Why It’s So Hard to Reach CRA—and How to Make the Most of Your Call If you’ve ever had to call the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), you know it’s not exactly a quick phone call. Between the endless hold music, long wait times, and the occasional click of a dropped call, it can feel like [...]
If you’ve received a garnishment notice from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), you’re not alone—and you’re not out of options. Garnishment is one of the tools the CRA uses to collect unpaid tax debt. When it happens, the CRA contacts your employer and instructs them to withhold part of your paycheque to apply against [...]
As of July 2025, CRA introduced new security measures and processes for authorizing representatives (e.g., your friendly neighbourhood tax advisor) on your CRA account. Authorization allows another person or firm to view and in some cases make changes or requests with regard to your CRA account. The process is most straightforward if you already have [...]
Q: I began working as a freelancer last year. I've never filed my taxes as a self-employed person before, and when I went to [Big Tax Franchise*] they quoted me a minimum of $500 to file my taxes as a small business. Is this true? Why? A: The bad news is, your information from [...]
How to respond to a letter from CRA without losing your mind Getting a letter from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) can make your heart skip a beat—but before you go into panic mode, take a deep breath. The good news? It’s probably not as bad as you think. Here’s how to handle it calmly [...]
April 30 may have come and gone, but if you haven’t filed your income taxes there’s still hope. It’s always worthwhile to file as soon as possible, even if you’ve missed the magic date. Self-employed, freelance or sole proprietor? You may not actually be late! If you or your spouse have self-employment or freelance income, [...]
As we approach one of the biggest tax filing days of the year* and tension rises, it’s time to remind everyone of one important thing: Even if you can’t afford your tax bill, you really, really, really should file your tax return on time. Personal Tax Advisors: Next Level Tax Preparation Next Level Tax Preparation [...]
Contributing to your RRSP is a great thing, but an RRSP loan isn't always the best way to do it. Around this time of year you’ll start seeing banks promoting the idea of RRSP loans, where you borrow money to make an RRSP contribution. If you have no cash available, and if an RRSP contribution [...]
Do You Need to Register Your Business in Canada? Starting a business can be exciting and challenging, but many people are unsure about one key question: Do you need to register your business in Canada? This question can seem complicated because "registering a business" can mean different things depending on the context. Let’s break [...]
Plan ahead to get a tax bonus using the money you've saved for tuition The Canada Revenue Agency encourages continuing your education via the Lifelong Learning Plan, or LLP. Under this program you may make a tax-free withdrawal from your RRSPs when you are entering an educational program as a full-time student for at least [...]
