https://twitter.com/DavidRayAmos
David Raymond Amos @DavidRayAmos
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/tax-evasion-proceeds-of-crime-1.4937176
David Amos
574 Comments
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Content disabled.
David Raymond Amos
Hmmm Perhaps P.E.I. Senator Percy Downe should have read all the emails that I sent him over the years? Bet yet perhaps he should read the one I got from Minister Diane Lebouthillier just before I appeared before a panel of Judges in the Federal Court of Appeal in Fredericton NB and read them the Riot Act. Trust that I will post it within a blog I am about to make about this article i particular.
Need I say that a proud whistle-blower (namely me) against Bank Fraud, Tax Fraud, Securities Fraud and Murder has had enough of arguing mindless minions working for the Crown? The Crown does not even wish to argue why I have been barred from parliamentary properties while running for public office 5 times. Go Figure why CBC reports often about Chucky Leblanc and his barring and recent antics.
"Fredericton police arrest well-known N.B. blogger on legislature grounds"
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/fredericton-police-arrest-well-known-n-b-blogger-on-legislature-grounds-1.809584
Now that I have filled the dockets of Federal Courts of Canada and the USA with lots of evidence of many crimes and already discussed such things across borders an on the public record. A Proud Whistle-blower such as is well it is High Time to get down to the serious business of embarrassing the Hell out of Theresa May, Donnie Trump and Trudeau "The Younger" in an ethical political fashion and in several courts before Trump and his pals start another War and the Economy collapses. Only this time I will likely send young hungry lawyers to speak on my behalf because I have grown very weary of arguing with monumental liars. May 24th may have been the last time I will ever be seen speaking on the public record.
Veritas Vincit
David Raymond Amos
Yo CBC moderator Good Luck with your conscience
---------- Original message ----------
From: "Min.Mail / Courrier.Min (CRA/ARC)" PABMINMAILG@cra-arc.gc.ca
Date: Wed, 24 May 2017 13:10:52 +0000
Subject: Your various correspondence about abusive tax schemes - 2017-02631
To: "motomaniac333@gmail.com" motomaniac333@gmail.com
Mr. David Raymond Amos
motomaniac333@gmail.com
Dear Mr. Amos:
Thank you for your various correspondence about abusive tax schemes, and for your understanding regarding the delay of this response.
This is an opportunity for me to address your concerns about the way the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) deals with aggressive tax planning, tax avoidance, and tax evasion by targeting individuals and groups that promote schemes intended to avoid payment of tax. It is also an opportunity for me to present the Government of Canada’s main strategies for ensuring fairness for all taxpayers.
The CRA’s mission is to preserve the integrity of Canada’s tax system, and it is taking concrete and effective action to deal with abusive tax schemes. Through federal budget funding in 2016 and 2017, the government has committed close to $1 billion in cracking down on tax evasion and combatting tax avoidance at home and through the use of offshore transactions. This additional funding is expected to generate federal revenues of $2.6 billion over five years for Budget 2016, and $2.5 billion over five years for Budget 2017.
More precisely, the CRA is cracking down on tax cheats by hiring more auditors, maintaining its underground economy specialist teams, increasing coverage of aggressive goods and service tax/harmonized sales tax planning, increasing coverage of multinational corporations and wealthy individuals, and taking targeted actions aimed at promoters of abusive tax schemes.
On the offshore front, the CRA continues to develop tools to improve its focus on high‑risk taxpayers. It is also considering changes to its Voluntary Disclosures Program following the first set of program recommendations received from an independent Offshore Compliance Advisory Committee. In addition, the CRA is leading international projects to address the base erosion and profit shifting initiative of the G20 and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and is collaborating with treaty partners to address the Panama Papers leaks.
These actions are evidence of the government’s commitment to protecting tax fairness. The CRA has strengthened its intelligence and technical capacities for the early detection of abusive tax arrangements and deterrence of those who participate in them. To ensure compliance, it has increased the number of actions aimed at promoters who use illegal schemes. These measures include increased audits of such promoters, improved information gathering, criminal investigations where warranted, and better communication with taxpayers.
