Criminal investigations

The mandate of the Criminal Investigations Program is to investigate suspected cases of tax evasion, fraud and other serious violations of tax laws.

Tax fraud and evasion represent the most flagrant instances of non-compliance with tax statutes. During 2010-2011, 129 income tax and GST/HST investigations were referred to the Public Prosecution Service of Canada (PPSC) for prosecution, compared to 149 cases in the previous year.

As a result of referrals to the PPSC (current and previous years), 204 cases resulted in convictions for tax evasion or fraud in 2010-2011. The courts imposed $22.8 million in fines and 47.08 years of jail sentences.

These convictions related to revenue loss of $25.4 million. The CRA obtained convictions in 100% of cases prosecuted.

In addition, the Ministère du Revenu du Québec, acting on our behalf, referred 40 GST investigation cases for prosecution and, based on these and previous year referrals, Quebec courts convicted individuals and businesses in 43 cases, and imposed $862,040 in fines. Quebec GST convictions related to revenue loss of $1.7 million.

Court convictions are publicized in local, regional and national media to communicate the consequences of fraud committed against the Canadian public and to maximize the deterrent effect of these convictions.

To view convictions by province, please visit our Convictions page.

For more information on the results of our compliance activities, refer to our Annual Reports to Parliament.

Related topics:

• Come to us, before we go to you
• Project Trident