Canadian. Former CRA. High Compliance. Low Risk. CRA debt problem solver. The messier the better. Tax blogger. Comments and opinions are mine only.
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Articles by Warren Orlans
Canadian Property Taxes - By Province
Local governments in Canada need revenue from property taxes to pay for a wide variety of public services, ranging from police and fire stations to schools, roads and sewers. This tax is imposed on various kinds of property and the primary source of revenue used to fund public services and each municipality has its unique tax formula. However, all property taxes in Canada are based on two critical factors: property value assessment (how much your property is worth) and the residential rate.
Warren Orlans & Erin Wood
Xero has been consulting with the federal government and staying informed in order to educate and support accountants, bookkeepers and small business owners about the ePayroll Project
Payroll reporting in Canada is changing soon: What you need to know
Partner Posts Technology Software Xero has been consulting with the federal government and staying informed in order to educate and support accountants, bookkeepers and small business owners about the ePayroll Project Warren Orlans is Xero’s Product Compliance Manager for Canada and Erin Wood is Xero’s Payroll Product Compliance Lead for Canada. THE Canadian government is making significant changes to payroll reporting to streamline and modernize the process.
Introducing Personal Banker - Finding Tax Credits for you, and more
inTAXicating is the name chosen in 2008 by Warren Orlans, a Canadian Tax Consultant and former Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Employee of the Year who worked in the CRA for almost 11-years in their Collections Department. inTAXicating provides expertise in the area of Tax Liability Solutions and assists Canadians to understand how the CRA operates.
Ontario Contractor Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has reported that a Vaughan, Ontario based, general contractor has been fined for evading GST/HST. The press release by the CRA announces that Gilles Larocque of Nobleton, Ontario pleaded guilty to tax evasion. He was sentenced in the Ontario Court of Justice in Newmarket and fined a total of $301,125.
CRA Targeting Underground Economy Again (or Still)…
Recently saw a news headline relating to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and collecting taxes, that caught my eye. The headline screamed something to the effect of; “Contractors buying from Home Depot beware — the CRA is coming after you.” I immediately began to shake my head and wonder if what the purpose of this article was.
Common CRA Audit Triggers
Audits in Canada are typically assigned randomly. There are, however, some reasons as to why some taxpayers are audited more often that others.
Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Lien Questions Answered
There are many questions around writs and liens – each situation can be very different – but there are some commonly asked questions which pop-up when someone realizes that the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has registered a lien against their property. We’re going to try to address and answer the most commonly asked questions right now. When does a lien have to be dealt with. A:When the property needs to be sold or refinanced.
Ottawa estimates corporations dodged up to $11.4 billion in 2014 tax payments
Very interesting article published on June 18th, 2019 via the Canadian Press, regarding what appears to be Canadian Corporations avoiding the payment of $11.4 billion dollars in taxes owing to the CRA. My initial reaction to that headline was likely similar to what others who saw this headline probably felt – that corporations are not paying their fair share of taxes, that corporations get all these tax breaks and that the government allows corporations to not pay taxes.
Happy Father’s Day!
Happy Father’s Day to all of the father’s out there! Make today the day that you brighten the day of someone who is a father or has been a father to you and wish them the best today. Also remember that in most cases, there is a mother behind the father, so be sure to thank them for their role in the equation, no matter what that relationship is like today. Advertisements Like this: Like Loading... Author: Warren Orlans Welcome to inTAXicating. My name is Warren Orlans and this is my blog.
Winnipeg insulation company to pay nearly $500K in fines and back taxes for tax evasion
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has announced on their website that a Winnipeg-based insulation company has been fined after underreporting its taxable income by more than $1 million. The CRA’s Investigators found irregularities in the books and records of Thermo Applicators Inc., such as, that the company’s president included personal expenses in the company’s books, including construction costs for a cabin near Kenora, Ont. and a vacation home in Mexico, as well as a fly-in fishing trip.
A Coaldale, Alberta man has been arrested for fraud after allegedly being one of the central figures in a so-called “gifting” scheme which has taken in about 500 individuals across the province of Alberta. Gifting schemes have been under the microscope at the Canada Revenue Agency for over a decade, and in all cases, the CRA have rejected these schemes, and denied the donation receipts of the contributors.
BC Land Developer and Builder Sentenced For Tax Evasion
May 3, 2019 – Vancouver, British Columbia The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has announced that Willi Isaak of Anmore, British Columbia (Canada), has been sentenced to pay a $23,100 fine after being found guilty on two counts of tax evasion and one count of making false statements under the Income Tax Act, and one count of goods and services tax / harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) evasion under the Excise Tax Act. Mr. Isaak was a director and 50% shareholder of Baarak United Enterprises Ltd.
