Does Paying My Taxes Late Affect My Credit Score?

It’s no secret that paying your taxes late comes with consequences including interest and penalties that could negatively affect your finances. Is a negative impact on your credit score another possible impact?

It’s easy to assume that any debts or money owing will be held against your credit score. When it comes to late taxes, it works a little differently.

Does the CRA Report to Canada’s Credit Bureaus?

In general, the Canada Revenue Agency will not report to Canada’s credit bureaus if you owe a small amount in income taxes, paid your taxes late, or received any basic penalties.

The CRA’s privacy policy restricts the amount of information they are able to share with outside organizations, including Canada’s credit bureaus. However, there is on exception: in the event that you owe enough in taxes for there to be a court case and a collection agency becomes involved, CRA is able to put a tax lien on your credit report. If your debts owing become public information via a court case or collections, your taxes owing will impact your credit score.

What Should I Do If I Owe Taxes?

Most of the time, an individual ends up paying taxes late if they are not in a financial position to pay taxes on time. In order to avoid  late taxes affecting your credit, it’s best to deal with them immediately before the debt becomes too large. Ignoring the problem will not make it go away and could end up making it worse with ruined credit or even bankruptcy.

Even a small amount owing needs to be taken care of as soon as possible before interest charges inflate the original debt.

If you do owe taxes, here are some steps you can take to deal with the debt:

  • Contact the CRA immediately: The Canada Revenue Agency doesn’t want to drag you through court cases, so they are often willing to work out a payment plan. If you can prove that you absolutely do not have the means to pay your owing taxes in a short amount of time, you may be able to work out a multi-year payment plan.
  • The Taxpayer Relief Provision: If your tax situation meets certain criteria, your case may be forwarded to the Minister of National Revenue. Should your case be approved, you could receive tax penalty and interest relief.
  • Save and spend responsibly: You should consider establishing a savings account for tax purposes and other emergencies. Being able to pay a portion of your tax bill is better than not paying anything.

What Does Affect My Credit Score?

Knowing what actions affects your credit score is important in keeping your credit score high.

While your taxes only affect your credit if they become a substantial debt, many other elements come into play when determining your credit score:

  1. Payment History: The largest part of your credit score is based on how well you pay your bills and owing amounts on credit products. It takes into consideration late, short, and missed payments – all of which can negatively affect your credit score.
  2. Utilization: Credit bureaus look at how much debt you have versus how much available credit you have. If you continually run your credit cards to their limits, this will lower your credit score.
  3. Credit History: The amount of time you’ve had your credit products also impacts your credit score. Debts that you’ve carried and maintain good payments on for many years look better than newer debts.
  4. Credit Product Variety: Credit bureaus also like to see a variety of credit products, not just credit cards. This includes loans, mortgages and lines of credit.

Why Take the Chance?

Any amount owing in late taxes, whether it be a large amount or small one, can spell trouble for your finances. Contact Liu & Associates today for more information on how you can avoid interest and penalties when you owe money on your taxes.

COVID-19 Canadian Tax Information

With the recent changes due to COVID-19, many clients and small businesses are feeling financial pressure.  Please know we are deemed an essential service and will continue to serve you.  If you are affected financially by this pandemic, Liu & Associates is here to help.

To help ease financial burdens of taxpayers and small businesses, the Government of Canada is providing options to defer tax payments and is extending the tax deadline.  Read more about financial help for Canadians affected by COVID-19; a hub of benefits the federal government, provinces and territories are offering to people financially affected by the coronavirus.  For more information on how this can help you, your business and your employees, please see our resource section below or call us at 780-429-1047.

You can also visit Government of Canada’s coronavirus disease or call their information line (1-833-784-4397),  available from 7:00 a.m. to midnight (EST) seven days a week.

Our team will continue to update this page as more information becomes available.

Last updated: December 15, 2020.

Our Response Plan

The team at Liu and Associates LLP wants to assure you we are closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation from a financial standpoint and recognize it is truly a global crisis and is constantly changing. This is an unprecedented time for all of us, and we feel the need for everyone to work together to weather this storm.

