Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions about FBC Tax Services, Membership, Business & Financial Services for Canadian Small Business Owners and Farmers

What's included with an FBC Membership?

We offer complete financial support including tax planning, preparation, audit representation, and access to financial planning and business services through the Harvest Network - 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. 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 Protection. 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.

Financial planning and business support services delivered through Harvest Network licensed specialists are available to you at preferred rates.

Why a Membership model?

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!

Is FBC a good fit for my business?

We have more than 70 years of experience working with Canadian small business owners, farmers, trades, construction, and more 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 to maximize tax saving opportunities 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 we're a good fit for your business. Book your free, no-obligation consultation by clicking here or call us at 1-800-265-1002.

Who is my contact when I join FBC as a Member?

Each FBC Member is assigned an Advisor. Your Advisor 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 complete financial picture.

Can I meet with someone in person?

We can meet you at your home, office or place or business. For the ultimate in convenience, we also provide virtual meeting and service options. "Whether it's on-the-go, at your job site, or at your kitchen table, we are where you need us to be." Call our offices at 1-800-265-1002 for more information.

Can I visit your offices?

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 [email protected].

Do you have an app?

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 [email protected].

If I'm a Member, how can I send tax slips and documents to you?

Using the FBC Tax Advantage mobile app is the easiest way to scan and send us your tax documents before your 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 [email protected].

What is Harvest Financial?

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, we will connect you to the right Harvest Financial expert to plan for what you see down the road. There are many opportunities you can take to minimize your tax hit from these life transitions - but only if you plan in advance. Our network of licensed professionals can help you develop a plan customized to your business and family, making the planning process less stressful. Learn more by visiting our Life & Legacy Planning page.

What services do you offer in addition to tax preparation?

Our portfolio of business services is delivered through Harvest Business Services, and 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 - complete financial support.

I'm behind on my taxes, can you get me caught up?

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.

Can you help me with incorporating my business?

Knowing which business structure is right for you is the first step in determining if you're paying the lowest tax possible. Your Tax Consultant along with an expert from Harvest Business Services will help you decide if you should incorporate. If you do, our expert team will take care of everything for you.

Do you do minute books?

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 Minute Book service powered by Harvest Business Services 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.

Is my information safe/secure?

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.

I want to educate myself on farm/small business taxes. Do you have any resources that might be helpful for me?

We have a comprehensive resource centre for Canadian small business owners and farmers. Learn the latest tax updates and money-saving strategies for your business from our library of articles, Guide Books, and calculators. Everything is free! And if you join as an FBC Member, 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.