To deter potential taxpayer involvement in these schemes, the CRA is increasing notifications and warnings through its communications products. It also seeks partnerships with tax preparers, accountants, and community groups so that they can become informed observers who can educate their clients.
The CRA will assess penalties against promoters and other representatives who make false statements involving illegal tax schemes. The promotion of tax schemes to defraud the government can lead to criminal investigations, fingerprinting, criminal prosecution, court fines, and jail time.
Between April 1, 2011, and March 31, 2016, the CRA’s criminal investigations resulted in the conviction of 42 Canadian taxpayers for tax evasion with links to money and assets held offshore. In total, the $34 million in evaded taxes resulted in court fines of $12 million and 734 months of jail time.
When deciding to pursue compliance actions through the courts, the CRA consults the Department of Justice Canada to choose an appropriate solution. Complex tax-related litigation is costly and time consuming, and the outcome may be unsuccessful. All options to recover amounts owed are considered.
More specifically, in relation to the KPMG Isle of Man tax avoidance scheme, publicly available court records show that it is through the CRA’s efforts that the scheme was discovered. The CRA identified many of the participants and continues to actively pursue the matter. The CRA has also identified at least 10 additional tax structures on the Isle of Man, and is auditing taxpayers in relation to these structures.
To ensure tax fairness, the CRA commissioned an independent review in March 2016 to determine if it had acted appropriately concerning KPMG and its clients. In her review, Ms. Kimberley Brooks, Associate Professor and former Dean of the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University, examined the CRA’s operational processes and decisions in relation to the KPMG offshore tax structure and its efforts to obtain the names of all taxpayers participating in the scheme. Following this review, the report, released on May 5, 2016, concluded that the CRA had acted appropriately in its management of the KPMG Isle of Man file. The report found that the series of compliance measures the CRA took were in accordance with its policies and procedures. It was concluded that the procedural actions taken on the KPMG file were appropriate given the facts of this particular case and were consistent with the treatment of taxpayers in similar situations. The report concluded that actions by CRA employees were in accordance with the CRA’s Code of Integrity and Professional Conduct. There was no evidence of inappropriate interaction between KPMG and the CRA employees involved in the case.
Under the CRA’s Code of Integrity and Professional Conduct, all CRA employees are responsible for real, apparent, or potential conflicts of interests between their current duties and any subsequent employment outside of the CRA or the Public Service of Canada. Consequences and corrective measures play an important role in protecting the CRA’s integrity.
The CRA takes misconduct very seriously. The consequences of misconduct depend on the gravity of the incident and its repercussions on trust both within and outside of the CRA. Misconduct can result in disciplinary measures up to dismissal.
All forms of tax evasion are illegal. The CRA manages the Informant Leads Program, which handles leads received from the public regarding cases of tax evasion across the country. This program, which coordinates all the leads the CRA receives from informants, determines whether there has been any non-compliance with tax law and ensures that the information is examined and conveyed, if applicable, so that compliance measures are taken. This program does not offer any reward for tips received.
The new Offshore Tax Informant Program (OTIP) has also been put in place. The OTIP offers financial compensation to individuals who provide information related to major cases of offshore tax evasion that lead to the collection of tax owing. As of December 31, 2016, the OTIP had received 963 calls and 407 written submissions from possible informants. Over 218 taxpayers are currently under audit based on information the CRA received through the OTIP.
With a focus on the highest-risk sectors nationally and internationally and an increased ability to gather information, the CRA has the means to target taxpayers who try to hide their income. For example, since January 2015, the CRA has been collecting information on all international electronic funds transfers (EFTs) of $10,000 or more ending or originating in Canada. It is also adopting a proactive approach by focusing each year on four jurisdictions that raise suspicion. For the Isle of Man, the CRA audited 3,000 EFTs totalling $860 million over 12 months and involving approximately 800 taxpayers. Based on these audits, the CRA communicated with approximately 350 individuals and 400 corporations and performed 60 audits.
