Finance
November 24, 2014

Improving Service Delivery

Amendments to Revenue Administration Act Will Provide Speedy Access to Tax Clearance Certificates

Proposed amendments to the Revenue Administration Act were introduced in the House of Assembly today, which will allow for Tax Clearance Certificates to be requested and provided online.

A Tax Clearance Certificate is required prior to the distribution of assets, such as in the sale of real estate. The certificate ensures that no liens associated with taxes administered by the province exist as of the date the certificate is issued.

“Lawyers routinely make requests for these certificates on behalf of their clients. In fact, the Department of Finance receives approximately 22,000 requests each year. Little will change in this process except that what we have been doing traditionally with paper, we will be doing online. This change will provide a faster and higher quality service and builds on our ongoing efforts to increase the services offered online, with a goal to making them more effective and efficient.”
- The Honourable Ross Wiseman, Minister of Finance

Information with respect to any tax owing would be the only personal information provided to the lawyers making the request on behalf of clients. Lawyers who request clearance certificates are subject to the federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, which contains provisions to protect personal information.

“As a government, we are increasing the way citizens can access information, while at the same time upholding the protection of personal and private information. With the development and implementation of an online, restricted access, Tax Clearance Certificate request system, we will continue to ensure that people’s personal and private information is protected and secure. The Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Office and the Privacy Commissioner have been consulted throughout this process. As we move towards implementation in the coming months, we will continue to consult and engage the office and the Privacy Commissioner.”
- Minister Wiseman

QUICK FACTS

• Proposed amendments were introduced in the House of Assembly today, which will allow for Tax Clearance Certificates to be requested and provided online.
• A Tax Clearance Certificate is required prior to the distribution of assets, such as in the sale of real estate. The certificate ensures that no liens associated with taxes administered by the province, exist as of the date the certificate is issued.
• The information with respect to any tax owing would be the only personal information provided to lawyers making the request on behalf of clients. Lawyers who request clearance certificates are subject to the federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, which contains provisions to protect personal information.

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Media contact:

John Tompkins Director of Communications Department of Finance 709-729-6830, 728-7762 jtompkins@gov.nl.ca

2014 11 24                                             3:20 p.m.