Frequently Asked Questions

We offer a complete financial service including tax planning, preparation, audit representation and financial planning – year-round, for one fee. This integrated approach saves you the most tax over the long-term. Here are the key benefits of an FBC Membership:

• We go above and beyond what other firms can offer when it comes to tax preparation. That’s because we have our own proprietary tax and data systems, designed specifically for farm and small business owners. Thanks to our unique software, we're able to provide a custom tax strategy for your business, maximized for the current and future years.
• We offer unlimited consultation on tax matters. FBC Membership includes year-round access to our team of tax experts at no extra cost. You can call or email us as many times as you want - we never charge per phone call!
• We offer Audit Representation. If you’re audited by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) on returns prepared by FBC, we’ll represent you and liaise with auditors on your behalf. You’ll never have to deal with the CRA on your own.

Our time-saving business support services are available to you at preferred rates.

By offering ongoing support throughout the year, we’re able to provide you with a sustainable, long-term tax strategy for your business. Thanks to regular communication, we really get to know you and your business. We know what your struggles are, and what your dreams are. We become partners in your business, and provide you with ongoing, personalized tax strategies that optimize your tax return. And we’re only a phone call or email away anytime you have questions!

We have more than 65 years of experience working with farmers and small business owners in trucking, trades and construction to help them succeed. Not only will your business benefit from our industry knowledge and expertise, but our proprietary tax software, ATOM, is designed specifically for farm and small business. Combined with our knowledge of income tax laws and CRA practices, ATOM allows us to run thousands of different tax scenarios, ensuring our Members' returns are accurate, comprehensive and optimized for their personal and business situation. If you’re interested in joining FBC as a Member, we provide a free review where we conduct an in-depth needs analysis and determine if your business is a good fit for us.

Each FBC Member is assigned a Local Tax Consultant (LTC). Your LTC creates your long-term tax plan, completes data collection at a time and place convenient for you, and helps you determine how your tax position will be impacted when considering important business decisions throughout the year. You’ll also have a dedicated Member Care Coordinator (MCC) available to you. This friendly FBC representative is your primary point of contact for any questions/concerns/feedback and will ensure you’re receiving an exceptional service experience. If you have questions they can’t answer, there’s a team of experts waiting to help you. So you might hear from a branch manager, audit coordinator or tax analyst – all part of our amazing team that works together year-round to optimize your return.

FBC tax appointments can be completed via a virtual meeting platform. If you would rather meet face-to-face, we will follow public health guidelines and protocols for limiting the spread of the virus. This includes wearing masks, maintaining social distance, and confirming that you and your family are healthy and symptom-free. Let us know which option you prefer, and we will arrange a tax appointment for you at your convenience.

If you’re an FBC Member and need to drop something off to us, we recommend using our Tax Advantage mobile app to upload and deliver documents to us. Download your app through Google Play or the App Store. The app is free, but for security purposes, we have set up Multi Factor Authentication to verify your identity before you can access any records through the app. It's easy to set up but if you run into any issues, please call 1-800-265-1002 or send an email to fbc@fbc.ca.

Yes! FBC Tax Advantage is available exclusively to FBC Members. With our app, you can monitor the status of your tax return – knowing which information or documents have been submitted to your FBC file and which are needed to complete your return. You can easily upload images of your tax slips, expense receipts, charitable donations or medical expenses directly into your FBC tax preparation file - anywhere, anytime. That means no more scraps of paper in a shoe box, no more lost receipts and no more missed deductions. Your tax information is automatically (and securely) loaded into our proprietary software allowing FBC to calculate the maximum tax savings for you. If you’re an FBC Member, download your app through Google Play or the App Store. The app is free, but for security purposes, we have set up Multi Factor Authentication to verify your identity before you can access any records through the app. It's easy to set up but if you run into any issues, please call 1-800-265-1002 or send an email to fbc@fbc.ca.

Using the FBC Tax Advantage mobile app is the easiest way to scan and send us your tax documents before your virtual tax appointment. If you’re an FBC Member, download your app through Google Play or the App Store. The app is free, but for security purposes, we have set up Multi Factor Authentication to verify your identity before you can access any records through the app. It's easy to set up but if you run into any issues, please call 1-800-265-1002 or send an email to fbc@fbc.ca.

When you join FBC, besides adding a tax team to your business, you’re also adding a team of financial advisors who can help you plan for the future. If you're thinking about retirement, succession planning or selling your business, our financial and estate planning division is here for you. There are many opportunities you can take to minimize your tax hit from these life transitions - but only if you plan in advance. Our professionals can help you develop a plan customized to your business and family, making the planning process less stressful.

Our portfolio of optional business services is available to FBC Members at preferred rates. Our Members have access to the expertise of an experienced team, all working together with a single purpose – to save you time and money. Each FBC Membership also includes access to our Financial & Estate Planning division, and a Health Spending Account to minimize your medical expenses and offer additional savings to your employees.

It’s not uncommon for independent businesses to fall behind on their tax returns. If you have outstanding returns from prior years, we can help. We’ll assist you in getting current with a manageable plan that optimizes tax savings to give you peace of mind.

Knowing which business structure is right for you is the first step in determining if you’re paying the lowest tax possible. Your Local Tax Consultant will help you decide if you should incorporate. If you do, our legal support team will take care of everything for you. We’ll register your business, set up the articles of incorporation, manage your minute books, and handle your annual filings.

If your business is incorporated, Minute Book compliance and maintenance is one of those obligations that often gets overlooked and slips through the cracks. Yet banks, lenders, investors and government agencies require current corporate minute books. Our FBC Minute Book service will handle the details, deadlines and paperwork – we’ll get it done right and on time. We keep your Minute Books up to date and accurate each year when preparing and filing your taxes – and we offer a secure digital solution. This way, we protect the integrity of your business, and you can easily access your files whenever you want.

Yes, we can! Through our LOOP Virtual payroll service, we’ll ensure you stay compliant with CRA guidelines, and handle all the paperwork so you can focus on bigger things, like your own success. Connect with us here.

Absolutely! With our LOOP Virtual Bookkeeping Service, we help farms and small businesses get organized and stay that way - no matter where they are - so they can focus on success. Connect with us here.

FBC is committed to protecting the privacy of your personal information. We take our responsibility to respect and protect the confidentiality and security of your personal information very seriously. You can view FBC’s Privacy Policy on our website.

We have a comprehensive resource centre for Canadian farmers and small business owners. Learn the latest tax updates and money-saving strategies for your business from our library of articles, eBooks, webinars, videos, calculators and tip sheets. Everything is free! And if you join FBC, we’ll send you an exclusive Member newsletter with breaking news about important tax updates and government programs that could help your business. Our farm Members also have access to a weekly market advice column.

To stay in the loop whenever we publish a new resource, sign up for the FBC Insights newsletter for insider tips on accounting, tax and ways to save money for you and your business. And everyone who signs up for our newsletter is entered into a monthly draw to win a $100 Visa gift card!