We read an interesting article in the IPBC (Institute of Professional Bookkeepers of Canada) newsletter recently which discusses Minister of National Revenue, Keith Ashfield’s, concern for Canadians protecting their tax information to avoid becoming a victim of fraud.
“Unfortunately, difficult economic times can lead to an increase in the number of fraudulent activities that affect law-abiding [...]

With the implementation date of the HST now in effect, be sure to check out the following list of web resources to learn more about the new Harmonized Sales Tax and how it will affect you and your business.
BC GOVERNMENT

Consumer Taxes Section
Harmonized Sales Tax, Creating Jobs, Lowering Prices

CANADA REVENUE AGENCY

Goods & Services Tax / Harmonized [...]

General rules are provided by the BC Government to help guide businesses and consumers in a smooth changeover to the proposed Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) in July 2010. The HST Transition Rules specify technical details about paying the HST in the period around July 1, 2010.
Overall, the HST would apply to goods and services purchased [...]

Quickbooks software maker, Intuit, is offering free webinars on HST for businesses in Ontario and British Columbia.
Ontario HST Webinar
June 16, 2010 at 11:30am (local time)
Hosted by Richard Krummenacher, CA, CPA, CFP, Certified ProAdvisor
BC HST Webinar
June 24, 2010 at 11:30am (local time)
Hosted by Eileen Reppenhagen, CGA, Certified ProAdvisor
Visit the Intuit Canada web site to register for [...]

Not on our newsletter subscribers list yet? Here’s a taste of what you’ve been missing…
NALH e-Newsletter June 2010
In This Issue:

Contact Our Help Desk  For Assistance with Getting Your Business Ready for HST
BC Government Offers Grants for Employee Training
The Science of Success
Getting Back to the Garden
NALH Invoices Go Digital
Get Out There and Work the Pond
Media Coverage [...]

We found a great article on the SOHO web site about items that small businesses should keep track of in order to maximize legitimate business deductions on tax returns. See below for part of the article, then visit the SOHO web site to read the full article.
Opportunities abound for small businesses to cut their tax [...]

CRA has produced several webcasts that will help existing GST/HST registrants and small businesses learn how to prepare for the transition to the harmonized sales tax (HST) which will replace existing provincial sales taxes and the federal goods and services tax in Ontario and, subject to legislative approval, in British Columbia beginning July 1, 2010.
The [...]

The provinces of Ontario and British Columbia have agreed to implement the harmonized sales tax (HST), which would replace existing provincial sales taxes and the federal goods and services tax in those provinces beginning July 1, 2010 and would be administered by the Canada Revenue Agency.
The Canada Revenue Agency offers a number of informative seminars to [...]

Will your clients overpay their March 15th instalment payment?  It is important that they don’t, particularly if their income has taken a hit over the past year.  Canadians taxpayers may find that due to employment layoffs or possibly due to their portfolio tanking,  overall income may have taken dropped off.  There may be a bit [...]

If you haven’t already done so, there’s still time to take advantage of the federal government’s Home Renovation Tax Credit. The temporary credit gives homeowners who spend between $1,000 and $10,000 on eligible renovations, up to $1,350 off their 2009 tax bill.
It’s a great opportunity to make improvements to your dwelling and increase the value [...]

Christmas brides and grooms take heed – there may be no tax benefits to marriage before year end, but that may not be a good enough reason to postpone the big day!  Conjugal relationships—legal or common law—require the combining, reporting, and sharing of financial resources under provincial marital property laws and for certain provisions of [...]

There are several changes proposed for the CPP retirement pension. The proposed changes will not affect anyone who is currently collecting the CPP retirement, disability or survivor benefits. It will also not affect anyone who starts to collect their pension prior to 2012.
The proposed changes are included in Bill C-51, which passed first reading in [...]

British Columbia’s transition to a Harmonized Sales Tax will be a good thing for most Penticton businesses, according to the B.C. Chamber of Commerce.
Chairing a panel on the controversial new tax, Jon Garson, vice-president of policy development for the B.C. Chamber, said that the provincial chamber had been calling on the B.C. government to move [...]