In January 2017, I reaffirmed Canada’s important role as a leader for tax authorities around the world in detecting the structures used for aggressive tax planning and tax evasion. This is why Canada works daily with the Joint International Tax Shelter Information Centre (JITSIC), a network of tax administrations in over 35 countries. The CRA participates in two expert groups within the JITSIC and leads the working group on intermediaries and proponents. This ongoing collaboration is a key component of the CRA’s work to develop strong relationships with the international community, which will help it refine the world-class tax system that benefits all Canadians.
The CRA is increasing its efforts and is seeing early signs of success. Last year, the CRA recovered just under $13 billion as a result of its audit activities on the domestic and offshore fronts. Two-thirds of these recoveries are the result of its audit efforts relating to large businesses and multinational companies.
But there is still much to do, and additional improvements and investments are underway.
Tax cheats are having a harder and harder time hiding. Taxpayers who choose to promote or participate in malicious and illegal tax strategies must face the consequences of their actions. Canadians expect nothing less. I invite you to read my most recent statement on this matter at canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/news/2017/03/
statement_from_thehonourabledianelebouthillierministerofnational.
Thank you for taking the time to write. I hope the information I have provided is helpful.
Sincerely,
The Honourable Diane Lebouthillier
Minister of National Revenue
The Canada Revenue Agency is using a new tool in its battle against tax evasion — one that experts say could radically change the way it pursues tax cheats.
For the first time, the agency has used proceeds-of-crime provisions in the law to freeze the assets of individuals charged with tax evasion.
Up to now, those provisions have been used only in cases involving suspected terrorist financing or money laundering.
"That is a tool that we have not used in the past," said Stéphane Bonin of CRA's criminal investigations division.
"I can say that this is indeed the first time, but I can promise you that this is not the last time that we [will use] those provisions of the Criminal Code to restrain or seize assets that tax evaders have acquired through their illegal behaviours."
Marc Tassé, a professor with the University of Ottawa's Telfer School of Management, said CRA's decision to use proceeds-of-crime powers to go after tax dodgers will send a message.
"People who might have done some tax evasion already will see it as a game-changer," he said.
Tassé said the proceeds-of-crime provisions can also be used to seize property outside of Canada. For example, if the CRA believes that someone has engaged in offshore tax evasion and used the proceeds to buy a vacation home or a yacht, the CRA could freeze or seize those assets.
Using the proceeds-of-crime provisions also can block tactics used by some tax evaders, such as declaring corporate bankruptcy to avoid paying the taxes, said Tassé.
"If they were to file for bankruptcy, the government wouldn't be able to recover anything," he said.
"But on the other hand, if they're using proceeds-of-crime provisions of the Criminal Code, then at that point they are able to seize it immediately so it protects the assets."
Tassé said the move may prompt some tax scofflaws to quickly take advantage of the CRA's voluntary disclosure program. A taxpayer who comes forward to CRA and makes a voluntary disclosure about tax evasion still has to pay the taxes owed, but can usually avoid prosecution and penalties.
The case at the heart of the CRA's initiative pits the agency against an Ottawa couple — Chi Van Ho, 52, and Thanh Ha Thi Nguyen, 49 — who own a number of rental properties.
They are accused of under-reporting their income between January 2008 and December 2013 by $3.1 million, evading $523,532 in taxes.
The CRA said that Ho and Nguyen are "the listed shareholders, directors and/or corporate officers in multiple corporations in the business of residential and commercial real estate rentals and property renovation and development."
"The criminal charges against Ho and Nguyen allege that, from 2008 to 2013, multiple schemes were utilized to under-report their taxable income," said the CRA. "The schemes included appropriating funds from multiple corporations under their control for personal purposes, appropriating corporate rental income and manipulation of supplier invoices."
