Regular

Filing your own taxes seems easier than ever, but how do you know what’s involved and whether this is a good option for you?

For some people it makes a lot of sense to use these free or low-cost services. For others, it may not be worth the time or uncertainty. And for many, especially those who are business owners or those with financial scenarios that are beyond the basics, you might miss out on tax savings that a professional accountant – a person with experience and professional judgment – can provide.

This time of year, many business owners are getting ready for summer holidays and travel with their family. With any luck, your annual business convention is being held somewhere you’d like to take the whole family. Or perhaps you’re visiting prospective clients while on your family vacation. Or you’re heading out on a reconnaissance mission to do some market research. We’ve heard all these stories and more. And while we don’t judge, CRA definitely does.

For several months Canadians have been getting hit with aggressive calls, text messages, emails and letters from scam artists claiming to represent the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). These fraudsters call individuals at home threatening penalties, jail, even deportation — and demanding immediate payment for “taxes owing”.

Talking with entrepreneurs at our monthly seminars with Small Business BC (TaxSense For Your Business), one of the most common areas of confusion is GST. Here, we share some of the key questions that business owners ask.

Last year, for the first time in our firm’s history, we launched a creative ad campaign. We’ve had a lot of fun with it and it’s generated quite a bit of interest — both in our BC business community and online. Creativity and accounting seldom go together, but in this instance it worked.