Latest Interest rates charge for the fourth calendar quarter

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)  announced the prescribed annual interest rates that will apply to any amounts owed to the CRA and to any amounts the CRA owes to individuals and corporations. These rates will be in effect from October 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014.

These rates are calculated quarterly according to the laws that apply.

Income tax

  • The interest rate charged on overdue taxes, Canada Pension Plan contributions, and employment insurance premiums will be 5%.
  • The interest rate to be paid on corporate taxpayer overpayments will be 1%.
  • The interest rate to be paid on non-corporate taxpayer overpayments will be 3%.
  • The interest rate used to calculate taxable benefits for employees and shareholders from interest free and low-interest loans will be 1%.
  • The interest rate for corporate taxpayers’ pertinent loans or indebtedness will be 4.94%.

Other taxes, duties, or charges

The interest rates on overdue and overpaid remittances will be as follows:

Tax, duty, or other charges Overdue remittances Overpaid remittances – Corporate taxpayers Overpaid remittances – Non- corporate taxpayers
Goods and services tax (GST) 5% 1% 3%
Harmonized sales tax (HST) 5% 1% 3%
Air travellers security charge 5% 1% 3%
Excise tax (non-GST/HST) 5% 1% 3%
Excise duty except brewer licensees (amounts due after June 30, 2003) 5% 1% 3%
Excise duty except brewer licensees (amounts due before July 1, 2003) 3% N/A N/A
Excise duty (brewer licensees) 3% N/A N/A
Softwood lumber products export charge 5% 1% 3%

For information on the prescribed interest rates Read more

CRA Business Tax Reminders Mobile App

The Honourable Kerry-Lynne D. Findlay, P.C., Q.C., M.P., Minister of National Revenue, today took part in a roundtable with businesses to launch the first-ever mobile app for small and medium-sized businesses from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). The new Business Tax Reminders mobile app is another example of our Government’s client-focused and technology-driven approach to reducing red tape for businesses.  The new app lets business users create custom reminders and alerts for key CRA due Read more

Should I report my tips as a taxable income?

restaurant-check-tips  CRA-Taxable Income

Canadians who earn tips and gratuities that they represent taxable income and must be reported on annual income tax and benefit returns. Restaurant servers, hairdressers, valets, taxi drivers, and others who earn tips may not have all of their income recorded by their employers, which means that their T4 slips may not include all of their income.

The Income Tax Act is clear about income from tips: tips are taxable and it is your responsibility to report any that you receive. Read more

CRA extending the filing deadline for tax returns

Heartbleed security bug: Canadian tax services back online

The Canada Revenue Agency says full service has been restored on all of its online systems as of Sunday. A release from the CRA said that ?individuals, businesses and representatives are now able to file returns, make payments, and access all other e-services available through the CRA?s website, including all our secure portals.? ?Our systems are back online. We apologize for the delay and the inconvenience it has Read more

Year-end management bonus – tax deferral for the shareholder

Companies may claim a tax deduction for unpaid management fees or salary at year-end, provided that the fees are paid to the manager or shareholder within 179 days of the year-end date.

If a corporation’s year-end falls within 179 days of the calendar year, a bonus payable may provide for a tax deferral.

For example, if a company has a corporate year-end of Dec 31, 2012 and a profit of $100,000, the shareholders can issue a management bonus of $100,000 to reduce corporate taxable income to zero Read more

Business Transactions Prior to Incorporation

Many new business owners ask about how to deal with Business Transactions Prior to Incorporation. Here is the right answer for this issue according to the CRA IT-364 Commencement of Business Operations:

Date When Business Commences

2. It is not possible to be specific about the point in time when a contemplated business becomes an actual business. Generally speaking, it is the Department’s view that a business commences whenever some significant activity is undertaken that is a regular part of the income-earning process Read more

CRA Review Common adjustments for Income Tax Return

Here are some tips from CRA review programs. Following these tips should help reduce the number of adjustments CRA make to returns each year. For more information, including how to get forms, guides, and other publications relating to the common adjustments listed below; select the link for the topic.

Topics

No reply received Note to students What if you don’t have all your information slips or receipts? Retiring allowances – Line 130 of the tax return RRSP deduction – Line 208 of the tax return

Annual Read more

Avoid CRA audit for personal income tax return

Accxpert_Tax_Newsletter

– Top Audit Triggers and what you can do to avoid the attention of CRA

Here are a few of the tips you will receive:

  • Not taking a second look at your return can lead to problems
  • Timing is everything
  • Making too much money could be a bad thing
  • Consistency is a good thing
  • and more!

You may be aware of some of these tips, but if there’s just one that you weren’t aware of it could just be the one that keeps CRA off your back.

You’ll also learn that even if you do everything right when it comes to filing your taxes and obeying CRA’s rules, sometimes your associations, good and bad, will get CRA’s attention.

This is where careful planning comes Read more