Posts

7 common tax mistakes small business owners should avoid

Canadian entrepreneurs are some of the best in the world when it comes to starting, managing and growing their small to medium-sized businesses. But most have little or no accounting experience, particularly in the start-up years when their energy is focused on making their company a success. All too often this results in avoidable–and potentially […]

2017 Federal Budget Commentary

The Federal Government’s 2017–18 Budget gives Canadians a taste of what they might expect over the next couple of years: attempted efficiencies, closed tax loopholes, steady deficits, and a touch of caution. Budget 2017 outlines only $200 million in net new spending, but also an increase to the deficit of more than $5 billion for […]

Foreign investors: 4 things to know before investing in Canada

Political instability, tumbling currency values, economic uncertainty—they’re common reasons why high net-worth foreign investors often try to extract funds from their home countries and search for financial refuge elsewhere. Many look to Canada as that safe-haven. Why? Put simply, our $1.6 trillion economy is one of the largest and most stable in the world. The […]

CRA audits: How to reduce the risk

If two of the nastier inevitabilities in life are death and taxes, then tax audits would certainly rank as one of the more unpleasant possibilities. More so when you consider that Canada Revenue Agency’s ability to monitor tax filings for inconsistencies and to detect patterns of potential error or fraud are only becoming more sophisticated […]

Life insurance changes could impact tax-planning strategy for entrepreneurs

Recent changes to federal tax rules related to life insurance policies could have a significant impact on tax, estate and financial planning for some entrepreneurs. The good news: there’s still time to act and adjust your insurance strategy before these changes take effect in 2017. It’s important to note that tax rules related to life […]

How CRA’s crackdown is becoming even more targeted, aggressive

Entrepreneurs hoping that Canada Revenue Agency would eventually ease its audit-focused crackdown after a recent uptick in enforcement activity may be dismayed to learn that the exact opposite is playing out. In fact, the agency is becoming even more targeted and aggressive in its activities. What we’re seeing now are a new range of enforcement […]

New restrictions on foreign investors leave more questions than answers

When Bank of Montreal and Bank of Nova Scotia, two of Canada’s largest banks, recently announced the introduction of new or revised mortgage lending rules for foreigners and international students, many across the country hailed the decision. Those sentiments were strongest in cities such as Vancouver and Toronto, where foreign buyers have been blamed at […]

Entrepreneurs on alert after new round of bogus CRA calls

The stream of fraudulent ‘Canada Revenue Agency’ (CRA) calls continues. After notifying entrepreneurs just last year about a spate of bogus phone solicitations and threats from callers purporting to be CRA representatives, it’s clear that the fraudsters are up to their old tricks again. Last week one of our clients received a call claiming to […]

CRA changes treatment of U.S. LLPs, LLLPs

Canadian investors received some bad news from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) recently. Ottawa announced that it is changing the treatment of U.S. limited liability partnerships (LLPs) and limited liability limited partnerships (LLLPs). Moving forward subject to transitional relief for structures currently in place, LLPs and LLLPs will be taxed as corporations in Canada. The […]

Positive news on tax rules for spousal, common-law, alter ego, joint partner trusts

Effective January 1, 2016 there will be significant changes to the taxation of trusts and estates, including alter ego, joint spousal / common-law partner and spousal / common-law partner trusts. There has been significant uncertainty in the tax community as a result of the impending legislation. Specifically, the new subsection 104(13.4) of the Federal Income […]