SMES: Carbon Tax Rebates on the Way?

July 15 was an important day for carbon-tax weary taxpayers. A Canada Carbon Rebate payment was  made to individuals who have filed their 2023 personal tax returns.  What about the long-awaited $2.5 billion Carbon Tax Rebate For Small Businesses? The delivery date and amounts to be received remain elusive, but one thing is clear: many businesses will have disqualified themselves by missing the July 15 date for filing 2023 T2 returns.  Here’s what you need to know. 

The 2022 version of Form T777 Statement of Employment Expenses is available and worth a detailed look. Employees who have a T2200 form signed by their employer may use this form to claim their home office and other expenses. In addition there is a new section for the claiming of the new labour mobility deduction for an eligible tradesperson.  Following are tax tips you should take note of in 2022.

Last summer, suspected “high risk” tax preparers were under the microscope by the CRA for submitting fake CEWS and CERS claims on behalf of approximately 2000 business clients.  The gross negligence penalties alone amounted to $10 Million; this aside from the clawback of $25 Million in benefits paid. While these cases are in the minority – only 300 cases audited so far - they shed light on several things: once selected for audit, the burden of proof is always on the taxpayer, the penalties for dealing with high risk preparers will be huge, and from a client’s perspective, it pays to put your faith in a highly qualified tax professional.

The burden of proof for accurate tax filings is always on the taxpayer, but in return, the taxpayer has several basic tax filing rights enshrined in the sixteen “Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, ” together with five additional rights for small business. Now there is an additional tool when CRA fails to provide you with your rights to accurate and timely information: Form RC193 Service Feedback Form.

Vexxit’s online platform brings clients to you. The way we do business has changed these last few years. Remote and hybrid have become the new norm, with professionals trading boardrooms for virtual meetings and networking events for social media introductions. Vexxit has taken this new way of doing business and amplified it, giving accountants a digital platform to offer their services and access customers who need them.

International tax law is very complex and border-hopping can be expensive from a tax point of view.  Newcomers to Canada and immigrants especially need to pay attention, but so do those residents with offshore assets. Be sure you are working with a Tax Services Specialist™ who has graduated from Knowledge Bureau’s Cross Border Taxation Course.

It’s tricky to find silver linings in 2023, as the cost of everything is rising, with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) sitting at 6.3%. Food, fuel and general goods are increasing in price, and unfortunately so is the cost of running a business. However, some businesses are finding that they are thriving in the current environment. For example, some advisors are finding that their businesses are still growing, thanks in large part to high-net-worth clients seeking better service.