Tax Forum
Tales Of The Taxman
FROM:
SEPTEMBER 1998 ISSUE | BY
DON GOODISON
With an audit, the best way to avoid any misunderstanding is to provide the auditor with full information and treat him or her with respect and courtesy. In
E. F. Anthony Merchant (appellant) v. Her Majesty the Queen (respondent)
[95-3729(IT)G], Merchant’s lack of co-operation with Revenue Canada and attempts to stonewall in court prompted the judge to award costs against him on a solicitor and client basis, the highest cost award that can be made. The best way to handle an audit is to assign one person to handle the auditor’s questions, put any answers in writing and take time to consider your answers. Make the auditor’s job as easy as possible — it will pay off in the long run.
Don Goodison, CFP, FCGA, is a partner of Kemp Harvey Goodison, Certified General Accountants, in Burnaby, B.C. E-mail
goodison@axionet.com.