Canadians want tax system simplified: Survey

CGA-Canada to hold summit on tax simplification in December

A number of Canadians feel the tax system is moving in the wrong direction, according to a survey commissioned by the Certified General Accountants Association of Canada (CGA-Canada).

Canadians also believe the tax system is more complex than it was 10 years ago and more than 62 per cent of those surveyed said having a simple tax system is important.

"It is clear from our survey that Canadians support simplifying our country's tax system," says CGA-Canada president and CEO Anthony Ariganello. "Done properly, tax simplification could yield substantial benefits for the public and private sectors as well as individual taxpayers."

More than one-half of Canadians feel tailored tax credits have no effect on people's behaviour and the credits essentially reward them for things they would do regardless, according to the random telephone survey of 1,201 Canadians conducted by Nanos Research between May 26 and 31.

About 68 per cent of respondents also favour eliminating some tailored tax credits in order to have their overall personal income tax lowered.

CGA-Canada, which represents 75,000 certified general accountants and students, will hold a “by invitation only” summit on tax simplification in Ottawa on Dec. 4 to advance tax law reform. The summit will bring together about 60 stakeholders, public officials and thought leaders on tax policy to strategize on the issue of tax simplification, inform the debate, establish priorities and identify next steps, the organization says.

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