The agency described the investigation that led to the charges as "serious and complex."
Ho and Nguyen were charged in late October. The CRA has seized or restrained six rental properties and an automobile belonging to the couple.
The CRA has been crossing swords with Ho and Nguyen and three of their companies, which operate under the name Golden Dragon Ho, in the Tax Court of Canada since 2015.
Golden Dragon Ho Properties made headlines in June 2017 when tenants in some of its properties complained that the natural gas that heated their homes and powered their hot water tanks had been cut off because the landlord hadn't paid the bills.
Leonard Shore, the lawyer representing the couple in the criminal tax evasion case, said he recently received "voluminous" disclosure materials from the prosecution and is now reviewing them.
Shore said the charges came after a lengthy investigation.
"This has been going on for at least a couple of years ... A couple of years ago they conducted several searches into their companies, into their home, into their place of business."
The case returns to court in January.
Elizabeth Thompson can be reached at elizabeth.thompson@cbc.ca
David Raymond Amos @DavidRayAmos
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/tax-evasion-proceeds-of-crime-1.4937176
Comments
David Amos
Methinks the real "game-changer" would be to see the Attorney General and the RCMP finally investigate the actions of the CRA and KPMG N'esy Pas?
Artie Gibson
@David Amos
Never going to happen in this lifetime or our next lifetime.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KPGM
www.cbc.ca/news/business/kpgm-tax-sham-could-lead-to-criminal..
www.cbc.ca/news/business/kpgm-tax-evasion-charges-1.3339719
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KPGM_tax_shelter_fraud
https://www.irs.gov/uac/kpgm-to-pay-456-million-for-criminal...
www.cbc.ca/news/business/canada-revenue-kpgm-secret-and-secret-amnesty-1.3479594
Never going to happen in this lifetime or our next lifetime.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KPGM
www.cbc.ca/news/business/kpgm-tax-sham-could-lead-to-criminal..
www.cbc.ca/news/business/kpgm-tax-evasion-charges-1.3339719
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KPGM_tax_shelter_fraud
https://www.irs.gov/uac/kpgm-to-pay-456-million-for-criminal...
www.cbc.ca/news/business/canada-revenue-kpgm-secret-and-secret-amnesty-1.3479594
David Amos
@Artie Gibson Methinks you should check out my Twitter account N'esy Pas?
Friday, 2 June 2017
Methinks The CBC and The Not So Honourable Diane Lebouthillier Minister of National Revenue picked the wrong day to show me their nasty arses N'esy Pas?
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/revenue-tax-gap-percy-downe-finance-canada-budget-officer-liberals-election-1.4142026574 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.
Content disabled.
David Raymond Amos
Hmmm Perhaps P.E.I. Senator Percy Downe should have read all the emails that I sent him over the years? Bet yet perhaps he should read the one I got from Minister Diane Lebouthillier just before I appeared before a panel of Judges in the Federal Court of Appeal in Fredericton NB and read them the Riot Act. Trust that I will post it within a blog I am about to make about this article i particular.
Need I say that a proud whistle-blower (namely me) against Bank Fraud, Tax Fraud, Securities Fraud and Murder has had enough of arguing mindless minions working for the Crown? The Crown does not even wish to argue why I have been barred from parliamentary properties while running for public office 5 times. Go Figure why CBC reports often about Chucky Leblanc and his barring and recent antics.
"Fredericton police arrest well-known N.B. blogger on legislature grounds"
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/fredericton-police-arrest-well-known-n-b-blogger-on-legislature-grounds-1.809584
Now that I have filled the dockets of Federal Courts of Canada and the USA with lots of evidence of many crimes and already discussed such things across borders an on the public record. A Proud Whistle-blower such as is well it is High Time to get down to the serious business of embarrassing the Hell out of Theresa May, Donnie Trump and Trudeau "The Younger" in an ethical political fashion and in several courts before Trump and his pals start another War and the Economy collapses. Only this time I will likely send young hungry lawyers to speak on my behalf because I have grown very weary of arguing with monumental liars. May 24th may have been the last time I will ever be seen speaking on the public record.
