Can Canada Revenue Agency do this?

I'm aware that governments in general have sweeping powers when it comes to collecting taxes, but this appears to have overtones of totalitarianism and breech of rights with regard to fairness. I suggest your first step should be to consult with a free legal aid/advisory service in your area. You'll also need to apply for short term financial assistance if a government social security service exists in your area. Failing that, there may be short term loan companies who can advance you money based on your next expected income.

Unfortunately they do have powers beyond the ordinary to collect. Now if the notice you received was an assessment or reassessment then it should have shown the numbers of how they arrived at their figures. Reread it carefully. You should have called and stated you object and discussed their numbers. If what they said was wrong and you have proof (but failed to file this proof) you request time to file an amendment or appeal and such. This is normally granted and no action is taken until after review of your new filing. Then if you still owe you make arrangement for a payment plan.

By telling them that you're not paying until whenever... when the notice should have contained the information basically is a statement of non payment, not the right tactic.

Have you been filing annual tax returns? If so, you always receive a Notice of Assessment after you file explaining why they agreed with your calculations or not. It seems to me that you do not manage your finances very well.

interior the final earnings Tax handbook, it says that your return could be reviewed at any time. for this reason, possibly the CRA has desperate to study your return till now sending your refund. the reason could be a secret, and you are able to in no way locate out the reason.

I dunno guy but if they did it must be legal. You must owe them for a good bit of time.. Also a quick note.. if you owe the any large outstanding debt , the IRS or any revenue company stay away from banks..