What's New for Tax Professionals and Tax Preparers for the 2016 Tax-Filing Season?

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Jan. 26, 2016) - Learn about changes for tax professionals and tax preparers for the 2016 tax-filing season:

Updated notice of assessment

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has improved the notice of assessment. The new, simpler format provides the most important information about your clients' assessments on the first page. This is part of the CRA's commitment to improve its correspondence with individuals.

Online mail

Online mail is the fast, easy and secure way to manage tax correspondence. This year, you'll again be able to help your clients register for online mail by entering their email address on the 2015 income tax and benefit return you prepare and transmit for them. When they register for this service, they'll receive statements like their notice of assessment and benefit statements online (summer 2016)-which you'll also be able to view through their account. It's paperless and convenient! We are counting on your collaboration to help Canadians access our online services and support the CRA's efforts to reduce paper.

EFILE enhancements

EFILE will continue to accept returns from newcomers to Canada and first-time filers. As of February 15, 2016, all EFILE certified software products will also accept prior-year returns for the 2012, 2013, and 2014 tax years. For more information, go to cra.gc.ca/efile.

In addition to this, as early as February 29, 2016, as part of our EFILE monitoring program, electronic filers will be able to submit CRA-requested T183 and T1153 forms electronically through the Represent a Client service.

Auto-fill my return

The Tax Data Delivery service, which was launched last year for representatives, has been renamed the Auto-fill my return service. This year, we've improved the service to make it even easier for you to file your clients' returns-you will now be able to access more information slips through Auto-fill my return when you use certified EFILE software that includes the service.

Information slips

Now, you can view even more information slips:

• T4RSP, Statement of RRSP Income
• T4RIF, Statement of Income from a Registered Retirement Income Fund
• T5007, Statement of Benefits
• T3, Statement of Trust Income Allocations and Designations
• T5, Statement of Investment Income
• T5008, Statement of Securities Transactions
• RRSP, RRSP Contribution Receipt

These slips are available through Represent a Client on your client's account, and also through the Auto-fill my return service in some EFILE certified tax software. In addition to this, in Represent a Client, you can now access up to 10 years of data for some slips!

Submit documents enhancements

You can now submit documents for more types of tasks for an individual client, business client, T3 trust account, or for a non-client specific request. For example, you can request a T3 adjustment using the Submit documents online service, or submit CRA-requested T183/T1153 forms for the T1 EFILE Monitoring Program.

Stay connected

To receive updates when new information is added to our website, you can:

Follow the CRA on Twitter - @CanRevAgency.

Subscribe to a CRA electronic mailing list.

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You can also watch our tax-related videos on YouTube.