Pearson gold heist suspect arrested after flying into Toronto from India
Another suspect is in custody in connection with the gold heist at Toronto Pearson International Airport last year, police say.
Was your 2022 tax refund larger than you expected it to be?
For many, this likely comes as a pleasant surprise. However, overpayments are likely the result of a mistake on your part or the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). If you don’t amend your returns and the overpayment isn’t returned, you could end up in hot water with the CRA.
Below, I’ll explain what you should do if you mistakenly get a larger tax refund, outline some of the most common reasons why this could happen, and explain how to amend your returns to fix the error.
Mistaken overpayments of tax refunds may be caused by a number of things, such as:
Small overpayments are relatively common when it comes to tax refunds. When you file your taxes, your accountant or tax software can only provide you with an estimate of what your refund will be. This number can change after closer review by the CRA, which can put some extra money in your pocket.
In this case, the overpayment is legitimate, meaning you shouldn’t have anything to worry about.
However, if your tax refund was significantly larger than you expected, then it’s your responsibility to figure out what happened, amend any errors on your part, and settle the overpayment with the CRA.
It may be tempting to keep the overpayment and hope that the matter goes unnoticed by the CRA. While this is a possibility, you shouldn’t count on it. At any time, the CRA could realize the error, perform a tax audit, and force you to repay the amount.
If the CRA has reason to suspect that the overpayment resulted from outright deception, you could face additional penalties on top of repaying the overpayment. Penalties can include:
The CRA imposes these somewhat harsh penalties to keep everyone honest, and you really don’t want to be on the receiving end.
Thankfully, the CRA makes it incredibly easy to amend your tax returns, especially if you file online or use NETFILE-approved tax software. Your options include the following:
Within a few weeks after amending your tax returns, the CRA should send you a notice detailing how the changes may have affected the refund you received. In most cases, you’ll be asked to repay the amount to the CRA as a lump sum payment or be required to arrange a payment plan.
Now that you know what to do if you’ve received an overpayment from the CRA, let’s take a quick look at some of the most common mistakes that could lead to an overpayment.
1. Ineligible expenses
This is one of the most common reasons you may receive an overpayment. If you’re filing your taxes by yourself and you don’t fully understand the tax laws and eligible deductions, you may claim expenses and tax deductions that you aren’t legally entitled to.
2. Clerical errors
Just as human error is possible on your part, clerical errors may also result from mistakes made by the CRA or their accounting systems. While it’s not as common, mistakes do happen.
If you believe that the CRA made an error and underpaid/overpaid your tax refund, you’ll need to contact the CRA and discuss your case. If it appears that the error may be the CRA’s fault, then you can request a formal review.
3. Changes to tax laws
Tax laws and tax rates change periodically. If you haven’t stayed updated with the latest changes, you may not file your tax returns accordingly, which can result in underpayment or overpayment.
Navigating the complexities of tax returns and amendments, plus dealing with the CRA can be difficult, to say the least. Even though tax software can make things easier, you may still benefit from working with a professional tax preparer or accountant, especially for complicated cases.
Christopher Liew is a CFA Charterholder and former financial advisor. He writes personal finance tips for thousands of daily Canadian readers on his Wealth Awesome website.
Another suspect is in custody in connection with the gold heist at Toronto Pearson International Airport last year, police say.
Hailey and Justin Bieber are going to be parents. The couple announced the news on Thursday on Instagram, both sharing a video that showcases Hailey Bieber's growing belly.
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
A B.C. man has been convicted of assault with a weapon after using a skid-steer Bobcat to chase two homeless people from his lawn, injuring one of them in the process.
A Conservative government led by Pierre Poilievre would not legislate on, nor use the notwithstanding clause, on abortion, his office says, as anti-abortion protesters gather on Parliament Hill.
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Miss Teen USA resigned Wednesday, sending further shock waves through the pageant community just days after Miss USA said she would relinquish her crown.
A grieving mother is speaking out after her 36-year-old son was shot and killed in North Preston, N.S., Wednesday night.
A small Ajax dessert shop that recently received a glowing review from celebrity food critic Keith Lee is being forced to move after a zoning complaint was made following the social media influencer’s visit last month.
A Listowel, Ont. man, drafted by the Hamilton Tigercats last week, is also getting looks from the NFL, despite only playing 27 games of football in his life.
A small Ajax dessert shop that recently received a glowing review from celebrity food critic Keith Lee is being forced to move after a zoning complaint was made following the social media influencer’s visit last month.
The Canada Science and Technology Museum is inviting visitors to explore their poop. A new exhibition opens at the Ottawa museum on Friday called, 'Oh Crap! Rethinking human waste.'
The Regina Police Service says it is the first in Saskatchewan and possibly Canada to implement new technology in its detention facility that will offer real-time monitoring of detainees’ vital health metrics.
The stakes have been set for a bet between Vancouver and Edmonton's mayors on who will win Round 2 of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
A grieving mother is hosting a helmet drive in the hopes of protecting children on Manitoba First Nations from a similar tragedy that killed her daughter.
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
A P.E.I. lighthouse and a New Brunswick river are being honoured in a Canada Post series.
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.