To ensure the health and safety of our clients and staff, we are taking extra precautions in our office – read our blog post about how our office protocol has changed.

External Resources

GOVERNMENT COVID ASSISTANCE

With the new restrictions, there have been some new announcements for COVID Assistance programs by both the Federal and Provincial government.

There are two surveys available to help identify what benefits you may be eligible for:

You also may find it beneficial to visit Canada.ca. Right under the banner you will find a link called Covid-19 Financial Assistance. Here you will find the support for individuals as well as businesses.

Lastly, the Government of Alberta has recently put out useful information regarding Albertas relaunch grant for small and medium sized businesses.

For more support services, please see the external links below.

City of Edmonton

  • The City of Edmonton has launched a new website for business support in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This website will be updated regularly by the City.
  • If you have any business related questions, contact the City of Edmonton directly: businessinfo@edmonton.ca
  • In an effort to contain the spread of COVID-19, the City of Edmonton is taking immediate action following the direction of Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health.

Surrounding Areas

For up-to-date information related to other surrounding communities, please follow the following links:

Alberta

Canada

The Government of Canada is rolling out constant updates that affect both individuals and businesses.

APPLICATIONS are now being accepted for Canada’s Emergency Response Benefit Program.

The Government of Canada has launched a COVID-19 APP; to download yours visit APPLE  OR  ANDROID

 

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced $350 million in emergency funds for community groups and national charities.
Individuals

 

Businesses

For more information, please contact Liu & Associates LLP.

From all of us at Liu & Associates LLP, please have a safe and healthy season.

New Guidance for COVID Programs

As we are striving to bring you up to date information as quickly as possible, we are now providing you with further guidance from the www.Canada.ca site for COVID programs and benefits in relation to the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB).

For those individuals who have received non-eligible dividends from corporations in which they held shares as the means of remuneration, the Questions and Answers section of the CERB application has been updated to address the qualification of this type of income in the application for CERB. Please note that non-eligible dividends are indicated in box 10 of any T5’s you would have received. The update is as follows:

Are self-employed small business owners eligible for the CERB?

Yes provided they meet the eligibility criteria including that they stopped working due to COVID-19 and do not earn more than $1000 in a period of at least 14 consecutive days in the first benefit period and for the entire four-week benefit period of any subsequent claim.

Small Business owners can receive income from their business in different ways, including as salary, business income or dividends. In determining their eligibility for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit:

  • Owners who take a salary from their business should consider their pre-tax salary;
  • Owners who rely on business income should consider their net pre-tax income (gross income less expenses);
  • Owners who rely on dividend income should consider this as self-employment income provided it comes from non –eligible dividends (generally, those paid out of corporate income taxed at the small business rate).

Income Requirements

What counts towards the $1,000 in income I can earn?

The $1,000 includes employment and/or self-employment income. This includes among others: tips you may earn while working; non-eligible dividends; honoraria (e.g., nominal amounts paid to emergency service volunteers); and royalties (e.g., paid to artists).

However, royalty payments received from work that took place before the period for which a person applies for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit do not count as income during that specific benefit period.

Pensions, student loans and bursaries are not employment income and therefore, should not be included in the $1000.

Applications will be verified against tax records to confirm income.

What income types count towards the $5,000 in employment and/or self-employment income?

The $5,000 includes all employment and self-employment income. This includes among others: tips you have declared as income; non-eligible dividends; honoraria (e.g., nominal amounts paid to emergency service volunteers); and royalties (e.g., paid to artists). If you are not eligible for Employment Insurance, you may also include maternity and parental benefits you received from the Employment Insurance program and/or similar benefits paid in Quebec under the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan.

Pensions, student loans and bursaries are not considered employment income and should not be included.

Does the minimum income of $5,000 have to be earned in Canada?

No.

The income does not have to be earned in Canada, but you need to reside in Canada.

If I am in receipt of dividends am I eligible for the CERB?

