By Kody Wilson, CPA, CA, CBV, Partner No matter how you slice it, paying for college or university tuition is costly. A 2018 survey of 23,000 students by MacLeans Magazine put the average annual cost of college or university at close to $20,000. For families with young children, the cost will only get higher. A […]
Determining whether you’re an employee or a contractor is a critical decision with important consequences for both the worker and payer (the company, employer or individual paying for the work). Employee or contractor? It might sound like an easy distinction to make, but it is not. This article covers both the factors CRA uses to determine the tax treatment, and the advantages and disadvantages for the individual in each circumstance.
Although Snowbirds who own property in the United States might find relief from winter, it can produce unexpected financial and compliance headaches for those who don’t take the time to figure out the tax implications if they decide to sell or rent.
Monica Martinez, GGFL’s U.S. and cross-border tax principal, knows that it’s complicated and involves dealing with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). Her best advice: “Come and see us at GGFL. It is well worth it for the peace of mind.”
Personal taxation for families that operate a business through a Canadian Controlled Private Corporation has drastically changed since the announcement of the new Tax on Split Income (TOSI) rules for adults in July of 2017. Prior to the changes, a shareholder could receive unlimited dividends. However, under the new rules, it is very difficult to pay dividends to family members and have those dividends taxed at their marginal rates, unless they are working full-time in the business.
In December 2017, the U.S. introduced sweeping tax reforms that included the introduction of a new tax on international income called the “Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income” (GILTI).
Beginning in 2018, this tax would require U.S. shareholders of controlled foreign corporations (CFC) to include on their personal U.S. tax returns any income earned by the corporation in excess of a 10% return on the corporation’s tangible depreciable capital property. In future years, practitioners must carefully plan for the impact of this tax.
GGFL is now offering Audit Shield, a service designed to give fee protection to clients whose tax returns result in an audit, or other follow-up inquiry, from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and provincial tax authorities.
Finance Minister Bill Morneau released the 2019 Federal Budget on Tuesday, March 19th and compared with the last two years, this pre-election budget holds limited tax changes for individuals and businesses. The federal government is projecting a deficit of approximately $15 billion for fiscal year 2019 and $20 billion for the following two years.
A new report from CPA Canada, released in advance of the federal budget, says that a review of Canada’s tax system should focus on making the tax system simpler, fairer, more efficient, and internationally competitive. Canada’s last major overhaul of tax law was in the pre-internet days of 1972. GGFL’s Head of Tax Chad Saikaley agrees the system is out of date, and with legislated add-ons over the decades has become a patchwork that is inconsistent and impossible for the average informed Canadian to understand.
Life can be unpredictable. If you’re a business owner, strategic planning is a necessary part of ensuring your continued success. You want to be the one guiding where the company is going and setting the direction for the future.
Part of that planning involves having a succession plan in place so that if you become incapacitated or die unexpectedly, your loved ones are taken care of.
We’ve updated our Tax Facts for Ontario Residents document to include the new 2019 rates, as well as the 2018 rates.
GGFL’s “go-to” Tax Facts sheet is a quick reference guide on Ontario tax rates, including corporate income, RRSP limits, prescribed interest rates, automobile amounts, personal tax brackets for salary and dividends, TFSA, CPP and EI limits, pension splitting with spouses, Workplace Safety & Insurance Board (WSIB), and clawback of Old Age Security.