Stay updated with the latest news, tips, and guidance on tax law from our editorial team.
Canada’s free trade agreements are an important and integral part of keeping the country’s economy strong. Free trade supports businesses and the supply chain. Designed to foster the unencumbered flow of commerce, Canada’s trade agreements serve to keep the markets open and allow for multilateral trading. These agreements are negotiated
The Goods and Services Tax (GST) and Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) can pose various challenges for those filing taxes in Canada, especially when it comes to out of pocket expenses. The Canadian Revenue Agency and Provincial tax authorities have many rules when it comes to calculating these expenses, and it
Tax compliance is essential to the integrity of Canada’s numerous tax structures. Consequently, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) takes enforcement extremely seriously, and ensuring tax compliance is an important part of operations for any Canadian business. Today, technology is taking a larger role in the assessment, remittance, and review of
Canada has relatively high taxes compared to some other countries. While taxes are difficult and, in most cases, illegal to avoid, there are many strategies Canadians use to keep most of their hard-earned income. However, there is a fine line between implementing legitimate business or personal tax strategies to reduce
Streamlining small business tax filing can save business owners time and headaches during tax season. Some businesses are eligible for Quick Method Accounting for their HST/ GST tax filings. The HST quick method tax filing method uses quick method remittance rates to tabulate the tax credits for most purchases. If
To encourage investment in Canada and help smaller companies thrive, Canada offers a number of tax incentive options specifically tailored to assist small and medium-sized companies. Many of the incentives are industry or location-specific, so they may not be an option for every company. However, given that Canadian tax incentives
Canadian businesses that import goods from abroad need to be aware of Canadian duty rates and fuel taxes. These fees can represent a major expense for a business, and it is important to understand how the system works and how much to budget for these taxes. However, navigating Canada’s duty
Businesses often find it difficult to calculate their taxes in advance. This difficulty can lead to an outstanding balance on Canadian taxes when the organization’s tax return is filed. Many businesses with a balance owing may need to make instalment payments, which can sometimes result in being charged interest. When
As a municipality in Canada, navigating the complex world of taxes can be daunting. In particular, understanding the goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) can be a challenge. The GST/HST is a value-added tax that applies to most goods and services in Canada, but there are specific rules and
Just the thought of an audit is enough to make most people nervous. Tax laws and deduction requirements can be confusing, and even a person who is confident they have done everything right may question if they have made a mistake when they hear about an audit. Fortunately, there are
The federal government in Canada imposes both an excise tax and an excise duty on tobacco products. In addition, each province also applies its own tobacco tax to every tobacco purchase. Finally, regular General Sales Tax (GST) and Providential Sales Tax (PST) or Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) will also apply
A joint venture in Canada is any agreement between two or more people who decide to work together to create a common commercial enterprise. The individual members of this collaboration might contribute money, goods, or services to this arrangement, but the goal is the same—to create a profit. Joint ventures
The Tax Court of Canada has exclusive jurisdiction to resolve various disputes involving taxes. Most disputes that appear in the Tax Court relate to income taxes or the Goods and Services Tax (GST). The Tax Court addresses 14 different Acts of Parliament. Individuals can appeal to the Tax Court on
According to the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA), in 2018 the United States Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling known as the Wayfair decision. This ruling stipulates that each state within the United States can require companies that have met a specific threshold for number of sales made
The underused housing tax is a relatively new tax that is designed to affect those who own property in Canada but are not necessarily Canadian residents. Essentially, it is a 1% tax on vacant or “underused” housing. While it is designed to only apply to non-residents, there are situations where
Canada’s tax laws can be confusing, leading Canadian dentists to question how GST and HST apply within their practices. In order to calculate taxes properly, it is necessary to first determine whether the province charges GST, HST, or PST, and at what rate. Business owners also need to be aware
