General

Canadians who fibbed on taxes come forward in record numbers

Tax dodgers with offshore tax havens are fessing up more than ever

More Canadians than ever before are confessing to having dodged taxes, according to an investigation by iPolitics. Numbers from Canada Revenue Agency reveal that 12,128 people declared unpaid taxes in 2009-10—up nearly 14 per cent from 2007-08. The unreported income amounted to $1.8 billion, resulting in $550 million in federal taxes. Disclosures are increasing on all fronts, but most significantly in the category of offshore bank accounts. Former revenue minister Jean-Pierre Blackburn attributes the increase to his publicized efforts to obtain lists of Canadian clients of banks in offshore tax havens like Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

Vancouver Sun

iPolitics

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