GST treatment of fuel charges

Generally, under the Excise Tax Act every recipient of a taxable supply (other than a zero-rated supply) made in Canada is required to pay GST on the value of the consideration for the supply. Consideration is defined in the Act to include any amount payable by operation of law. The Act also provides that all taxes, duties or fees (other than the GST) imposed under an Act of Parliament in respect of a supply of property or a service and payable by the recipient of the supply, or payable/collectible by the supplier in respect of the supply or in respect of the production, importation, consumption or use of the property or service, are included in the consideration for the supply, for GST purposes.

Given the preceding, supplies (for example, sales) made in Canada of fossil fuels would generally be subject to GST, which would be calculated on the price paid for the supply of the fuel. This would include any fuel charge paid or payable in respect of the supply as well as any fuel charge embedded in the price as a result of having been paid earlier on in the distribution chain.

GST registrants are generally entitled to claim an input tax credit to recover the GST paid or payable in respect of the supply of property or a service acquired for consumption, use or supply in the course of commercial activities.

What happens to CPP after the death of a spouse?

This is not as simple as it seems. In 2017 the life expectancy for the total Canadian population is projected to be 79 years for men and 83 years for women, so there may be many years you’re living alone on that income. Some of the situations are as follows:

  • Depending on the age of the surviving spouse:
Canada Pension Plan Survivor Benefits
If the survivor is: Then the survivor’s pension is:
age 65 or more 60% of the contributor’s retirement pension if the surviving spouse or common-law partner is not receiving other CPP benefits
under age 65 a flat rate portion – this year that rate is $193.66 a month.

plus

37.5% of the contributor’s retirement pension, if the surviving spouse or common-law partner is not receiving other CPP benefits
  • If the partner dies before applying for CPP, the CPP benefit is calculated based on what they have contributed so far in their working life, whether they’re 25 or 65. The survivor’s benefit is calculated based on that number — 60 percent if the survivor is 65 or over, 37.5 percent if they are under age 65.
  • If the family has children 18 or under, there is a monthly portion per child, currently $250.27 a month per child. Children aged 18 to 25 can also get this support if they are enrolled in post-secondary school, though they’ll have to prove their enrolment to the government each year.
  • if a couple is separated, it depends on whether the deceased spouse is living common-law with another person. If they are still legally married, the surviving spouse could get a share of the benefits, but if the deceased spouse was living with someone else, his or her common-law partner would get the benefits.

What ever your situation is, you will need to contact Service Canada to determine your survivor benefits.

The surviving spouse is responsible for applying for your monthly pension. If you are incapable of applying, you may have a representative (such as a trustee) apply for you.

You should apply as soon as possible after the contributor’s death. If you delay, you may lose benefits. The Canada Pension Plan can only make back payments for up to 12 months.

To apply, you must complete the Canada Pension Plan survivor’s pension and children’s benefits application form (ISP1300).

Work from anywhere with the Quickbooks Online Phone App to link to your Quickbooks Online Account

Run Your Business on the Go with QuickBooks Online.

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Invoice your customers and collect payments from wherever you do business.

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Capture Expenses on the Go

Trash the receipts – snap a photo then easily attach it to any transaction using the QuickBooks Online Mobile app.

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Frequently Asked Questions


What kinds of things can I do with QuickBooks mobile?

You can do some of your most important QuickBooks activities: create, view, and email estimates, invoices, and sales receipts; access customer information; convert estimates to invoices, receive payments, track expenses, download and reconcile bank transactions, and use your custom QuickBooks Online forms.

Which operating systems are supported?

QuickBooks mobile currently supports iOS 8.0 and later, and Android OS 4.0 and later.

How much does it cost?

It’s FREE with your QuickBooks Online subscription

Can I try it before I subscribe to QuickBooks Online?

Yes! Please contact our office to sign up for your subsciption. See how QuickBooks Online works and how easy it is to use – on the web and on the go.

How do QuickBooks web and mobile work together?

QuickBooks mobile is syncs with QuickBooks Online on the web. Any task you do or information you add in the app shows in both places at the same time. 

Can I do more in QuickBooks Online on the web than on mobile?

Yes, and we recommend that you do! It’s all part of your QuickBooks Online subscription, so please take advantage of all the features.

For instance, on the web you can customize your invoices and other forms, get access to over 20 reports, and give your accountant access so you’re ready for tax time.

Can I get insights about my business?

Yes, you can instantly see your:

·Profit & Loss report to see how your business is doing over time.

·Balance Sheet report for the list of your current asset, liability, and equity account balances.

How do I know my data is safe and my privacy is protected?

