Q: I am considering selling my rental property, which I have owned and rented out for a year. But my realtor said I should own it for at least two years for CRA to consider the profit to be capital gain rather than income. What is this about? A: The issue is whether the sale [...]
It starts with missing one year. Tax time rolls around and you’re going through some things so you put it off or it slips your mind. Second year – it happens again. It starts to bother you, but life is hectic. Third year: now it’s becoming a habit not to file. Every now and then, [...]
Question: My employer classified me as an independent contractor without my knowledge and required me to work 9-5, Monday to Friday, for almost half a year. I did my taxes under the impression I was an employee and now the CRA says I owe them upwards of $8,000. Is there anything I can do? Answer: [...]
What is the business-use-of-home deduction? Business-use-of-home is a means by which a business owner can deduct expenses for the business use of a work space in your home, as long as you meet one of the following conditions: it is your principal place of business; OR you use the space only to earn your business [...]
The special Work-From-Home deduction relating to Covid-19 came into effect for the 2020 tax year and continued until the end of the 2022 tax year. Let's recap what this deduction does and how to claim it. The Covid-19 Work-From-Home Deduction As a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Canadian government allowed a special Work-From-Home deduction [...]
We've talked elsewhere about CRA Matching, the process by which CRA takes a closer look at a tax return and the slips on file for a taxpayer to look for errors. Usually, CRA is very good at this. After all, looking at documents and numbers is their stock in trade. In our experience they're [...]
Form T1135 Foreign Income Verification Statement must be filed when a Canadian taxpayer answers 'yes' to the question "Did you at any time in the year own specified foreign property valued at over $100,000 (CAD)?" Watch: Foreign Property and the T1135 However, some real estate is considered exempt from this question, and therefore doesn't trigger [...]
Divorce and separation are painful life events, and it’s natural to want to distance yourself from the experience – and your ex -- for a while. But when it comes to your taxes the fastest route is always getting it right the first time, and that means you will have to communicate and cooperate with [...]
Video: Overdue Tax Returns - Should You File? The Short Answer Is ‘Yes’ Filing old late tax returns. Should you do it? I know I’m biased. I am a tax professional and I prepare tax returns for a living. Of course I'm going to tell you to file your tax returns. But bias or no, [...]
Q: Since I registered for the GST-HST I have still not earned over $30,000, so I haven’t charged GST-HST. Now the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has sent me a GST bill saying I owe them thousands of dollars in GST-HST, even though I haven’t earned enough income and I haven’t been charging GST-HST on what [...]
