Canada Revenue Agency faces a make-or-break tax season

The CRA enters the 2026 filing season after two years of disrupted tax rules and last-minute policy reversals; Ottawa rolled out a 100-day plan and staffing and digital changes to reduce call-centre delays and improve online services.

The 2026 tax season is being framed as a critical test for the Canada Revenue Agency after recent years of policy and operational problems. Complex new rules on bare trusts and vacant homes were suspended or rewritten after causing confusion, and a late reversal on a proposed capital‑gains change added further disruption. Finance Minister François‑Philippe Champagne announced a 100‑day plan last September aimed at reducing call‑centre delays and improving service standards. The CRA has increased staffing and introduced new digital self‑service options ahead of the filing season. Key developments: - Two prior filing seasons were disrupted: bare‑trust and vacant‑home rules prompted rewrites or suspensions, and a late capital‑gains reversal caused further uncertainty. - The finance minister’s 100‑day plan led the CRA to boost call‑centre staffing and expand digital self‑help tools, including online account reset and updated registration guidance. - The CRA reported that answered incoming calls rose from about 35% to about 70% after staff cuts were reversed, but peak‑time performance remains to be seen. - The federal Auditor‑General found that CRA agents provided incorrect information in roughly 30% of cases in a prior report, and accuracy concerns persist alongside operational fixes. Summary: The CRA has put staffing and digital changes in place ahead of the upcoming filing season and officials say these steps are meant to reduce wait times and make online tasks easier. The agency’s reported improvements will be tested during peak filing periods, while reported accuracy issues with call‑centre answers remain a notable concern. Undetermined at this time.