Veritas Vincit
David Raymond Amos
Yo CBC moderator Good Luck with your conscience
David Raymond Amos
@David Raymond Amos Yo Hubby Lacroix and Minister Joly why is that I was not surprised that CBC blocked this comment or why i already blogged and am now about to Tweet about it?
https://twitter.com/DavidRayAmos/with_replies
https://twitter.com/DavidRayAmos/with_replies
Seems I was ahead of the crooks @CanRevAgency& @CBCNews once again N'esy Pas??? davidraymondamos3.blogspot.ca/2017/06/methin…#BULLSHIT
---------- Original message ----------
From: "Min.Mail / Courrier.Min (CRA/ARC)" PABMINMAILG@cra-arc.gc.ca
Date: Wed, 24 May 2017 13:10:52 +0000
Subject: Your various correspondence about abusive tax schemes - 2017-02631
To: "motomaniac333@gmail.com" motomaniac333@gmail.com
Mr. David Raymond Amos
motomaniac333@gmail.com
Dear Mr. Amos:
Thank you for your various correspondence about abusive tax schemes, and for your understanding regarding the delay of this response.
This is an opportunity for me to address your concerns about the way the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) deals with aggressive tax planning, tax avoidance, and tax evasion by targeting individuals and groups that promote schemes intended to avoid payment of tax. It is also an opportunity for me to present the Government of Canada’s main strategies for ensuring fairness for all taxpayers.
The CRA’s mission is to preserve the integrity of Canada’s tax system, and it is taking concrete and effective action to deal with abusive tax schemes. Through federal budget funding in 2016 and 2017, the government has committed close to $1 billion in cracking down on tax evasion and combatting tax avoidance at home and through the use of offshore transactions. This additional funding is expected to generate federal revenues of $2.6 billion over five years for Budget 2016, and $2.5 billion over five years for Budget 2017.
More precisely, the CRA is cracking down on tax cheats by hiring more auditors, maintaining its underground economy specialist teams, increasing coverage of aggressive goods and service tax/harmonized sales tax planning, increasing coverage of multinational corporations and wealthy individuals, and taking targeted actions aimed at promoters of abusive tax schemes.
On the offshore front, the CRA continues to develop tools to improve its focus on high‑risk taxpayers. It is also considering changes to its Voluntary Disclosures Program following the first set of program recommendations received from an independent Offshore Compliance Advisory Committee. In addition, the CRA is leading international projects to address the base erosion and profit shifting initiative of the G20 and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and is collaborating with treaty partners to address the Panama Papers leaks.
These actions are evidence of the government’s commitment to protecting tax fairness. The CRA has strengthened its intelligence and technical capacities for the early detection of abusive tax arrangements and deterrence of those who participate in them. To ensure compliance, it has increased the number of actions aimed at promoters who use illegal schemes. These measures include increased audits of such promoters, improved information gathering, criminal investigations where warranted, and better communication with taxpayers.
To deter potential taxpayer involvement in these schemes, the CRA is increasing notifications and warnings through its communications products. It also seeks partnerships with tax preparers, accountants, and community groups so that they can become informed observers who can educate their clients.
The CRA will assess penalties against promoters and other representatives who make false statements involving illegal tax schemes. The promotion of tax schemes to defraud the government can lead to criminal investigations, fingerprinting, criminal prosecution, court fines, and jail time.
Between April 1, 2011, and March 31, 2016, the CRA’s criminal investigations resulted in the conviction of 42 Canadian taxpayers for tax evasion with links to money and assets held offshore. In total, the $34 million in evaded taxes resulted in court fines of $12 million and 734 months of jail time.
