CRA’s Callback Service for Tax Pros Pilot
Are you a tax professional with years of experience? Have you ever felt frustrated after calling the CRA, having spent hours on hold, wasting your client’s or employer’s time, only to speak to CRA agents who aren’t qualified to answer your questions? The Auditor General of Canada was equally displeased in a scathing report last fall on wait times and accuracy levels at the CRA. Now a new CRA callback service may come to the rescue this tax season. Here is my experience with the pilot project so far:Auditor General Finds CRA is Too Slow
On June 16, the Auditor General rapped CRA’s knuckles, stating that their response to income tax appeals and objections is too slow. And since 65% of them are settled in favor of the taxpayer, the CRA needs to work harder at finding ways to solve issues before they go the appeals route.
Selling the Cottage? Remember New CRA Reporting Rules Will Affect You
Are you planning to sell a personal residence, such as your cottage, in 2017? If so, refresh your tax compliance requirements by making an appointment with a tax specialist before you sell.
Bookkeepers: First Line of Defense for Restaurant Owners
Summer is here and patio season is in full swing, but it’s the numbers, not the ambiance that ultimately tell the success story! If you have clients who own a restaurant, remind them that they need to take time to pay attention to the numbers side of the business and make sure that staffing up with temporary summer help includes some instruction on reporting their tips to CRA.
June Poll: Raise the Minimum Wage? No Simple Answers
It seemed like such a simple question: Do you think Canadian provinces should raise the minimum wage to $15? But our June poll sparked a lively debate and more votes and comments than most. Over 500 of you weighed in and were closely divided on the topic, with 42% saying yes and 58% saying no.
Life Purpose
"The height of cleverness is to be able to conceal it." - François, Duc de La Rochefoucauld
The Tax Implications of a Mid-year Business Transfer
Imagine you have a client who is five or six years away from retirement, manages a small yet successful consulting firm with ten employees, and is married with two grown-up kids. He’s thought about retirement and the idea of finding a successor for his business, but overall, he’s been pretty non-committal.
