you a link to your refund by email or text message
CRA MAY send you a notice of assessment or re-assessment by mail or notify you by email when it is available to view in My Account, My Business Account, or Represent a Client
CRA WILL NOT setup an in-person meeting in a public place to take a payment
CRA MAY ask for financial information such as the name of your bank and its location
CRA WILL NOT demand immediate payment by prepaid credit card
CRA MAY request payment for a tax debt through any of the CRA’s payment options
CRA WILL NOT threaten with immediate arrest or prison sentence
CRA MAY take legal action to recover the money you owe if you refuse to pay your debt