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ARTICLE · 21 DECEMBER 2017

CRA Releases New Guidelines For GST Voluntary Disclosures

Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
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On December 13, 2017, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) released a revised update of its memorandum on the GST/HST voluntary disclosure program (VDP).

CanadaTax
Alan Kenigsberg
Alan Kenigsberg
Alain Fournier
Alain Fournier
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Background

On December 13, 2017, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) released a revised update of its memorandum on the GST/HST voluntary disclosure program (VDP). The new document, GST/HST Memorandum 16-5 "Voluntary Disclosures Program" (the Revised VDP Policy), replaces a draft memorandum released June 16, 2017 (the June Draft) that had attracted considerable criticism. The Revised VDP Policy is definitely an improvement on the June Draft, though it is substantially similar in effect to the June Draft, still has many problems, and will likely be of limited benefit to large corporations or sophisticated registrants.  

What has improved

As with the June Draft, in the Revised VDP Policy, the CRA has created three categories for VDP applicants:

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