Yes as long as the dividends are non-eligible dividends (generally those paid out of corporate income taxed at the small business rate) and you meet the eligibility criteria.

Non-eligible dividends count towards the minimum $5000 in income required for eligibility. Non-eligible dividends also count toward the $1000 income threshold for a benefit period.

Do artists’ royalties count as employment or self-employment income with respect to the CERB?

Yes, in some cases. Artists’ royalties would be considered payments received as self-employment income if they were received as compensation for using or allowing the use of a copyright, patent, trademark, formula or secret process that is a result of their own work or invention. These royalties count towards the $5,000 income threshold, as well as towards the $1,000 that claimants can earn per month while receiving the Benefit. However, royalty payments received from work that took place before the period for which a person applies for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit do not count as income during that specific benefit period. Other royalties (i.e., from investment activities) do not count with respect to the Benefit.

To read this and more about the qualifications in order to make an application for CERB. Please go to: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei/cerb-application/questions.html .

 

For more information, please contact us today.

New COVID-19 Protocols

Last updated September 20, 2021.

 

To all our clients, we hope that this finds you well and safe.

Like all of you, we have been affected in many ways by the pandemic as well so please know that we are here to stand with you and to give you support in what ways we can.

Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, we will be exercising extra precautions for the safety of our clients and staff:

  • At the time  you make your appointment with us or at the time you drop into our office, please let us know if you, or someone you have been in close contact with, have travelled out of the country in the last 14 days or if you are experiencing flu like symptoms
  • When arriving at our office you must be in compliance with Edmonton city bylaw 19408 which requires that you wear a face mask in all indoor public places.  If you do not have a mask, we will provide you with a non-surgical face mask
  • We will also request that you use the hand sanitizer which we will supply.  Please note that handwashing is recommended as a better alternative to the use of hand sanitizers. If you wish to wash your hands for the necessary 30 seconds it takes to kill the virus, please ask reception to provide you with the bathroom key.  Our washrooms are sanitized regularly and our reception area is sanitized after each client visit for your safety.

To assist our clients, we have compiled a list of resources for both businesses and individuals. 

We thank you for your assistance and cooperation in this matter.

Please contact us if you have any questions about our services during this time.

COVID-19 Tax Implications

The team at Liu and Associates LLP want to assure you we are closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation and recognize it is truly a global crisis and is constantly changing. This is an unprecedented time for all of us, and we feel the need for everyone to work together to weather this storm.

We want you to know you have our commitment to continue providing you with the services you depend on, including up to date economic information.

You are not alone; we are in this together. So, how are we working together to support each other?

Health & Safety

First and foremost, our plan ensures the health and safety of our employees and our clients. We have implemented special protocols and continue to update them to support our team and to ensure we maintain our ability to serve you, for the long term.

We are being very cautious and have put in place precautionary measures to limit the potential spread of the virus including:

  • Frequent hand washing, supplying hand sanitizer, and masks if needed.
  • By requesting any staff member who has been out of the province to self-isolate for 14 days.
  • Maintaining social distancing within our office.
  • Working remotely wherever possible and using specific software as a unified communication and collaboration platform combining workplace chat, video meetings, file storage, and application integration.
  • Taking steps to limit our outside contact and discouraging in-person meetings as much as possible by asking our clients to provide us with their tax or financial information electronically, and if that isn’t possible, to please make an appointment in advance for an in-person meeting.
  • Materials physically coming into our office are being quarantined, and our intake staff are using precautionary measures.

Monitoring

Our senior leadership team remains vigilant and is monitoring the situation in real time and responding swiftly as conditions evolve.

Please view our most recent update on our COVID-19 protocols.

Tax Changes

We undertake to keep you up to date on changing tax deadlines or government directives, as follows:

You may already be aware of Canada Revenue Agency’s (CRA) announcement to extend the personal tax filing deadline. So instead of an April 30th filing deadline for the 2020 tax filing season, Canadians will have until June 1st to submit their income tax return to CRA. The deadline to pay off any outstanding balances interest-free will also be extended, this time, to July 31st.