Defining Notice of Assessment, Notice of Reassessment, Request for Information and Audit
If you’ve just opened your your mailbox and have a notification from the Canada Revenue Agency’s MyAccount, don’t be intimidated. Here’s what you need to know about the different types of paperwork sent by the CRA. Notice of Assessment When your tax return is processed by CRA, they issue a statement that outlines key line numbers and amounts as well as other important info. This statement is called a Notice of Assessment (NOA).
inTAXicating.ca is down
For those of you who have attempted to connect with me through my website, inTAXicating.ca, you may have noticed that it is down… I am aware. I’ve changed webhosts and I’m hoping that it will be back online next week. Apparently, while all of these website issues were going on, my email, info@intaxicating.ca also went down. It’s currently not pulling any emails, and for that, I thank you for your patience.
NETFILE is Currently Down: CRA Reports
The CRA has reported that their NETFILE service is down, along with their My Account functionality. The CRA has been working on the fix since very early this morning, and have kept the public fairly well informed on social media. Thankfully today is the 25th of March and not the 25th of April, so it shouldn’t pose a significant problem for the CRA provided they can plug the system back in and get it running fast.
5 Tax Deductible Items at the Grocery Store
Tax time is here, which means that in addition to getting ready to file your tax return, you are also already one-quarter into your next tax year. To say this time of year is hectic might be an understatement. Free time is precious, and every minute counts, so making sure the right choices are being made at the right time can be the difference between success or mediocrity.
How To Check Your Income Tax Refund Status
NETFILE Tax Returns If you have used NETFILE to file your tax return, the CRA will issue a confirmation number after it does a preliminary check of your return and the return is accepted through NETFILE for processing. This step usually takes just a few seconds, but it is a CRITICAL step! Keep the confirmation number the CRA provides you, for your records. After you receive a confirmation number, the CRA may need to contact you for clarification or to verify some information.
The TurboTax Mobile App Has Launched: File Your Taxes From Your Smartphone
TurboTax Mobile App Has Launched Canadians want to prepare income tax returns on their mobile devices. The fact is that Canadians no longer sit down in front of their computers in order to do their taxes, especially when they have the ability to start preparing their returns on their mobile phones.
Canadian Taxation Considerations for AirBnB Hosts
More and more Canadians are jumping into the short-term rental market where they rent out their homes, condos or cottages through sites, like Airbnb as a means for earning some extra income. Earning extra income is always great, and that income has to be reported to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
A Tax Joke? Taxes are Not a joke!
I don’t normally posts jokes. Taxes are not funny. But this was sent to me, and it made me laugh as a former employee of the CRA responsible to collections, compliance and a variety of other responsibilities. Here it is; A local Canadian bar, You Moose Be Joking, was so sure that its bartenders – Bob and Doug McKenzie – were the strongest men in the Yukon, that they offered a standing $1000 bet to anyone who dared to take them up on their challenge.
Navigating the CRA When Your Tax Bill Is Too Big To Pay In Full
In most cases, you already know when you file your tax return that you are going to owe the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). Or maybe, you already have a balance owing, and you are going to be adding more money to that balance, or possibly you have no idea whatsoever why it is that your Notice of Assessment (NOA) has a balance owing on it that you cannot afford to pay in full.
Canadians Must Hold Governments Accountable For Their Spending of Tax Revenue
The average Canadian family’s largest expense is taxes. Therefore it should not be unreasonable that Canadians expect all levels of government to not waste their tax dollars, money taken off their paychecks and paid into the system.
CRA Helping Small and Medium Sized Canadian Businesses
On June 27th, 2017 The Government of Canada announced that they are committed to ensuring tax fairness for all Canadians, as they recognize the importance of small and medium businesses in creating jobs and growing the economy. As a result, they made a commitment to overhaul its service model so that people who interact with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) feel like valued clients, not just taxpayers.
Are Acronyms or Emojis Ever Acceptable for Business Communication
Are acronyms acceptable in a business environment? The general rule is this: If a customer / client sends you correspondence with acronyms, or emoji’s, it means one of 3 things; They are young… Very young. They don’t know how to communicate on a business level which might be an indicator of immaturity, or a genuine lack of understanding of how to communicate with someone that you are conducting business with. Or they just don’t care.
Beware of Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Scam Emails. Example Provided.
