As the first point of contact in a CRA audit, accountants are uniquely positioned to shape the narrative and manage the scope of a client’s audit. While most accountants understand that privileged documents do not need to be disclosed to a CRA auditor, the practice of identifying and asserting privilege is often underutilized. In practice, determining when legal privilege applies can be challenging, yet the ability to do so is a vital gatekeeping skill. Overzealous disclosure can inadvertently expand an audit to include other years, other taxpayers, and ultimately, additional grounds for potential reassessments.

This one-hour course will familiarize attendees with the fundamentals of privilege and how it can streamline an audit while adding value for clients.

Topics include:

• Understanding the difference between “privileged” and “confidential” documents
• How to identify items commonly requested at audit that are protected by privilege
• How to know and what to do if privilege has been waived
• When an accountant’s work is privileged
• Recent developments in case law