The same security that protects your QuickBooks Online data on the web applies when you use QuickBooks mobile. For more about how we protect your data, see our Online Security Center

The app uses TRUSTe certification program and keep your data and privacy safe.

GST Reporting Periods

GST registrants are required to calculate their net GST remittance or refund on a periodic basis – monthly, quarterly or annually, depending on sales volumes. Following each reporting period, a registrant must file a GST return and remit the net tax owing, orclaim a refund.

The reporting period is determined by the registrant’s “threshold amount” for a fiscal year or fiscal quarter. Detailed instructions on how to calculate these threshold amounts are included in paragraphs 35 through 40 of this memorandum.

  • Monthly – For registrants whose threshold amount for a fiscal year or fiscal quarter is greater than $6 million.
  • Quarterly – For registrants whose threshold amount for a fiscal year is $6 million or less.
  • Annually – Registrants whose threshold amount for a fiscal year does not exceed $500,000 may elect to file annually and pay quarterly installments.

At the time of registration, the Department will assign a reporting period based on the estimated annual taxable sales. The GST registrant can request an alternative reporting period by filing an election.

Tax information you need to know if you bought or sold a home

Principal residence exemption

When you sell your principal residence, did you know that any profit (capital gain) may be exempt from taxes? In fact, if your home was your primary residence for every year that you owned it, you do not have to pay tax on the capital gain.

Your principal residence can be any of the following:

  • a house, cottage or condominium
  • an apartment in an apartment building or a duplex
  • a trailer, mobile home, or houseboat

In order for a property to qualify as your principal residence:

  • You must own, or jointly own the property.
  • You, your current or former spouse or common-law partner, or any of your children must have lived in the property at some time during the year.

To benefit from the principal residence exemption you must report the sale appropriately on your income tax and benefit return. How you do so can vary depending on whether the property you sold was your principal residence for the entire time you owned it. Only one property can be designated as a principal residence per tax year per family unit. A family unit includes you, your current or former spouse (or common-law partner) and any children under the age of 18.

Home buyers’ amount

You can claim the home buyers’ amount of up to $5,000 on your income tax and benefit return for a particular year if both of the following apply:

  • you or your spouse or common-law partner acquired a qualifying home; and
  • you did not live in another home owned by you or your spouse or common-law partner in the year of acquisition or in any of the four preceding years (first-time home buyer).

You do not have to be a first-time home buyer if you are eligible for the disability tax credit or you acquired the home for the benefit of a related person who is eligible for the disability tax credit.

Eligible home buyers can complete line 369 of Schedule 1 of their income tax and benefit return.

Home Buyers’ Plan

You may be eligible to participate in the Home Buyers’ Plan which allows you to withdraw funds from your registered retirement savings plans (RRSPs) to buy or build a qualifying home for yourself. Budget 2019 proposes to increase the Home Buyers’ Plan withdrawal limit to $35,000, to provide first-time home buyers with greater access to their RRSP savings when purchasing a home. This amount is available for withdrawls made after March 19, 2019. Buyers have up to 15 years to repay the amounts they withdraw.

To qualify for the Home Buyers’ Plan, you have to meet these two conditions:

  • you are a first-time home buyer
  • you have a written agreement to buy or build a qualifying home for yourself

You are considered a first-time home buyer if, in the preceding four-year period, you did not live in a home that you or your spouse or common-law partner owned. You must intend to live in the qualifying home as your principal residence within one year of buying or building it.

Home Buyers’ Plan for persons with disabilities

You do not have to be a first-time home buyer to participate in the Home Buyers’ Plan if you are eligible for disability tax credit or if you are helping a related person who is eligible for the credit buy or build a home. The purchase or construction must be done to allow a person with a disability to live in a home that is more accessible or better suited to their needs.

GST/HST rebate on new homes in Canada

If you bought a newly constructed home from a builder, you may be able to claim a new housing rebate for some of the goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) you paid.

If you constructed or substantially renovated a house for use as your primary place of residence, you may also be eligible for this rebate.

For more information on the GST/HST new housing rebate, refer to guide RC4028, GST/HST New Housing Rebate.

Home accessibility expenses

If you are a qualifying individual (65 years of age or older at the end of 2017 or eligible for the disability tax credit) or an eligible individual claiming certain tax credits for a qualifying individual, you may be able to claim eligible expenses paid for renovations that make your dwelling more accessible.

Canadian non-resident tax obligations

Who is a non-resident?

A non-resident is someone who:

  • normally, customarily, or routinely lives in another country and is not considered a resident of Canada; or
  • does not have significant residential ties in Canada; and
    • lives outside of Canada throughout the tax year; or
    • stays in Canada for less than 183 days in the fiscal year.

