Want to Be My Favourite Client?

Want to Be My Favourite Client?

The following are a list of things everyone should make a valiant effort to accomplish and compile before going to see their accountant, it keeps costs down in terms of what you have to pay your accountant to do and equally importantly helps you get organized so your accountant is only confirming information you’ve already summarized, not surprising you with brand new facts and figures. Here goes: Continue reading

Early Filing Penalties? Say It Ain’t So

Early Filing Penalties? Say It Ain’t So

Is it possible that the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is now charging penalties for remittances that are made before their due date?  Well, not exactly, but I have now seen three cases where the CRA has assessed a late remitting penalty when in fact the remittances in question have been made on time.

Let me explain.  Continue reading

Cloud Computing

Cloud Computing

Do you ever think to yourself “Why is it so difficult to obtain reliable, productive and cost effective computing with my current network?” If you do, then we’re in the same boat. Since the conception of our computer network, we’ve been having the same computer networking problems over and over. And as our firm’s “chosen tech handler” if you will, I have been trying to get us set up with a cohesive, functional system for a few years now.

Like most small and medium size businesses, we Continue reading

Are Employee Gifts, Awards and Social Events Taxable?

Are Employee Gifts, Awards and Social Events Taxable?

During this festive time of year, our clients often ask us whether or not employee gifts, bonuses and social events are taxable.  Unfortunately generally speaking, a gift or award that you give an employee is a taxable benefit and must be included in their employment earnings.  However, the good news is that there are some exceptions. Continue reading

Does Increasing Tax Rates Make Sense?

Does Increasing Tax Rates Make Sense?

Two interesting topics have surfaced in newspapers across the country this week. In the first, Canada’s Finance Minister, Jim Flaherty, announced that even though corporate tax rates have decreased, corporate tax revenues increased 5.8% year over year. In the second piece of news, The Broadbent Institute released an income equality research study that revealed 83% of Canadians interviewed would support higher income taxes for the wealthy and almost 75% said they want corporations to pay higher income taxes. Assuming the government actually pays attention to the media and is influenced by studies such as this, should the government take any action to adjust tax rates? Continue reading

What’s My Business Worth?

What’s My Business Worth?

I hear this question all the time.  As owner managers look forward to retirement, their company represents a large portion of their retirement assets.  How much is this retirement asset and when is the right time to sell?

Once it has been decided to (at least) consider retirement, I get the request, “Please value my business so I know what it is worth and the price I will get”.  The words value, worth and price tend to be used interchangeably as though they have the same meaning, but they are quite different in the context of selling your business.

Continue reading

Should Business Owners Take CPP Early (Post 2011 Rules)?

Should Business Owners Take CPP Early (Post 2011 Rules)?

On January 1, 2012 new Canada Pension Plan rules came into effect. The new rules will transition over the next five years. The most significant changes are as follows:

 

  • If you take an early CPP pension at age 60, rather than waiting to 65, your monthly payments will be cut by 36% (vs 30% in the past).
  • If you delay taking your CPP pension to age 70, your monthly payments will be 42% higher (vs 36% higher in the past). Continue reading