Tax Disputes & Compliance Remediation

First understand what the letter is: some are routine reviews asking for backup documents; others are audits or proposed adjustments with bigger consequences. What you say and how you say it affects where things go next, and an over-broad or inaccurate reply can sometimes widen the issue. It's worth confirming which year and what kind of adjustment the letter concerns before deciding how to respond, and having us correspond on your behalf where needed.

Coming forward voluntarily is usually better than being found. Programs like Canada's VDP and the U.S. Streamlined procedures can relieve some penalties when applied for while you still qualify and before the authority has contacted you about it. Whether they apply, and how much relief follows, depends on whether the omission was non-wilful, the years involved and the specific program. Timing is key — once the authority reaches you first, those routes may no longer be open.

If you still had a Canadian filing obligation in those years, or didn't complete a final return when you departed, you generally need to catch up. Filing isn't only about meeting the obligation — it's often a prerequisite for claiming benefits, obtaining clearance, or returning later. With multiple years involved, filing in the right order and reflecting the residency change matters, so it's worth assessing your specific obligations before you begin.

There may be. Canada's taxpayer relief and the U.S. reasonable-cause defence allow you to seek relief of interest or penalties where the default was due to a reasonable cause such as illness, disaster or reliance on incorrect professional advice; the U.S. also offers first-time abatement to those who qualify. Relief isn't automatic — it has to be applied for with a statement of facts and support — and the outcome depends on whether the cause holds up, so it's best to claim early.

The late-filing penalties on these information returns can be significant, but there are remediation paths. Where the authority hasn't already pursued you, you can usually attach a reasonable-cause statement to the catch-up filing, asserting the omission was non-wilful and explaining why; those who qualify can also handle it through programs such as Streamlined. Whether relief follows depends on the facts and the route chosen, so it's worth clarifying which years and forms are involved before closing it all out.