Businesses will also have more time to pay their taxes. The CRA will allow all businesses to defer, until after August 31st, 2020, the payment of any income tax amounts that become owing on or after today and before September 2020 including tax balances due, as well as required instalments, under Part 1 of the Income Tax Act.

No interest or penalties will accumulate on these amounts during this period. For more information, please see the statement from the Department of Finance. 

The CRA continues to monitor the evolving situation closely, in collaboration with other government departments and agencies as well as our provincial and territorial partners.

The Government of Canada is taking immediate, significant and decisive action to help Canadians facing hardship as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. Today, March 18, 2020, the Prime Minister announced a new set of economic measures to help stabilize the economy during this challenging period.

These measures, delivered as part of the Government of Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan, will provide up to $27 billion in direct support to Canadian workers and businesses. For detailed information please visit their website.

Moving Forward

We are following the guidance of major public health organizations, including the Public Health Agency of Canada, local health authorities, and the World Health Organization, and will continue to do so as the situation unfolds.

To protect ourselves and the communities around us, we can’t stress enough to please follow all the protocols for COVID-19 including frequently washing hands, regular cleaning of work surfaces, and avoiding public or crowded places whenever possible.

Best of health, be safe, and take care of yourselves.

Your trusted financial team at Liu and Associates LLP

When Do I Have to Submit My Corporate Taxes?

It’s a common questions among new business owners: How soon after my business’ year end do I have to file my corporate taxes? Read on for Liu and Associates breakdown of Canadian corporate tax filing deadlines.

Canadian Corporate Tax Returns

The basic rule when it comes to filing your Canadian corporate tax return is that you must submit your return no later than six months after the end of your business’ tax year. This means that each business’s T2 return date will differ depending on their fiscal year end.

Example
If your business’ year end is September 30, your Canadian corporate tax return would be due by March 30.

What Happens If My Year End Lands in the Middle of the Month?

If your year end falls on say, September 16, your due date would be March 16. The six month rule applies just the same.

My Filing Deadline Falls on a Saturday – Now What?!

If your filing deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday, as long as you send your claim on the first business day after the filing deadline you’ll be safe from any penalties!

Note: If you’re hoping to receive a tax refund, you must file your return no later than three years after the end of a tax year.

Alberta Provincial Corporate Tax Returns

Alberta based businesses have to file a separate provincial corporate tax return because Alberta administers their own corporate tax collection. For more information, visit the Treasury Board and Finance website. While filing deadlines are similar to CRA requirements, it’s good to familiarize yourself with both systems to avoid any fines or penalties.

Don’t Leave It Up To Chance

If you are confused or have questions about your corporate tax filings, don’t wait to ask! The experts at Liu & Associates LLP offer corporate tax services to ensure everything is done right and on time. Call us today!

Top Three Things to Ask your Accountant When Setting Up a Business

If you are starting your own company, an accountant is an invaluable resource. Depending on how you set up and run your business, it can save you money and time when tax season rolls around. Read on for three important questions to bring up with your accountant to ensure you are setting your company up for success!  

1. what Structure is Best for my Company?

Depending on your start-ups circumstances and projected profitability, your accountant can recommend the best business structure. Whether you go with a sole trader, partnership or limited company, your accountant can advise you of any potential benefits or drawbacks to each structure.

Common Types of Business Structures

2. What Records do I Need to Keep?

Keeping up to date business records is sure to make your life easier when it comes to tax time or even worse – an audit. Some of the most common things you’ll need to keep track of include:

  • Business expenses
  • Bank & credit card statements
  • Tax filings
  • Payroll
  • Income
  • Invoices
  • Purchase orders
  • Inventory

Other common questions surrounding this topic usually include where should you store these records, and how long do you have to keep them for. Your accountant can give you answers to all these questions are more, as well as offer some tips on how to streamline your record keeping. Here at Liu & Associates, we offer bookkeeping services that can keep this kind of stuff off your plate entirely!

