Man who returned mistaken CRA refund still waiting for owed tax money

A Thunder Bay, Ontario resident says he returned a mistaken $24,274.26 tax deposit to the Canada Revenue Agency last year, but more than a year later he still cannot access his CRA account and has not received the refunds he says he is owed. Alex Pilon says he was expecting more than $3,300 in total for his 2024 and 2025 tax refunds, plus a GST/HST credit, but has faced long delays and repeated calls to the agency. The CRA did not comment on his individual case, citing privacy rules. The case comes as the tax watchdog and the union representing CRA workers describe broader service problems, including long processing times and complaint backlogs. The union says staffing shortages remain a major issue, while the federal government says the agency has taken steps to improve service. Pilon says he has also sought help from his local MP and hopes his experience will push the CRA to resolve similar cases more quickly.