If it’s not the phone calls, it’s the emails, and if it’s not duct cleaning, it’s some criminal trying to convince you that they are calling from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). They used to have a live person call, and I loved that because as a former CRA employee, I used to frustrate them until they hung up on me. Now, sadly, they leave messages which have words like “criminal”, “jail”, “lawyer” and “police” and when the message includes those words, it’s time to hang up.
What is a Business Number? How do I Know if I Need One?
What is a Business Number (BN) and When Do I Need One? A Business Number, or (BN) is a unique, 9-digit number given by the Canada Revenue Agency to businesses. The CRA uses the BN as a standard identifier for your business. Each BN is unique to a business or legal entity. When Do You Need a BN? You need a BN if you are a sole proprietor or in a partnership and you require what the CRA referes to as “Program Accounts”.
The Importance of Record Keeping
How important is record keeping? Record keeping is extremely important and failing to keep proper records costs small businesses millions of dollars each and every year. According to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), you, the Canadian Taxpayer, is required by law to keep records of all your transactions to be able to support your income and expense claims. What is a Record?
Self-Employed Business Win: Creating a CRA Compliant Invoice
Invoices Whether you have one client a year, or one per day, it is very important to understand how to issue an invoice or you do not get paid. But if you’re creating an invoice, why not get it right from the beginning and create an invoice which is compliant to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). This topic is especially important for businesses and business owners who do not already use QuickBooks, because QuickBooks already creates CRA compliant invoices.
How to Pay Your Taxes if you Owe
If you have taxes owing to the CRA, or are interested in setting up tax instalments because you are self-employed, the CRA allows you to pay your taxes online simply and efficiently. As the tax deadline approaches on April 30th, ensure that any taxes owing to the CRA are paid by the April 30th deadline.
Member of Nova Scotia First Nation charged with evading $2.2 million in taxes
The Canada Revenue Agency have announced that they have charged a member of Nova Scotia’s Millbrook First Nation with evading $2.2 million in GST/HST. The CRA charged Lisa L. Marshall who was the operator of the Traditional Trading Post, a convenience store, located on the Cole Harbour reserve of the Millbrook First Nation using the Excise Tax Act with wilfully evading or attempting to evade compliance with that Act.
CRA Hires New Chief Service Officer. (It wasn’t me, but it should have been me!)
On November 1st, 2018, the CRA announced that as a result of complaints from the public related to “significant service delays”, they have launched a national consultation tour and on this tour will be promoting the appointment of a new Chief Service Officer (CSO). That position should have been mine, but they never asked, so instead of helping the masses while working at the CRA, I’ll have to continue helping Taxpayers as inTAXicating.
BC Tracking Condo Purchasers
Effective September 18th, 2018, the Ministry of Finance in the province of British Columbia (Canada) has introduced a new version of their property transfer tax return which asks for additional information which could be used by the Ministry of Finance, or the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to track condo flippers, or those individuals or businesses who purchase condos and rent them out.
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Knows Who Cheats on their Taxes!
Are you on the Canada Revenue Agencies radar? How about on the CRA’s Audit Radar? Have you been “flagged”? Have you ever wondered how the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) decides who to audit? Are there red flags? Or does the CRA know how you operate your business which makes you more or less likely to be audited? Here is the answer that you might be looking for; The CRA knows who Cheats on their Taxes! Do you fit their profile? Are you at risk?
Former Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Auditor Not Guilty of Fraud
A former Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) auditor and his wife were found not guilty of fraud when a judge rules that the CRA failed to prove that the fraud was intentional.
Fired CRA Employee Denied Access to Tax Records… Duh!
A Superior Court judge has dismissed the application of a former Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) employee requesting the CRA produce various third-party records for use in his defence.
Lien on Me: The CRA and Liens. Questions Answered.
When the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) registers a lien against your home, they are securing their interest by attaching the repayment of their debt to your property. The CRA considers a lien to be enforcement action and this tool is commonly applied where there are properties in the name of a taxpayer who has a tax debt.
Tax Debt, Tax Arrears, Taxes Owing. Call it what you want, but it is ruining your life!
Do you have tax debt to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)? Tax arrears causes stress each and every day on you, your business and your family? Even if you are in an arrangement with the CRA, they can change their mind on a moments notice and want more. Knowing that the CRA can take all your money, or close your business at any time for your Tax Debt cannot help you sleep at night… Everybody has answers for you which best suits themselves or their business.
