“Audit Protection” Is the Biggest Tax Scam You’re Paying For

When the fine print says more than the tax preparer ever will. Spoiler: you're not paying for protection — you're paying for their mistakes.

Let me tell you a little story.

One of my clients came to me after visiting not one, but two of those big chain tax offices — you know the ones, I don’t even need to name-drop. Their quotes? Three times higher than mine for a basic-ass return with some RRSPs.

When she asked why, both places gave her the same BS line:

“Well, if you get audited… we’ll help you.”

I felt my jaw hit the floor. Then I got mad.

Let’s Call “Audit Protection” What It Really Is: Fear Tax

What they’re really selling is a hidden fee disguised as protection. It’s basically insurance, but the worst kind.

And if you’ve ever dealt with an insurance company, you already know:

They take your money and then find a dozen reasons to do the absolute minimum when shit hits the fan.

Same thing here.

They offer “audit protection” as if CRA’s gonna send a SWAT team to your door because you claimed RRSPs. Spoiler: They’re not.

The Ugly Truth Behind This Scam

These chain shops hire seasonal workers. They’re trained on the software, not the law. Sure, a few good ones slip through — but the rest? Data entry clerks with a quota and a “next client” button.

Now here’s the kicker: They screw up your return. Then they charge you for the privilege of fixing it if CRA notices.

It’s like your mechanic forgetting to tighten your wheels, then selling you a package to come back when they fly off on the highway.

CRA Audits Aren’t That Scary — If You’re Not Hiding a Hot Tub

Let’s be real: If you’re just claiming T4 income and a couple RRSP slips, what the hell is CRA going to audit?

There’s nothing to audit. You’re not running a crypto empire from your garage.

Me? I once moved provinces and claimed a mountain of moving expenses — CRA poked around, I sent receipts, all good. Okay fine, I tried to sneak one spicy deduction in there for fun (they disallowed it, as expected). But that was me testing the system, not you. And I’d never risk that with a client.

What Happens If You Do Get Audited?

Let’s demystify it:

CRA sends a letter. They ask a question. You answer it. The end.

Example:

They once audited a student client and asked for a school slip… which the school already sent directly to CRA. We wasted taxpayer money because someone couldn’t cross-check.

But for you? Take a screenshot, write a short explanation, sip a glass of wine, and move on with your day.

If you’re self-employed? Keep your receipts. Lose them? Bank statements might help — but if you’ve got nothing, that’s when CRA makes you cry.

Keep your stuff. Give it to me. I’ll organize it. If CRA asks questions, I answer them. You get billed for my time — not $500 for a “just in case” plan. And by the way? I was an income tax auditor. I know exactly how they think — and what they’re looking for.

Amazon Sells the Same BS

You ever add something to your cart and Amazon’s like:

“Want to insure this $14.99 pack of socks for $3.99?”

Yeah. Same vibes. Only worse, because CRA audits are already rare, and tax software is CRA-certified. You're literally paying extra to be protected from something they already tested.

What You Actually Need

You don’t need audit insurance.

You need:

• A professional who doesn’t screw up your return

• Someone who reads your actual file, not just what the software spits out

• A preparer who asks, “Where are your RRSPs this year?” not just hits “File and Pray”

At QTTS, I don’t sell fear. I sell good, honest tax prep with someone who can actually defend the numbers if CRA has questions.

CRA sends a letter? You forward it to me. I deal with it. Done.

Final Thought

Recently, I saw a client’s estimate from another firm. She felt something was off.

You know what? She was right.

First question I asked: “Did you contribute to RRSPs? ”She said yes. Their estimate? Didn’t include them. They were about to cost her hundreds. If your accountant isn’t asking basic shit like that, you’re in the wrong place.

That’s like calling IT and they forget to ask if your computer’s plugged in.

So skip the fear tax. Skip the upsells. And definitely skip the guy charging you triple for a basic return with a “bonus” insurance policy you don’t need.

At QTTS, I charge you for the work I do — not the mistakes I might make. And if I do make a mistake? I own it. I fix it. And I sure as hell don’t charge you for it. You don’t need insurance against me — you need someone who takes responsibility.

Mic dropped. Back to filing.