What is the CRA’s voluntary disclosures program?
Author: Jason Heath, Cfp
Source: MoneySense
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has had a program for many years for taxpayers to fix errors or omissions made on previous tax returns. The Voluntary Disclosures Program (VDP) grants relief from penalties, interest and most importantly, criminal prosecution, albeit on a case-by-case basis.
Tax owing still applies, but “to be fair to all, the CRA grants a higher level of relief to those who are correcting an error before being contacted than those who are correcting errors after being prompted by communications from the CRA or any other authority of administration.”
How to quality for the VDP
There are five eligibility conditions for the VDP. You must:
- Submit your application before an audit or investigation has been initiated
- Include all relevant information and documentation
- Involve an error or omission with applicable penalties or interest
- Include information that relates to at least one year or reporting period past the filing due date
- Include a payment of the estimated tax owing or a request for a payment arrangement
Recent changes to the VDP
New guidelines began on October 1, 2025 that impact disclosures related to income tax, sales tax, withholding tax, excise duties and several other taxes.
The application form has been simplified. The four-page Form RC199, Voluntary Disclosures Program (VDP) Application can be completed by a taxpayer or their authorized representative. It contains a brief description of the facts relating to the omission or error.
The filer must also address the payment of any tax owing, if applicable, or request a payment arrangement to be discussed with a CRA collections officer.
Eligibility has also been expanded; if a CRA communication about a potential non-compliance issue prompts the application, it may still be accepted. This differs from past practice. As a result, a CRA education letter about ineligible deductions or unreported income may not prevent a taxpayer from benefitting from the VDP.
What are the relief provisions?
There are two tiers of relief that can apply to taxpayers submitting a VDP application:
- General relief. This is meant for those who come forward voluntarily without a nudge from CRA. All of the penalties can be waived by CRA, and 75% of the interest on the balance owing.
- Partial relief. An application that is prompted by CRA can still benefit from a full waiver of penalties. However, only 25% of the resulting interest is waived if a CRA communication is what leads to the VDP application.
What to do if you have made a tax filing mistake
If you have unreported income, overstated deductions or overlooked elections, among other tax filing errors, you should seek to rectify those mistakes as soon as you can.
An unprompted VDP application can be less painful from an interest perspective and help you sleep better at night if you are aware of the oversight. Although you can file a VDP application on your own, if you do your own taxes, consider getting professional input for a situation like this.
This article was written by Jason Heath, CFP from MoneySense and was legally licensed through the DiveMarketplace by Industry Dive. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@industrydive.com.