The most common types of income subject to non-resident tax are:

  • Pension plan and Old Age Security (OAS) payments
  • Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) and Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF) payments
  • Rental and royalty payments
  • Annuity payments
  • Trust payments
  • Dividend payments

What are your obligations?

You are responsible for deducting and remitting non-resident tax if you are:

  • a Canadian resident who pays or credits certain types of income to a non-resident of Canada
  • an agent or someone who receives certain types of income on behalf of a non-resident of Canada, from which tax was not withheld
  • a non-resident of Canada who receives certain types of income from a Canadian source, from which tax was not withheld

 Failing to deduct and remit non-resident tax on these payments may result in penalties and interest.

Open a non-resident tax account to take care of your obligations

It’s now easy and convenient to open a non-resident tax account.

You can access the new registration tool and open a non-resident tax account through any of the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) online portals, including:

Do you or your employees use their vehicle for work? Here’s what you need to know

Do you or your employees use their personal vehicles for work-related travel? If so, you may provide them with an automobile or motor vehicle allowance to help cover expenses.

What is an automobile or motor vehicle allowance?

An automobile or motor vehicle allowance is any payment that you give your employees for using their own vehicle in connection with their employment. This payment forms part of their salary or wages. An allowance is a taxable benefit to your employees unless it is based on a reasonable per-kilometre rate.What are your responsibilities.

Determine if the allowance is reasonable

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) considers an allowance to be reasonable if the allowance is based only on the number of business kilometres driven in a year and if the per-kilometre rate is reasonable. Generally, a reasonable per-kilometre rate is one that is designed to cover an employee’s out-of-pocket costs.

What is a reasonable amount:

For 2019, a reasonable rate is 58 cents per kilometre for the first 5,000 kilometres driven and 52 cents/km after that. In the territories, the rate is 4 cents/km higher.

For 2018, a reasonable rate is 55 cents per kilometre for the first 5,000 kilometres driven and 49 cents/km after that. In the territories, the rate is 4 cents/km higher.

If the allowance is reasonable:

If you pay your employees an allowance that the CRA considers reasonable, do not include this amount as income on their T4. You also do not deduct CPP contributions, EI premiums, or income tax from the allowance.

If the allowance is unreasonable:

If you pay your employees an allowance that the CRA considers unreasonable, because it is either too low or too high, it is a taxable benefit. You will need to complete the following steps:

  1. Include the amount of the allowance in your employee’s income.
  2. Calculate payroll deductions (CPP deductions, EI premiums and income tax).
  3. Prepare and file T4 slips for your employees.

Provide your employee with a Form T2200if required

Where allowances are included in income, the employee may be entitled to deduct motor vehicle employment expenses. In order to deduct these expenses, the allowance must be included in income, and the employee must obtain a completed Form T2200, Declaration of Conditions of Employment, from you. The deduction of motor vehicle employment expenses is usually limited to situations where, the employee was required to carry out the duties of employment away from the employer’s regular place of business or in multiple locations. 

Where can you find more information?

To assist you in determining the taxability of a benefit, the payroll deductions you have to withhold, and how to report the amount on an information slip, the CRA publishes the following guides:

When you need a business number for Canada Revenue Agency program accounts

Certain business activities require a business number. You can register for:

  • business number: a unique, 9-digit number – the standard identifier for businesses. It is unique to a business or legal entity.
  • CRA program accounts: 2 letters and 4 digits attached to a business number – used for specific business activities that must be reported to the CRA.

When you need a business number:

You need a business number if you incorporate or need a CRA program account.

You might need a business number to interact with other federal, provincial, and municipal governments in Canada.

Getting a business number as part of other registrations:

You will get a business number if you:

  • register for any CRA program accounts needed
  • incorporate your business federally
  • register or incorporate your business with these provinces:
    • British Columbia
    • Manitoba
    • Nova Scotia
    • Ontario
    • Saskatchewan
    • New Brunswick
    • Alberta
  • register using Business Registration Online (BRO)

When you need a new business number

If you already have a business number and you want to change the legal ownership or the structure of your business, you may have to register for a new business number.

When you need CRA program accounts

Each CRA program account has its own rules and requirements about when you need to register.

The most common program accounts a business may need are:

Registering for a CRA program account will get you a business number if you don’t already have one. If you already have a business number, the CRA program account will be added to your business number. Your business will only ever have 1 business number.

Audit Shield Insurance for our Clients

Our firm will be instituting a new tax audit insurance program.  This will give our clients the opportunity to purchase Audit Shield Insurance to help cover any potential costs associated from audit queries from the tax department. 

