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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

Here we grow again!  We’re happy to announce the arrival of Mo Abdulla as a new member of the NALH team. With more than 30 year of experience in the accounting field, Mo holds a CGA designation and will focus his energy on preparing personal and business tax returns for NALH’s stable of clients. Want [...]

Front-line small businesses concerned as Ontario, B.C. fold provincial sales tax into federal one this summer. Grant Clark thinks he’s the kind of business owner Ontario wasn’t thinking of when it developed plans for the new, harmonized sales tax. Mr. Clark is president of Solutions for HR Inc., a small consulting shop he’s operated for [...]

The House of Commons on Wednesday overwhelmingly passed legislation enabling the provinces to harmonize their sales taxes with the federal GST, clearing the way for Ontario and British Columbia to implement the HST this summer. The federal HST bill passed by a vote of 253-37. Only the NDP opposed the legislation. Both Ontario and B.C. [...]

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 [...]

British Columbians support ways to mitigate the impact of the HST on the province’s restaurant and food services sector, according to a new poll by the B.C. Restaurants and Foodservices Association. The survey found 63% of British Columbians strongly oppose the HST, 64% favour exempting food in restaurants if HST proceeds and 64% of respondents [...]

B.C. is proposing to increase the threshold for the B.C. HST new housing rebate from $400,000 to $525,000, Finance Minister Colin Hansen announced Thursday in a news release. “We heard the concerns from consumers and industry about how the HST might affect home buyers, and this increase will move the threshold to above the average [...]

Canadians who are high-volume sellers of products on the online eBay marketplace may find themselves being audited by the Canada Revenue Agency beginning this fall. Revenue Minister Jean-Pierre Blackburn said Thursday anyone who has sold products on the Web site could avoid audits, fines and penalties by voluntarily coming forward and declaring the revenue to [...]