It would take the average reader more than 59 hours to read it (without any breaks)OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) is reminding Canadians that with only about two days left to the April 30 midnight tax filing deadline, it may already be too late to try and read the federal Income Tax Act. That’s because it’s 3,060 pages long – that’s 1,065,588 words – and would take the average reader more than 59 hours to read (not that many would want to).
“There is no doubt that our tax system has become increasingly complex over the years, to the point of absurdity” said CTF Federal Director Aaron Wudrick.
First passed in 1917 as a “temporary measure” to help cover the cost of the First World War, Canada’s federal tax law was originally 11 pages long. By 1948, it had grown to 88 pages. After a series of amendments and reforms in the 1960’s, many complained that the 1970 edition, at 424 pages, was too complicated for the average Canadian. By comparison, Leo Tolstoy’s epic novel “War and Peace” is a mere 587,000 words.
“The Trudeau government has indicated a willingness to review the tax code,” added Wudrick, “They would do well to remember that a simpler, lower, flatter system will reduce the amount of time and resources that must be spent by both Canadians and the CRA to ensure compliance with the Act.”