3. Do I Need to Register for a GST/HST Number?

If you provide a taxable property or service in Canada and you no longer qualify as a small supplier, you will need to register for a GST/HST number.

What Qualifies as a Small Supplier?

If you have sales under $30,000 in the current calendar quarter, as well as the last four calendar quarters, your business has small supplier status. This means that you do not have to collect and pay GST/HST. Once you exceed $30,000 in a single quarter, you lose small supplier status and must begin to collect and pay GST/HST.

Regardless of your business’ income, you can voluntarily register for a GST/HST number. A GST number will allow you to claim input tax credits. Your accountant can explain when the best time to register for a GST/HST number is depending on your business’ situation.

Contact an Accountant Today!

Regardless of what stage of business planning you are in, the expert team at Liu & Associates can help! Give us a call to book a consultation with one of our accountants today.

Personal Bankruptcy – What You Should Know

Personal BankruptcyIf you are suffering from overwhelming debt, you may find yourself considering bankruptcy. People generally start to consider filing for bankruptcy when they are no longer able to pay their bills on time and are starting to get buried in their debt. While bankruptcy is a viable solution for many, it should always be your last resort. If you’re in a situation where debt has taken over, make sure to talk to an advisor about what your options are. Read on as we dive deeper into the details of personal bankruptcy.

What is Personal Bankruptcy?

Personal bankruptcy is a legal process, that is governed by federal law. When you declare bankruptcy, you effectively surrender everything you own to a Licensed Insolvency Trustee in exchange for the elimination of your debts.

Pros of Declaring Personal Bankruptcy

Filing for bankruptcy, while an extreme measure, does offer a number of advantages:

  • protects you from collectors taking legal action
  • eliminated debts
  • can be filed relatively quickly

Cons of Declaring Personal Bankruptcy

Filing for bankruptcy shouldn’t be thought of as a quick and painless solution. It comes with its fair share of disadvantages, such as:

  • it’s hard on your credit score
  • it may require you to surrender some or all of your possessions to your trustee
  • it requires you to keep detailed records while you’re in bankruptcy

Alternatives to Personal Bankruptcy

As stated earlier, filing for bankruptcy should be your last resort. There are several alternatives that you should explore with a trusted advisor before you decide to declare bankruptcy. Some of the alternatives include:

  • a debt consolidation loan
  • credit counselling
  • a consumer proposal to creditors

How To Declare Personal Bankruptcy

If you are considering declaring personal bankruptcy, here are a few of the steps you’ll need to take:

  • Select a licensed trustee to help you handle your affairs. Look for a trustee who you are comfortable with and that is easily accessible. You’ll also want to confirm that they are licensed by the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy Canada (OSB).
  • Discuss your options. Chat with your trustee to see if there are any other options out there to help you manage your debt.
  • File the paperwork. If you and your trustee have decided that filing for bankruptcy is the best option, it’s time to your file and process the required paperwork. Your trustee will submit this paperwork on your behalf.
  • Stay on track. During bankruptcy, you will be required to keep detailed reports of income, as well as attend credit counselling sessions.

Liu & Associates Can Help

If debt has taken over your life, talk to an expert at Liu & Associates. Our team can help discuss your debt management options and assist you in filing for bankruptcy if applicable.

Corporate Bankruptcy — What You Should Know

an-accontant-in-a-suit-straightening-their-tie

When a business can no longer pay its debts, the business owner’s may start to consider bankruptcy. Before you make any decisions, be sure to talk to a trusted advisor to see if there are any alternative solutions to your problem. Filing for bankruptcy should always be your last resort. Read on to learn a bit more about corporate bankruptcy, and how Liu & Associates can help.

Small Businesses

If your business is a sole proprietorship or a partnership, a corporate bankruptcy will essentially be a personal bankruptcy. This is because the assets of the business can not be held separately from your personal assets.