When deciding to pursue compliance actions through the courts, the CRA consults the Department of Justice Canada to choose an appropriate solution. Complex tax-related litigation is costly and time consuming, and the outcome may be unsuccessful. All options to recover amounts owed are considered.
More specifically, in relation to the KPMG Isle of Man tax avoidance scheme, publicly available court records show that it is through the CRA’s efforts that the scheme was discovered. The CRA identified many of the participants and continues to actively pursue the matter. The CRA has also identified at least 10 additional tax structures on the Isle of Man, and is auditing taxpayers in relation to these structures.
To ensure tax fairness, the CRA commissioned an independent review in March 2016 to determine if it had acted appropriately concerning KPMG and its clients. In her review, Ms. Kimberley Brooks, Associate Professor and former Dean of the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University, examined the CRA’s operational processes and decisions in relation to the KPMG offshore tax structure and its efforts to obtain the names of all taxpayers participating in the scheme. Following this review, the report, released on May 5, 2016, concluded that the CRA had acted appropriately in its management of the KPMG Isle of Man file. The report found that the series of compliance measures the CRA took were in accordance with its policies and procedures. It was concluded that the procedural actions taken on the KPMG file were appropriate given the facts of this particular case and were consistent with the treatment of taxpayers in similar situations. The report concluded that actions by CRA employees were in accordance with the CRA’s Code of Integrity and Professional Conduct. There was no evidence of inappropriate interaction between KPMG and the CRA employees involved in the case.
Under the CRA’s Code of Integrity and Professional Conduct, all CRA employees are responsible for real, apparent, or potential conflicts of interests between their current duties and any subsequent employment outside of the CRA or the Public Service of Canada. Consequences and corrective measures play an important role in protecting the CRA’s integrity.
The CRA takes misconduct very seriously. The consequences of misconduct depend on the gravity of the incident and its repercussions on trust both within and outside of the CRA. Misconduct can result in disciplinary measures up to dismissal.
All forms of tax evasion are illegal. The CRA manages the Informant Leads Program, which handles leads received from the public regarding cases of tax evasion across the country. This program, which coordinates all the leads the CRA receives from informants, determines whether there has been any non-compliance with tax law and ensures that the information is examined and conveyed, if applicable, so that compliance measures are taken. This program does not offer any reward for tips received.
The new Offshore Tax Informant Program (OTIP) has also been put in place. The OTIP offers financial compensation to individuals who provide information related to major cases of offshore tax evasion that lead to the collection of tax owing. As of December 31, 2016, the OTIP had received 963 calls and 407 written submissions from possible informants. Over 218 taxpayers are currently under audit based on information the CRA received through the OTIP.
With a focus on the highest-risk sectors nationally and internationally and an increased ability to gather information, the CRA has the means to target taxpayers who try to hide their income. For example, since January 2015, the CRA has been collecting information on all international electronic funds transfers (EFTs) of $10,000 or more ending or originating in Canada. It is also adopting a proactive approach by focusing each year on four jurisdictions that raise suspicion. For the Isle of Man, the CRA audited 3,000 EFTs totalling $860 million over 12 months and involving approximately 800 taxpayers. Based on these audits, the CRA communicated with approximately 350 individuals and 400 corporations and performed 60 audits.
In January 2017, I reaffirmed Canada’s important role as a leader for tax authorities around the world in detecting the structures used for aggressive tax planning and tax evasion. This is why Canada works daily with the Joint International Tax Shelter Information Centre (JITSIC), a network of tax administrations in over 35 countries. The CRA participates in two expert groups within the JITSIC and leads the working group on intermediaries and proponents. This ongoing collaboration is a key component of the CRA’s work to develop strong relationships with the international community, which will help it refine the world-class tax system that benefits all Canadians.
The CRA is increasing its efforts and is seeing early signs of success. Last year, the CRA recovered just under $13 billion as a result of its audit activities on the domestic and offshore fronts. Two-thirds of these recoveries are the result of its audit efforts relating to large businesses and multinational companies.
