Last Minute Guidance and Information for Tax Filers

Accountants and tax preparers all over Canada are waiting with bated breath for the end of April and dreaded busy season, when sleep will no longer be a luxury and dreams cease to be tax reconciliation exercises.  At this point in the month, most tax filers have submitted their info and efiled (or mailed in) their tax returns.  Of course, there are always a few stragglers (accountants among them) who have either have not had the time to prepare their tax files or simply tend towards the easy yet stressful path of procrastination. For those that are in the straggler category, below is some guidance to help facilitate the process:

Click to read more ...

7 Measures in the 2013 Federal Budget that Affect Your Small Business

While the Federal 2013 budget or the (more interestingly named) Economic Action Plan delivered on March 21, 2013 was not earth shattering in any way, it is interesting to note how well Canada is performing relative to other countries in the G7.  According to the EAP, The Canadian economy has experienced the best performance among the Group of Seven (G-7) countries over the recovery, with the strongest record of economic growth and job creation.  950,000 jobs have been created since July 2009, the majority of which are full time positions in high wage industries. Additonally, Canada is only G-7 country to also have more than fully recovered business investment loss during the recession.  And although the recovery has been broad based, investment in the manufacturing sector has been particularly strong.

The EAP also notes that while GDP growth over the next five years remains unchanged, expected growth for 2013 has been revised to 1.6% down from 2.0%.  This will be offset by higher estimated growth between 2015 and 2017.  Consequently, economists expect lower inflation in 2013.  The CPI inflation in January 2013, compared with the prior year, was 0.5% while inflation for all of 2013 is expected to be lower than average at 1.3%.   They also expect that the Canadian dollar will remain at par with the US dollar.

The 2013 budget introduces and extends certain initiatives for small business, while also impacting taxes payable for small business owners:

Click to read more ...

Tax Tidbits for Small Business Owners: Hiring Credit, NAICS Code and EI Contributions for Corporate Owners

It can be difficult for small business owners to keep on top of the myriad of tax rules, interpretations and changes.  Whether you depend on your accountant or take a more active role in the administration of your business, being aware of the rules can help save you money, time and the displeasure of the revenue agencies  .  Below are some tax issues that have come up recently for my clients.

Click to read more ...

Are you Ready to Make the Transition to Self-Employment

There are many employees out there to whom the promise of self-employment aka freelancing aka independent consulting (all of whom are ultimately small business owners) seems extremely appealing  (particularly with a comfortable pair of pajamas).  You might crave the feeling of accomplishment that is no longer possible at your current place of employment; you might want greater flexibility or feel that you are not being compensated enough for your skills or perseverance.  Or you simply might want a change of pace.

While being self-employed can accomplish all of these goals, the transition itself is not as simple as it might seem nor is it the right decision for everybody.  There are many factors that need to be considered and many mental and financial preparations that should be made prior to taking this potentially life altering decision.

Click to read more ...

Information on Filing T4s/RL-1s and T4As for Small Business Owners

When I was employee I never really gave much thought to the T4 (and the Quebec equivalent RL-1) process .  I suppose I expected that someone, somewhere pressed a button and they would magically appear as an envelope on my desk.  As I transitioned to being an independent small business accountant, who was now responsible for preparing this information and providing guidance to my clients, I realized that the process was somewhat more complicated.  Luckily there is software and a variety of resources to help you with the process.  

Click to read more ...

Highlights of Changes to Federal and Quebec Personal Tax Rates, Credits and Amounts for 2013.

Every year Revenue Canada and Quebec increase the thresholds for tax and benefit amounts to reflect annual inflation rates which is based on the consumer price index data compiled by Statistics Canada. The information is communicated via a neatly organized table on their website, to which links are provided below, for those of you who can’t get enough financial data.  For everyone else I have highlighted some of the more interesting changes

Click to read more ...

Guidance on QST Change in 2013 and Updating your Accounting Software

For the third year in a row, the Quebec Sales Tax (QST) will be changing.  Fortunately, the change is not to the rate, which effectively remains the same, but rather an effort to harmonize the QST with the GST. Consequently, the most significant change is the method by which the rate is calculated.

In the past, the QST used to be calculated on the total sale plus GST.  As a result the published rate was 9.5% while the effective rate was actually 9.975%.  The harmonization of the GST and the QST requires that the QST be charged on the sale amount only, without the GST.  As such the published rate and the effective rate will both be 9.975%.  This is illustrated below:

Click to read more ...

10 Year End Tax Strategies to help Small Business Owners Improve their Bottom Line

Ready or not, the holiday season is upon us and the end of the year is fast approaching.  While it is quite a nice time of year (cold weather notwithstanding) there are many additional stresses –purchasing the perfect Christmas sweater, managing the logistics of family holiday time, making travel arrangements, all while trying to not to gain a million pounds.  This can be especially trying for the small business owner, who in addition to managing their business and the holidays, must carve out some time to ensure that there are ready for year end and maximizing their tax deductions while also planning for next year.  To help ease the stress I have compiled a list of tax tips to contemplate:

Click to read more ...

4 Simple Financial Analyses to Help Measure the Success of Your Small Business

As the year draws to a close, many small business owners are taking stock of their business, basking in their successes and trying to comprehend their mistakes.  Unfortunately a big picture view does not always immediately reveal itself– a thorough understanding of your business requires at least some analysis and introspection.  You may be tempted to look at cash (or lack thereof) in your bank account or your net profit , however these are not always reliable indicators of success or failure , particularly when taken in isolation.  Every small business owner should identify the specific needs and constraints of their business to determine the optimal analysis  required to assess its financial performance.  Some general analysis that most businesses can benefit from are presented below:

Click to read more ...

How to Change Your Personal Tax Return After It Has Been Filed

Despite your best efforts (and/or your accountants’), occasional errors or omissions relating to your personal tax return are unavoidable.  It is possible that you forgot to include a tax slip, overstated your expenses or was unaware of a specific tax credit.  Luckily there is fairly simple mechanism that allows you to change your tax return, which can be done online or by filling out a form and mailing it in.

Click to read more ...