What Self-Employed People Should Know About Audits
To many self-employed people and small-business owners, the idea of being audited may cause panic at tax-time. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has an extensive and expansive audit process. With the right record-keeping and tax preparation strategy, self-employed Canadians and small-business owners can reduce your risk of being audited and/or painlessly getting through an audit if it happens. The Audit Process If the CRA decides to audit you, an auditor will call or write to you to set up a meeting.
Frequently Asked Tax Question Answered: How do I know if what I read about Tax Debt to the CRA is true?
This is one of the most commonly asked questions of me: How do I know if what I read on the Internet regarding debt to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is true or not? The answer is quite clear, however, complicated at the same time. If you owe money to the CRA and you are looking for options, suggestions, or tips on the Internet, you have to pay special attention to the “Solution” options which are advertised as if they are providing legitimate advice.
How to Make a Payment to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)
Do you owe money to the CRA? Are you in Collections? Do you have CRA debt? Are you looking to make an installment payment, or a payroll remittance? How about a GST/HST payment or remittance? If any of these apply to you, then you need to know how to make a payment to the to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
You Filed Your Tax Return to the CRA. You Owe CRA Money. Now What?
You have filed you Canadian personal tax return by the April 30th deadline and you owe the CRA money. Now what? You have heard horror stories about how the Canada Revenue Agency goes about collecting taxes dollars. You need to act fast, right? Well that is exactly what is wrong with tax-filing season in Canada.
Toronto Strong
Welcome to inTAXicating. My name is Warren Orlans and this is my blog. With over 17-years experience in the taxation industry, 11 of them working for the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), and the rest working in the private sector at large financial institutions responsible for resolving tax issues for corporations and individuals and the Canadian lead for a large US bank on FATCA implementation.
CRA Problems? Here is what you need to do!
Do you have problems with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)? Do you owe the CRA money? Are you behind on your personal (T1) tax filings? Are you a business owner and you have fallen behind on payroll, GST/HST or Corporate Tax (T2) returns? Has the CRA registered a lien against a property you own? Have you transferred and asset and the CRA is assessing a 3rd party for your debts? Are there garnishments on you bank account or against your wages?
What’s New For 2018: CRA
The Filing deadline for your 2017 Personal Tax Return (T1) is April 30th, 2018. While most Canadian income tax and benefit returns for 2017 are due on April 30, 2018, if you or your spouse or common-law partner is self-employed, you have until June 15, 2018. You can file online as early as February 26, 2018. Filing early ensures your benefit and credit payments are not delayed or stopped. If you have a spouse or common-law partner, they should also file a return early.
Belgian Tax Authorities Going After Crypto-Currency Investors
It is no surprise, that the Tax authorities in Belgium, the Special Tax Inspectorate (STI) have begun to monitor investments involving Crypto-Currencies. The STI have started investigating cases where citizens of Belgium have traded in digital currencies on foreign exchanges, and similar to many other countries around the world, the Belgium tax authorities are checking to see if these investors have been claiming their dealings and paying the 33% Capital Gains tax.
Tax season in Canada… When can you expect to see your slips, receipts and returns?
So much fun… Really. Organizations who issue tax slips, tax returns or contribution receipts have been working hard perfecting their processes since the end of the last tax reporting season and have been working through the summer putting any necessary changes in place and gearing up for the next tax season – which all begins next month in November for many top organizations.
CRA Acting Unusually, or Cabot Business To Be Charged With Tax Evasion
In what is either a case of the CRA acting in an unusual manner, or a business has misplayed their hand – and is being charged with tax evasion under the Income Tax Act (ITA) and the Excise Tax Act (ETA). Time will tell who is in the wrong. The CBC has reported that a St. John’s car dealership and a director of the dealership, are being accused of tax evasion and making false and deceptive statements on tax returns by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
Your Questions Answered About The CRA’s Informant Leads (Snitch) Line
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has employed the Informant Leads Line, or “Snitch Line” for a very long time, and with incredible results. Only recently has it been getting a lot of attention in the media. The line has been so successful that the CRA (Canada Revenue Agency) is reducing their workforce – specifically related to investigations – because they get more detailed information through tipsters than they would if they had employees trying to locate this information. Who uses this line?
2018 Federal Budget Highlights: 12 Changes Related to Taxation, the CRA, and you, the Canadian Taxpayer
The Federal Liberal government has just unveiled their 3rd budget, and in doing so will be increasing spending by roughly $20 billion dollars, bringing the federal deficit to roughly $670 billion dollars. Looking at the tax issues, here are the main items which come from the budget this afternoon; The government implemented a 5-week “take it or leave it” parental leave, pretty much like what Quebec has, in order to entice more dads to take paternity leave.
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