SOHO included a helpful article in their newsletter that looks at a number of electronic gadgets that you can incorporate into your workplace to be a little friendlier to the environment. From soy-based toner to energy-efficient desktop computers, get ready to ooh and ahh over the Earth-friendly gadgetry! Visit the SOHO web site to read [...]

The Government of Canada has approved legislation – the Fairness for the Self-Employed Act – to provide Employment Insurance (EI) maternity, parental/adoption, sickness and compassionate care benefits to self-employed Canadians on a voluntary basis. This legislation will allow the self-employed to opt into the EI program in January 2010, while benefits will start being paid [...]

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 [...]

Most businesses in BC fall into the category of companies which are required to register with WorkSafeBC and pay premiums for the workers they employ. Is your business required to register or are you exempt? Visit the WorkSafeBC web site and find out what you need to know to meet your business’ legal registration and [...]

For meal expenses, the simplified rate is unchanged from 2008, a flat rate of $17 a meal or $51 per day, per person is allowed without receipts. If you choose the detailed method, you must keep your receipts. For the simplified method of claiming vehicle expenses for trips relating to the northern residents deduction, moving [...]

And, without further ado, we bring you the newly-implemented HST in BC and Ontario. Many a business owner will no doubt find themselves running into a few hiccups along the way when transitioning into the new tax’s sometimes-confusing rules, particularly with regards to place of supply when doing business with customers in other provinces. Have [...]

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 [...]

Without sounding like alarmists, the fact is that hiring the wrong bookkeeper can destroy your business. Before choosing a company with whom to work, it is imperative to clearly define what you expect from your bookkeeper. Choosing a company to assist you in maintaining your financial records is an important decision. We at NALH we [...]

We read an interesting blog post written by the kind folks at the Your Business Today site, run by CompuMax. They had several questions about how to accurately incorporate the new HST regulations when billing their clients in the upcoming months. A CRA agent at the HST Answer Line clarified their questions, which may be [...]

Earth Day Canada has organized a list of ten actions that you can take to help minimize your impact on the environment. These quick, easy tips will make it a breeze to make lasting changes that make a real difference. Here’s an overview of the tip categories: – Smart Shopping – Simple Savers – Transportation [...]

BIV has written an interesting article that underscores the uncertainty that most business owners have around the impending HST that will be going into effect soon.  Here’s a snippet of the article: Almost half of all business owners don’t fully understand how HST will impact their businesses, according to an Angus Reid opinion poll. An [...]

Vancouver’s economy is slated to grow 4% in 2010, topping all Canadian cities, according to Ottawa-based think tank Conference Board of Canada. Toronto and Hamilton will follow closely behind with 3.7% and 3.3% growth respectively, according to the Conference Board of Canada’s Metropolitan Outlook Spring 2010 publication. Read the full article on the Business in [...]

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 [...]

Small-business owners who procrastinate or fail to prepare in May for the 12% HST in July risk a host of negative consequences. Nasty surprises include cash crunches or government penalties for doing things wrong, said certified general accountant Eileen Reppenhagen. “You can’t just switch July 1,” said Reppenhagen, who created the tax tip website Taxdetective.ca. [...]

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. [...]