Time’s Up: CRA’s 100 Day Mandate for Improvement

After years of frustration on the part of tax professionals and taxpayers alike, the Finance Minister ordered the Canada Revenue Agency to clean up its act in 100 days. Specifically, the improvement plan was to run from September 2 through December 11. Finance Minister and Minister of National Revenue, Francoise-Phillippe Champagne instructed CRA to fix “unacceptable wait times and service delays.” Time’s up this week and CRA has released an update on progress. What gets measured, gets done. Let’s see what CRA’s metrics show. 

It's a different type of post-Easter treat savings! Treat yourself to a new  professional development opportunity.  Available only until April 15. . . when you enrol in a Designation program. We've also waived instalment fees on our EZ-Pay plan.

Canadians can start to apply for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) this week and there are some new details to be aware of.  Here’s how it will work:

The distance from Friday to Wednesday can seem like an eternity when hope hangs on the promise of a 75% wage subsidy. The details were finally announced on April 1, which we are sharing today. But the euphoric moment is somewhat muted as the fine print includes uncertainty, complexity and the reality that money will not flow for six weeks. This may be devastating for businesses trying to avoid bankruptcy at this critical time.

As the coronavirus Pandemic spreads in Canada, employers who face reduced revenues can try to avoid layoffs with the 75% Wage Subsidy Program. A second line of defense is a new EI Work-Sharing (WS) Program. Previously available only in the forestry, steel and aluminum business, there is now no restriction to a particular industry.  Here’s a checklist of information for bookkeepers, tax and financial advisors to share with small business clients. 

There’s more good news for small business owners affected by the pandemic. On March 27, the federal government announced that it’s deferring payments of all GST/HST remittances until June 30, 2020.  Here are the details: 

Canadians can apply for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) starting on April 6, but the government is hoping to flatten the curve of responses by having affected Canadians in a specific order, by birth month. Here’s how it will work: