St. John’s — In an astounding turn of events, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) office in St. John’s, Newfoundland has declared that Canadians can forget about filing their taxes this year, if they feel like it, due to an upcoming employee strike.
“We were going to force Canadians to file their taxes as usual, but then we realized we won’t have enough staff to process them all,” said CRA spokesperson Peter Murphy. “So we thought, why not just tell Canadians to take the year off? It’s a win-win situation for everyone.”
This decision has been met with both confusion and excitement among Canadians. Some are thrilled at the prospect of skipping the annual tax headache, while others are worried about the long-term consequences of not filing.
“I don’t know what to do,” said St. John’s resident Joe Murphy. “Part of me wants to take the year off since I always end up owing a few hundred bucks, but the other part is afraid of ending up in tax jail two years from now.”
“I’m ecstatic about this news,” said Sarah Davis, a teacher. “I hate doing my taxes, so the fact that I don’t have to worry about them this year is a huge relief. Hopefully the CRA will just pretend the 2022 tax year just never happened.”
Tax experts warn that Canadians could face hefty fines and even jail time if they fail to file their taxes, but the CRA seems unfazed by the prospect.
“Look, we’re not saying you shouldn’t file your taxes,” said Murphy. “We’re just saying you don’t have to. It’s like going to the gym — you know you should, but if you skip a day, it’s not the end of the world.”
Meanwhile, local accountants are reportedly offering to file taxes on behalf of Canadians, for a small fee.
“We’re calling it the ‘CRA strike special’,” said accountant Susan Johnson. “Even though you don’t have to file the this year, for just $500, we’ll take care of your taxes for you. It’s a steal, really.”
Despite the confusion and chaos, the CRA is confident that everything will work out in the end.
“Sure, some Canadians might face penalties or fines for not filing their taxes,” said Murphy. “But hey, life is short, right? You gotta live a little. Maybe you pay double next year, or maybe you get a year free. Life’s a gamble!”