For at least the last five or six years, an assortment of conspiracy theorists and their ilk have been trolling the Internet and spreading phony stories about the unlawful nature of Canada’s tax system (see, for example, the Usenet newsgroup can.taxes).
The theorists claim that the Income Tax Act (Canada) is unconstitutional or unlawful because it is contrary to the ‘common law’. They claim that hundreds of ‘tax protesters’ have successfully avoided paying taxes because of the protection provided by their ‘theories’. They make all kinds of claims.
This would all be good, harmless fun if it were only talk, but some of these ‘theories’ have apparently inspired the gullible to action. What is worse, some of the theorists have even started selling their schemes to the naive. The gullible and the naive are now at risk of being charged with criminal offences.
The CRA is trying to do its part to combat the crazies. It has published once again an article debunking the tax debunkers. One suspects that, in any event, the source of the advice will discredit it ab initio in the eyes of those inclined to listen to the theorists. To paraphrase: “The gullible you will always have with you”.