But there is still much to do, and additional improvements and investments are underway.
Tax cheats are having a harder and harder time hiding. Taxpayers who choose to promote or participate in malicious and illegal tax strategies must face the consequences of their actions. Canadians expect nothing less. I invite you to read my most recent statement on this matter at canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/news/2017/03/
statement_from_thehonourabledianelebouthillierministerofnational.
Thank you for taking the time to write. I hope the information I have provided is helpful.
Sincerely,
The Honourable Diane Lebouthillier
Minister of National Revenue
Ottawa forfeited $8.7B in uncollected tax in 2014, says report
CRA 'tax gap' report cautions that much of the billions owed might never be collectable
By Dean Beeby, CBC NewsPosted: Jun 02, 2017 5:00 AM ETCRA deploys new weapons against tax evasion: Freezing assets, seizing property
Canada Revenue Agency vows it 'won't be the last time' the agency uses this tactic
The Canada Revenue Agency is using a new tool in its battle against tax evasion — one that experts say could radically change the way it pursues tax cheats.
For the first time, the agency has used proceeds-of-crime provisions in the law to freeze the assets of individuals charged with tax evasion.
Up to now, those provisions have been used only in cases involving suspected terrorist financing or money laundering.
"That is a tool that we have not used in the past," said Stéphane Bonin of CRA's criminal investigations division.
"I can say that this is indeed the first time, but I can promise you that this is not the last time that we [will use] those provisions of the Criminal Code to restrain or seize assets that tax evaders have acquired through their illegal behaviours."
Sending a message
Marc Tassé, a professor with the University of Ottawa's Telfer School of Management, said CRA's decision to use proceeds-of-crime powers to go after tax dodgers will send a message.
"People who might have done some tax evasion already will see it as a game-changer," he said.
Using the proceeds-of-crime provisions also can block tactics used by some tax evaders, such as declaring corporate bankruptcy to avoid paying the taxes, said Tassé.
"If they were to file for bankruptcy, the government wouldn't be able to recover anything," he said.
"But on the other hand, if they're using proceeds-of-crime provisions of the Criminal Code, then at that point they are able to seize it immediately so it protects the assets."
Tassé said the move may prompt some tax scofflaws to quickly take advantage of the CRA's voluntary disclosure program. A taxpayer who comes forward to CRA and makes a voluntary disclosure about tax evasion still has to pay the taxes owed, but can usually avoid prosecution and penalties.
Case involving rental property income
They are accused of under-reporting their income between January 2008 and December 2013 by $3.1 million, evading $523,532 in taxes.
The CRA said that Ho and Nguyen are "the listed shareholders, directors and/or corporate officers in multiple corporations in the business of residential and commercial real estate rentals and property renovation and development."
"The criminal charges against Ho and Nguyen allege that, from 2008 to 2013, multiple schemes were utilized to under-report their taxable income," said the CRA. "The schemes included appropriating funds from multiple corporations under their control for personal purposes, appropriating corporate rental income and manipulation of supplier invoices."
The agency described the investigation that led to the charges as "serious and complex."
Ho and Nguyen were charged in late October. The CRA has seized or restrained six rental properties and an automobile belonging to the couple.
Golden Dragon Ho Properties made headlines in June 2017 when tenants in some of its properties complained that the natural gas that heated their homes and powered their hot water tanks had been cut off because the landlord hadn't paid the bills.
Leonard Shore, the lawyer representing the couple in the criminal tax evasion case, said he recently received "voluminous" disclosure materials from the prosecution and is now reviewing them.
Shore said the charges came after a lengthy investigation.
"This has been going on for at least a couple of years ... A couple of years ago they conducted several searches into their companies, into their home, into their place of business."
The case returns to court in January.
Elizabeth Thompson can be reached at elizabeth.thompson@cbc.ca