Articles

More and more businesses are facing a CRA audit these days. Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has especially ramped up audits of small- to medium-sized enterprises. Knowing how CRA selects taxpayers for audit, as well as what to expect during an audit, could make you better prepared if you’re singled out. Audits are nothing to fear if … Read more

Making Life Less Taxing for 60 Years and Counting It all started 60 years ago. It was the early 1950s and for the first time in Canadian history farmers were subject to income tax. Luckily for farmers a man named Sam Ibbotson had created a solution for farmers in need of tax advice and tax … Read more

Tax returns that contain errors or omissions, accidental or intentional, are not uncommon. If you catch such an error on your tax return, it might be tempting to ignore it, especially if it’s in your favour. Don’t! Simply hoping that the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) doesn’t find out is not a recommended course of action. … Read more

As the controversy surrounding certain senators’ expenses swirls in Ottawa, what better to time than now to post a reminder of the rules regarding claiming travel expenses as a tax deduction. For those operating sole proprietorships or partnerships, you can deduct travel expenses you incur to earn business income. Travel expenses include: Public transportation fares … Read more

Apple is renowned worldwide for its creativity. Think iPad. Think iPhone. Think iMac. The list goes on. In fact, Think Different was the company ad slogan in the 90s. Today, however, a different sort of creativity has put Apple in the headlines. Let’s call it creative tax accounting. At the crux of the controversy is … Read more

In part two of a two-part series, we offer tips on how to get started with your company’s bookkeeping. Previously, in part one, we outlined reasons why bookkeeping is important for your business. So, let’s get going. What do you need to know to get up and running with your company bookkeeping? What Records does the … Read more

In an earlier blog post we wrote about the importance of getting started early with your tax planning. One of the key aspects of early tax planning you’ll need to consider is your company’s bookkeeping, or record keeping. Bookkeeping refers to the organization and storage of accounting and financial documents such as ledgers, journals, financial … Read more

Win the Trip of a Lifetime Sponsored by FBC! UPDATE: Check out the submissions and vote for your favourites. Clear your calendar for July 21st – August 3rd, 2013. Attend the 19th International Farm Management Congress in Poland this summer, all expenses paid. Produce a 1-minute video demonstrating Canadian Farmers Managing for Success for your … Read more

Whew! The April 30th tax deadline has come and gone and you did it. You filed your 2012 taxes on time. Congratulations! You deserve a pat on the back. OK. Now let’s get back to work. If you’re like many taxpayers, your tax season was chaotic, disorganized, and stressful. How can you make future tax … Read more

It’s probably not news to you, but the HST in British Columbia, which is a combination of a 5% federal component and a 7% provincial component, will be replaced by the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and a B.C. provincial sales tax (PST) on April 1, 2013, subject to some transitional rules. All businesses will … Read more