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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 GGFL’s Head of Tax Chad Saikaley agrees the system is out of date, and with legislated add-ons over the decades has become a patchwork that is inconsistent and impossible for the average informed Canadian to understand.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.

Under new rules announced in the recent Quebec budget, certain businesses from outside the province providing goods and services to Quebec residents must register for an expanded Quebec Sales Tax (QST). Recognizing an increasing amount of online business, the Quebec government is requiring non-residents of Canada, including digital platforms, to register for the new QST.

GGFL is delighted to announce that tax and business valuation specialist Kody Wilson has joined our firm’s partner team. Kody was most recently our principal for tax and advisory services and brings invaluable tax experience to the leadership table. He also understands that the key to GGFL’s success lies not only in our professional skills but in the care we take in developing and maintaining our relationships with clients.

GGFL is delighted to announce that Jean McDonell is our newest Associate Partner, effective January 1, 2019. Jean is an expert in trust and estate planning and a member of our ever-expanding tax team. When she joined the firm on January 6, 1997, there were just five on the tax team. Today, there are 15 and growing.