What is audit activity?

Audit activity includes any audit, inquiry, investigation or review which is instigated by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)and other provincial agencies to ensure business and taxpayer compliance with various tax and legislative requirements such as Personal Tax, Business Audits, Payroll Audits, GST and Capital Gains Tax, amongst others.

How common are audits, enquiries, investigations or reviews?

The CRA and other government revenue bodies continue to focus on review and audit activity. These agencies are consistently provided with resources for this purpose.


What is the Audit Shield Fee Waiver Service? Why should I consider it?

Our firm’s Audit Shield Fee Waiver Service provides for the payment of professional fees incurred as a result of your filed return being selected for an audit, enquiry, investigation or review. The cost of being properly represented in these matters can be quite significant. Even if no adjustments are required, you could still be left with considerable professional fees if you are not protected by Audit Shield. It provides a fixed, cost effective solution to guard against these unbudgeted costs.


Who provides the Audit Shield
Fee Waiver Service?

Audit Shield is provided by our accounting firm and we hold an Audit Shield insurance policy (underwritten by Lloyds) which mirrors this service.

What filed returns/financial compliance obligations are covered?

  • Audits and reviews instigated by Provincial Agencies such as PST
  • Business Audits
  • Capital Gains Tax
  • Corporate Tax – full and area specific
  • Employer Audit Program
  • Employer Compliance Audits
  • GST/HST
  • Payroll Audits (T4)
  • Personal Tax (post Assessment T1)
  • Plus more!

Is the cost tax deductible?
Yes, a tax deduction can be ordinarily claimed for your Audit Shield Fee Waiver Service.

Who is covered?
All of our clients are invited to participate in the Audit Shield Fee Waive Service. Different levels of cover are available for T1s and businesses. In most cases individuals and other family entities can be covered with the business entities – for no extra cost. If you decide to participate, your cover commences one business day after your payment is received.

Is it mandatory to participate in the Audit Shield Fee Waiver Service?

No, Audit Shield is an option our accounting firm provides to you, our client. You have the opportunity to participate in or decline the offer.

What do I need to do to participate?

Please contact one of our friendly team members to discuss your participation and to arrange an acceptance form to be sent to you.

Canada Pension Plan (CPP) increase in 2019 and future years

Beginning 2019 CPP increase to grow to replace one third of the average work earnings you receive after 2019. The maximum limit used to determine your average work earnings will also gradually increase by 14% by 2025.

Your pension will increase based on how much and for how long you contribute to the enhanced CPP. The CPP enhancements will increase the maximum CPP retirement pension by up to 50% for those who make enhanced contributions for 40 years.

Changes to CPP contributions

You contribute to the CPP if you are over the age of 18, work in Canada) and earn more than $3,500 a year.

You only contribute on employment earnings between $3,500 and an annual earning limit (adjusted each year based on changes in the average wage in Canada). In 2019 this limit is $ 57,400.

The increase in contributions as a result of the enhancement will be phased in gradually over seven years in two steps:

Step 1: 2019-2023

From 2019 to 2023, the contribution rate for employees will gradually increase by one percentage point (from 4.95% to 5.95%) on earnings between $3,500 and the original earnings limit. fffffffff

Year Increase Increase Employer/Employee Rate
2019 0.15% 0.3% 5.10%
2020 0.15% 0.3% 5.25%
2021 0.2% 0.4% 5.45%
2022 0.25% 0.5% 5.70%
2023 0.25% 0.5% 5.95%

Step 2: 2024-2025

Starting in 2024, a second, higher limit will be introduced, allowing you to invest an additional portion of your earnings to the CPP. This new limit, known as the Year’s Additional Maximum Pensionable Earnings, will not replace the first earnings ceiling. Instead, it will subject your earnings to two earnings limits. This limit is referred to as the second earnings ceiling.

This new range of earnings covered by the Plan will start at the first earnings ceiling (estimated to be $69,700 in 2025) and go to the which will be 14% higher by 2025 (estimated to be $79,400). Like the first earnings ceiling, the second will increase each year to reflect wage growth.

Thus, if you earn more, you will contribute more towards your CPP benefits for the future.

Employers will pay the same increase in contributions as their employees. If you are self-employed, you will contribute both the employee and employer portions. This means once the phase-in is complete you will pay a contribution rate of 11.9% on earnings up to the first earnings ceiling and 8% on the second earnings ceiling. This will in turn increase your benefit amounts.

If you are an employee, your CPP contributions will continue to be automatically deducted by your employer.

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