Office of the Taxpayers' Ombudsperson

The Office of the Taxpayers' Ombudsperson (OTO) is an independent and impartial office of the Government of Canada, established to assist Canadians with service-related issues concerning the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). Its core mission is to examine complaints, raise awareness of the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, and identify systemic issues to foster improvements in the CRA's service delivery. Headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, the OTO operates at arm's length from the CRA and reports directly to the Minister of National Revenue, ensuring an objective review process.

The OTO provides several key services, including a formal complaint process and review for taxpayers, examination of systemic and emerging issues that affect a broader population, and the publication of reports. These services aim to offer information, facilitate resolutions, and provide a final recourse for taxpayers who have exhausted the CRA's internal complaint mechanisms. The office serves all Canadian taxpayers and benefit recipients who encounter service-related challenges with the CRA.

François Boileau currently serves as the Taxpayers' Ombudsperson, having been appointed on October 5, 2020, with his term recently extended until October 4, 2027. In recent news, the OTO announced in June 2026 the initiation of systemic examinations into significant delays experienced by taxpayers in the processing of complex T1 adjustment requests by the CRA. The office is also actively investigating the various options available to taxpayers for resolving complaints with the CRA, underscoring its ongoing commitment to enhancing accountability and service fairness within the federal tax system.