1. You know you saw it on the CRA website, but you were searching for another topic. Now, it’s nowhere to be found. Are you losing sleep as a result? 
2. There was a reason why you set the books up this way, but it’s a year later. You can’t remember why. Are you still up at 3 am, staring at the books because you can’t sleep?
3. Deadline looming, forms missing... are you up until almost midnight, reading the electronic filing instructions, only to find the CRA website closed until morning?

I know how I learned about tax, taking CGA tax courses, reading the Income Tax Act to pass the courses, and then buying tax software, reading the forms, reading the CRA website, asking questions. 

I wondered where other people go to find out about tax.  Where would you go to learn?  Are there tax courses offered anywhere other than by CGA, CA and CMA courses? 

Here's what I found on the CRA website:

1. Explore how Finance, Justice and Canada Revenue Agency interact
2. Explore the Income Tax Act and Regulations
3. Explore how tax law is applied to real people in Tax and Supreme Court cases
4. Open your own tax history using "My Account"
5. Learn how to research tax questions
    

• Planning 10
• Law 11
• Math 10 Essentials
• Math 11 Essentials
• Business Information Management 12
• Entrepreneurship 12
   

• Finance
• Parliament
• Justice
• FINTRAC
• Courts
• Canada Revenue Agency
• Tax compliance software
• Researching tax questions
• Non compliance = convictions
• Voluntary disclosures, penalties and interest, civil penalties
   

Activities:

• Finance FAQ
• Finance creates amended legislation
  • TFSA creation in 2008 budget
  • Notice of Ways and Means in a Press Release March 11, 2008
  • Explanatory Notes in a Press Release March 14, 2008
• Parliament posts Bill
• TFSA included in Bill C-10 January 27, 2009 
  • Received First Reading in 40th Parliament 2nd Session which commenced January 26, 2009
• Follow the status of Bill C-10 at Status of House Business
• Open the Bill to read it under House Government Bills (list of Bills C-10)

Once the Bill is passed and the Senate approves the Bill, Justice amends Income Tax Act and adds Regulation 5000 and 5001 to describe Prohibited investments to TFSA's

Long before the Bill is passed, CRA acts like the law is already in place in order to create the forms, guides, publications, and systems to administer the TFSA as if it is law already

• CRA advises Registered Plan Administrators about TFSA
• CRA advises individuals about TFSA
• CRA creates publication RC4466, an information sheet and advises of other publications that may have an impact (see bottom of RC4466 where IT Bulletins and Form RC240 (not yet created) are listed)

• Site Map
• Forms and publications
• Online services
• Individuals: 
  • Child and family benefits
  • Being employees
  • What to do when someone has died
  • How to report on a trust and what types of trusts there are
• Business hires employee
• Landlord reports on rental income
• Investor accounts for capital gains on sale of investment
• Senior investigates
  • pension splitting rules
  • CPP, OAS, GIS
• Self employed person:
  • Keeping records
  • Records
  • Business Records
  • GST/HST
• Persons with Disabilities
• Corporation
  • records employee taxable benefits
  • files T2 corporate tax return
• Non-Profit Organization reports
• Charity reporting and whether or not an organization is a charity

Where to find information about court cases:  

• Law student assist taxpayer with research about a landmark Supreme Court case on how to read the Income Tax Act (Canada Trustco)
• Lipson case on deductibility of interest, specifically on attribution of interest to spouse

 Keeping Records

• Tax Schedules
• Topic list: Guides, Forms and Publications
• Document Types
• Client groups

 Representation

Security of Taxpayer Information

epass Enabled Services

CRA's electronic services overview

Individual: T1013

• Level 1 allows CRA to disclose information to the representative
• Level 2 allows the representative to request changes to your tax returns

Note Level 2 authorization does not permit changes to your basic information such as your address, identification, marital status, direct deposit or 8 digit code

Who should you give authorization to?

Consider carefully whether to provide Level 2 authorization

Adjusting your tax return may be accomplished by letter, Form T1-ADJ or online in My Account using a change request.

Business: Contact person/representative 

• Form RC1 Request for a Business Number - provides for Contact Person only - must complete an RC59 to authorize a representative
• Pamphlet RC2 - The Business Number and your CanRev Accounts
• Form RC59 Business Consent Form
  • Level 1 is review information
  • Level 2 allows the authorized person to make changes

• Note:  Unlike Individual representative, if you don't choose a Level for Business the default is to Level 2!

Adjusting your corporate tax return

GST/HST Rebates

CPT139 CPP/EI - Authorizing or Cancelling a Representative

Internet Security Tools

More useful links:

1. Financial Literacy and Education Summit: Listen and watch the presentations: Chicago April 20, 2009  
2. CRA study on youth and taxes
3. Financial Consumer Agency of Canada 
4. AICPA Financial Literacy website
5. BC Education – IRP Resources
6. BC – Education – Planning 10
7. University of the Fraser Valley
8. BC Securities Commission
9. Canadian Banker’s Association
10. Industry Canada Youth Initiatives
11. Employment standards – school corner (BC)

From here I went on to compile more webpages:

Link to Financial Literacy Tool Kit

What's New 2009

What's New 2010