I discovered income I never reported. Should I use voluntary disclosure?

Arsen Accounting Services · Question 109 · Sources checked October 29, 2026

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The right correction process depends on the omission, the years involved, and any CRA contact already received. The Voluntary Disclosures Program can provide relief for eligible disclosures, but an ordinary return adjustment and a VDP application are not interchangeable.

Check the current program before filing

CRA changed the program for applications received from October 1, 2025. It now distinguishes general relief for normally unprompted applications from partial relief for normally prompted applications. Being under a relevant audit or investigation can prevent eligibility. Taxes remain payable even where relief is granted.

Do not decide whether a disclosure is “voluntary” just by whether a letter arrived. The content and timing of CRA communications matter. Provide the full correspondence to the person assessing your options.

Official guidance: [1], [2].

Start with a complete reconstruction

Suppose you find several years of omitted platform income. Collect the transaction records for each year, separate sales from transfers, and identify supported expenses. A correction should explain the actual reporting problem, rather than simply adding a round income estimate to the latest return.

Prepare these records

• A year-by-year description of the errors or omissions.
• Original returns, assessments, and available source documents.
• Every relevant CRA notice, call record, or audit communication.
• An estimate of tax and a realistic payment proposal if needed.

Discuss the disclosure route before submitting piecemeal corrections that may complicate the review. Ask what supporting years and documents are required under the current policy. No adviser can promise acceptance or a particular relief amount. The immediate practical goal is a complete, accurate correction and a properly considered application where the program applies.