Canada Revenue Agency won’t extend tax deadline if workers strike

Canada Revenue Agency says it will not extend the deadline to file taxes even if thousands of its workers go on strike amid an ongoing labour dispute.“There are no plans to extend the T1 tax filing deadlines, as a potential strike in no way impedes the ability of Canadians to file their taxes electronically or on paper,” an agency spokesperson told Global News in an email Thursday.“Canadians should take steps to ensure their return is filed by May 1, 2023, along with payment for any balance owing.” Read more: Tax delays, passport backlogs: How you’ll be impacted if public servants strike As of Friday, more than 35,000 agency workers, represented by the Union of Taxation Employees (UTE) and the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), were in a legal position to strike after voting ended last week.That’s in addition to the 122,000 other Public Service Alliance of Canada federal workers who entered a strike position as of Wednesday.The labour dispute over contracts, wages and remote work comes as the May 1 deadline to file income tax and benefit returns for 2022 is approaching.In the event of a strike, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has warned some services may be delayed or unavailable.Specifically, the CRA anticipates there may be delays in processing some income tax and benefit returns, particularly those filed by paper, and increased wait times in contact centres.Even if there is a labour disruption, the agency says on its website that benefit payments will be prioritized and the child benefit will continue.As negotiations continue, CRA is encouraging Canadians to file their taxes “as soon as possible, not only this year but every year.” Read more: CRA ‘confident’ a compromise is possible as tax season strike.