Sole Proprietorship

If you have a sole proprietorship and you file for bankruptcy, the business will be seen as a separate venture from the day the bankruptcy goes into effect. If you’d like to start another business, you’ll have to get a new business number and set up new accounts with the CRA.

Partnership

If you are part of a partnership with only two people and you file for bankruptcy, the original partnership will cease to exist. If there are more than two people in the partnership, business continues but some sort of deal must be reached to handle the bankruptcy.

Incorporated Businesses

If an incorporated business files for bankruptcy, it is considered to be an independent legal entity. Therefore, a business owner’s personal assets will be kept separate in most circumstances. When a corporation files for bankruptcy, it can no longer exist. The only way a corporation can keep running is if it pays all its debts when in the process of declaring bankruptcy.

How To Declare Corporate Bankruptcy

If you’ve talked to a licensed trustee, considered your options, and still feel that declaring bankruptcy is the best option, here are a few of the steps you’ll need to take:

  • Talk to your licensed trustee and fill out the proper paperwork. Your trustee will file these forms on your behalf.
  • Once the paperwork has gone through, your trustee will begin to sell any property, investments or assets.  
  • All institutions with which you carry a debt will be notified about the bankruptcy by your trustee.
  • You may need to meet with creditors to determine how they could receive payment for the debt owed to them.
  • The Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy Canada (OSB) may bring you in for questioning regarding your excessive business debt.
  • There will be some sessions with a debt counsellor to hopefully prevent future debt problems.  
  • Your trustee will create a summary of the actions your took during the bankruptcy and submit this to the OSB.
  • There may be a hearing to make your bankruptcy official.
  • Lastly, your debt that qualifies under your bankruptcy will be wiped away and legally discharged.

Liu & Associates Can Help

Business bankruptcies are complicated. If you are contemplating bankruptcy, or are looking for a licensed trustee, contact Liu & Associates. Our team is ready to help you get back on your feet.

3 Most Common Small Business Bookkeeping Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Bookkeeping is a fundamental part of your small business; unfortunately, mistakes are inevitable and happen to the best of us. So how do you save yourself from becoming a bookkeeping disaster? Read on to learn Liu & Associate’s three most common bookkeeping mistakes, and how to avoid falling victim to them yourself.

1. Forgetting to Track Small, Reimbursable Expenses

Many small business owners will pay for business expenses with their personal credit card, and then forget to submit the expenses to the company for reimbursement. All transactions, no matter now small and insignificant they may seem, need to be tracked properly. By staying on top of small transactions, it becomes easier to manage the bigger ones.

How to Avoid This Mistake?

Get a process in place from the very beginning. While it may seem unnecessary when your company is only one or two people, it’ll set the groundwork for when your company grows and the number of transactions increases.

2. Not Properly Classifying Employees

There are different rules and regulations come tax time for employees and non-employees. Many small business owners aren’t sure whether a consultant, contractor or freelancer are considered an employee or not. Misreporting employees results in reporting your business to the CRA inaccurately, and can cause you grief during an audit.

How to Avoid This Mistake?

Reach out to an accountant or advisor to learn what tax implications there are for each type of employee and non-employee, so you can accurately classify your workers.

3. Falling Behind on Entries & Reconciliation

One of the most fundamental aspects of bookkeeping is reconciling the books and bank statements each month. Reconciliation is a simple process – simply compare your books with your bank statement and make sure there are no discrepancies! If expenses aren’t being tracked, you’ll start to notice your books aren’t balancing, which means your reports are not up to date. Without current information, it’s next to impossible to make informed business decisions.

How to Avoid This Mistake?

Set aside a block of time each week to reconcile your accounts. If you catch mistakes the same month they were made, it makes correcting them a lot easier because they are likely to be more fresh in your mind.

Looking for Bookkeeping Help?

The easiest way to avoid making any bookkeeping mistakes is to let a professional handle your accounts! Liu & Associates offers flexible and comprehensive small business bookkeeping services that will make your business accounting a breeze. If you’d like to learn more about our small business accounting solutions, give our team a call today!