Address Discrepancy on Tax Returns vs. Citizenship Application

[gen_z]

Hi everyone,

I'm filling out my online citizenship application and need to list my addresses for the past 5 years. Here's my situation:

• Actual Addresses:
  • Address A: 2021-2022
  • Address B: 2022-2023
  • Current Address C: Feb 2024 - Present

My accountant helped with my tax returns, and I've just noticed some errors in the addresses they used:

• 2021 Tax Return: Shows Address B (I was actually at A).
• 2023 Tax Return: Shows Address C (my current address). This happened because when I filed in April 2024, they asked for my current address for the 2023 return, but I lived at Address B in 2023 (only moved to current address in Feb 2024).

My questions are:

1. Will IRCC find this discrepancy between my citizenship application (where I'll put the correct addresses) and my CRA tax records an issue?
2. Should I contact the CRA to try and correct my addresses for those past tax years? Is that even possible?
3. What's the best approach:
   • Submit my citizenship application now with the correct addresses and try to fix it with CRA in the meantime?
   • Or should I try to get CRA to update the addresses before submitting my citizenship application?

Any advice or similar experiences would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

 

[armoured]

• 2023 Tax Return: Shows Address C (my current address). This happened because when I filed in April 2024, they asked for my current address for the 2023 return, but I lived at Address B in 2023 (only moved to current address in Feb 2024).

My questions are:

1. Will IRCC find this discrepancy between my citizenship application (where I'll put the correct addresses) and my CRA tax records an issue?
2. Should I contact the CRA to try and correct my addresses for those past tax years? Is that even possible?
3. What's the best approach:
   • Submit my citizenship application now with the correct addresses and try to fix it with CRA in the meantime?
   • Or should I try to get CRA to update the addresses before submitting my citizenship application?

Any advice or similar experiences would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

My guess / intuition is that IRCC is aware that people file taxes after the period in question, and discrepancies between tax return addresses, people using their accountants' addresses, T4s (when employers often don't update on time), etc., are likely extremely common. And not fundamentally their issue or area of interest (if the addresses at least are in Canada/same province) except to extent they show the applicant was likely in Canada.

Use judgment of course. (And I'm not saying that changing provinces means it needs to be explained, unless something weird and needing epxlaining - again, judgment).

So no, I would not bother trying to update the addresses. IMO, FWIW, YMMV, FFS.

 

[Copingwithlife]

Hi everyone,

I'm filling out my online citizenship application and need to list my addresses for the past 5 years. Here's my situation:

• Actual Addresses:
  • Address A: 2021-2022
  • Address B: 2022-2023
  • Current Address C: Feb 2024 - Present

My accountant helped with my tax returns, and I've just noticed some errors in the addresses they used:

• 2021 Tax Return: Shows Address B (I was actually at A).
• 2023 Tax Return: Shows Address C (my current address). This happened because when I filed in April 2024, they asked for my current address for the 2023 return, but I lived at Address B in 2023 (only moved to current address in Feb 2024).

My questions are:

1. Will IRCC find this discrepancy between my citizenship application (where I'll put the correct addresses) and my CRA tax records an issue?
2. Should I contact the CRA to try and correct my addresses for those past tax years? Is that even possible?
3. What's the best approach:
   • Submit my citizenship application now with the correct addresses and try to fix it with CRA in the meantime?
   • Or should I try to get CRA to update the addresses before submitting my citizenship application?

Any advice or similar experiences would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

You can call up the CRA and have them modify the address for the dates / address
I used to take calls for the CRA

If you changed provinces then it’s mandatory the provinces match where you resided . Since benefits & credits are provincially based

 

[gen_z]

My guess / intuition is that IRCC is aware that people file taxes after the period in question, and discrepancies between tax return addresses, people using their accountants' addresses, T4s (when employers often don't update on time), etc., are likely extremely common. And not fundamentally their issue or area of interest (if the addresses at least are in Canada/same province) except to extent they show the applicant was likely in Canada.

Use judgment of course. (And I'm not saying that changing provinces means it needs to be explained, unless something weird and needing epxlaining - again, judgment).

So no, I would not bother trying to update the addresses. IMO, FWIW, YMMV, FFS.

Thanks so much, really appreciate it, that's good to know. I will submit it then.

I havent changed provinces, its all within the same city.

 

[gen_z]

You can call up the CRA and have them modify the address for the dates / address
I used to take calls for the CRA

If you changed provinces then it’s mandatory the provinces match where you resided . Since benefits & credits are provincially based

thanks a lot, I havent changed province or city.

I did call CRA today, they said I need to mail a letter, I cant do it over the phone, and its going to take 4-6 weeks.

 

[armoured]

Thanks so much, really appreciate it, that's good to know. I will submit it then.

I havent changed provinces, its all within the same city.

I leave the question of whether you need to update the addresses from past etc. My point again is I don't think IRCC is going to be looking at the addresses, their purposes are different when checking tax filings for citzienship - i.e. did the person file as required.

 

[Copingwithlife]

I leave the question of whether you need to update the addresses from past etc. My point again is I don't think IRCC is going to be looking at the addresses, their purposes are different when checking tax filings for citzienship - i.e. did the person file as required.

Only replied because the OP was concerned

If sending off a letter can alleviate his worries ….then send a letter

 

[armoured]

Only replied because the OP was concerned

If sending off a letter can alleviate his worries ….then send a letter

No, you're right, I should have been clear that the OP may have responsibilities / need to update with CRA, and I do not know about those - I was only speaking about the IRCC part.

I do suspect that apart from the province part - although some other cases like northern/rural where benefits could change ? - having address on file is chronic issue with CRA and not usually critical.

But yes, I was only writing what IRCC cares about and think they only / mostly care about in Canada (lesser degree possibly which province).