Lies, lies, lies

I work as a manager at a high-end condo complex and the chickens are coming home to roost for people who have had their investment condos sitting empty, or were using them for illegal vacation rentals. I had a few people asking me to write letters for them to submit to CRA because they're being nailed by the empty homes tax and they want me to lie for them, to the revenue agency, telling them their suites were occupied. When I tell them "no", I don't want to get involved in their personal, financial affairs, I get e-mails, boy do I get e-mails, angry all-caps or sarcastic replies. I use to be afraid of people being angry or having bad opinions of me but I just don't care anymore, screw them.

17 Comments

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Anonymous

Apr 1, 2021 at 12:43am

I'm surprised they haven't tried to bribe you. Some people think the answer to everything is money, like those two guys in kits at that pizza pizza. "I'm worth 50 million dollars!!!"

16 5Rating: +11

Yuri O.

Apr 1, 2021 at 1:26am

You’re also saving yourself a bunch of years in prison.

31 5Rating: +26

Anonymous

Apr 1, 2021 at 3:35am

You are being asked to break the law?

Geez, talk about an easy solution. Tell the greedy, incompetent wannabe criminals to go jump into the sea.

17 3Rating: +14

But..

Apr 1, 2021 at 7:07am

there are PM that will "cover" for them. I wish I didn't know this, but 90% of them make up the forms to the gov for a large fee. Sad state of affairs

6 4Rating: +2

OP here

Apr 1, 2021 at 9:18am

Two people told me they were being audited. They always had mystery guests staying in their suite, they were always "friends or family". When I tell them "That's fine, you just need to fill out some paperwork saying you're taking responsibility for them as guests in your suite". They won't because it's their property and it none of my business who they have staying there. I think the government discovered their illegal, under the table, vacation rental and are now asking for some back taxes. So yeah, it really is none of my business and its going to stay that way. People wonder why they didn't try bribing me? I think in the minds of the people concerned, they are owners, I work for THEM! That seems to include lying to Revenue Canada on their behalf.

21 4Rating: +17

Thank-you!

Apr 1, 2021 at 10:49am

One of the beliefs that sustains me is that the world is full of unsung heroes - people like you who are genuinely good people, who do what's right even when it's not convenient or easy. Those kinds of taxes are the only way we're ever going to turn our housing market back into a housing market, so what you're doing is really important. Thank-you!

31 7Rating: +24

Hmmm

Apr 1, 2021 at 11:34am

What if you forwarded these threats to the Vacancy Tax Office at the City of Vancouver? That would be interesting.

27 3Rating: +24

I can't...

Apr 1, 2021 at 12:10pm

... see why you wouldn't help them out if you were reasonable. They can toss you a few bucks at Christmas, etc. Working out on these people doesn't benefit you at all, unless you think somehow this tax will go to you. Are you in a Government Union? =]

3 43Rating: -40

???

Apr 1, 2021 at 1:09pm

When Rich people don’t pay their taxes, honest working people have to make up the balance. So yeah, you need to take a stand.

25 2Rating: +23

Uhhh

Apr 1, 2021 at 2:00pm

Vancouver is one of the most expensive cities to live in IN THE WORLD. People playing monopoly like this with housing is why. Time to start squatting.

14 2Rating: +12

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