Tax Accountant
May 11, 2022
Published by Michael Blank at May 11, 2022
The CRA is starting to collect and issue more and more notices about overpayments of CERB, CRB and CoVid Support programs. Review the rules carefully, did you truly qualify? If you need help, contact your tax accountant. https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/news/2022/05/update-on-the-government-of-canada-issuing-debt-notification-to-ineligible-canada-emergency-response-benefit-recipients.html
February 21, 2018
Published by Michael Blank at February 21, 2018
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To prepare for Income Tax, there are basically three themes: Sources of Income. Sources of Deductions (money spent to earn income). Sources of Credits. Make three lists with those titles and you are ready to start! Some things change over time. The New Child Tax Benefit doesn’t pay out as much as the old system did, especially as family income increases. However, it is tax-free (one doesn’t add it to one’s income). Pension income splitting will likely be around for awhile. Family Income Splitting (income splitting when children are present) has been removed by the current government. It may be […]
March 11, 2017
Published by Michael Blank at March 11, 2017
In my previous blog, I introduced the Principal Residence Exemption, or PRE. There is a new reporting requirement on the sale of the principle residence. I’ll discuss it briefly here. As always, discuss complex tax issues with a tax accountant. Tax is often the biggest cash disbursement for most years, so proper planning may save you money. For a long time there has been Principal Residence Exemption. A couple buys a home, designates it as their principle residence, and sell it years later. There are no taxes on capital gains if the PRE is used. Until recently, the use of […]
March 9, 2017
Published by Michael Blank at March 9, 2017
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There is a new reporting requirement for the Principal Residence Exemption (PRE). When you sell your principle residence and use the PRE, you have to report it. First, I’ll discuss the PRE and in the next blog I’ll discuss the new report. As tax is the largest payment one makes each year, it is a good idea to have your taxes reviewed by a tax accountant. The Principal Residence Exemption is an opportunity to keep the capital gains tax-free on your principle residence that you have owed for longer than a year, and where you have lived for at […]
March 5, 2017
Published by Michael Blank at March 5, 2017
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Taxable Benefits are valuable services or access to items that one gets from work. In a nutshell, if you have access to something or some service because you work at a job, and your neighbour does not, that is a taxable benefit. Taxable benefits are a complex topic. Consider getting a tax accountant to help with personal income tax preparation. One example is a company car. There are two types of taxable benefits there: A standby charge and an operating charge. A standby charge is a taxable benefit just because you have access to the car 24/7. An operating charge […]
February 23, 2017
Published by Michael Blank at February 23, 2017
On December 15th, 2016, Royal Assent was given to C-29, a budget implementation bill. C-29 means big changes for companies using the Small Business Deduction. Previously, I discussed the Small Business Deduction, who uses it, and what C-29 changed. Here, I will briefly discuss the effects on small businesses. As always, consult a tax accountant to review your situation and for tax planning. It used to be the biggest issue was Association: if two companies had 25% or more ownership in common, they were Associated, and had to share the $500,000 Small Business Deduction. Now, Specified Corporate Income goes […]
February 20, 2017
Published by Michael Blank at February 20, 2017
As of December 2016, Bill C-29 is poised to make major changes to Small Business. In previous blogs, I discussed what the Small Business Deduction is, and what companies can use the Small Business Deduction. In this blog I’ll review the changes, and in the next blog I’ll discuss C-29’s impact. As always, talk to a tax accountant to review your particular situation and to get involved in tax planning. There is a new definition of Specified Corporate Income (new Section 125(7) of the Act). If two companies held by related owners do business with each other, that income won’t […]
November 27, 2016
Published by Michael Blank at November 27, 2016
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In the normal course of business, bartering occurs. It is important to carefully approach this as the tax laws are strict. Basically, one should include the regular normal income as revenue and the cost of the barter as an expense. For example, let’s say John rents a basement apartment for $600 a month to Stuart. John and Stuart agree to cut the rent by $100 a month for snow removal, and lawn maintenance. It is a net of $500 income for John. The CRA wants to see the $600 and $100 figures in the income and expense areas, respectively. For […]
March 17, 2016
Published by Michael Blank at March 17, 2016
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I recently worked with a client who wants to sell a rental property (house). The client lived in the house until a few years ago. If they choose that house as a ‘Principle Residence’ and use the ‘Principle Residence Exemption’ for the years they lived in the house, the years they occupied the house has no capital gains payable when sold. Now, the years when they used the house as a rental leads to rental income and also capital gains (if the house increased in value over the rental years). They thought it would be straightforward capital gains on the […]
March 12, 2016
Published by Michael Blank at March 12, 2016
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The CRA started a new AutoFill Return (AFR) service. Basically, the data the CRA has is downloaded into tax software. If one hires a tax preparer, make sure they have level 2 of the online access as it is required ( T1013 form). Is it faster? yes. However, there is no guarantee as to the quality of the information. For example, when I first used AFR for a client’s file I downloaded all the CRA information. All the data that had income (i.e. T4s, T5s) was downloaded. Good! However, a few deductions were missing. I guess the CRA missed those […]