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How to Make your Business Taxes Easier Next Year

Two people sitting down sharing how to make business taxes easier

Business income taxes are a year-round experience, not a single event. Having just paid your taxes, you likely aren’t thinking of the next tax season. However, there’s no such thing as “too early” to think about future business taxes. So, how can you make tax preparation easier next year? How can you simplify the process? The following are some ways to make the next tax season less complicated and more relaxed: 

  • Stay informed: If you’re looking for useful tips, helpful resources and current information, check out the Government of Canada’s web page for small businesses and the self-employed. 
  • Establish a tax calendar: This essential tax-planning tool helps you keep track of important dates and deadlines. Find these dates and deadlines on the Government of Canada’s website for important dates for corporations/businesses. 
  • Classify your business correctly as this affects the taxes required. For information on Sole Proprietors, Corporations and Cooperatives, see the Government of Canada’s website. If you’re still not sure what classification your business comes under, consult your CPA. 
  • Keep accurate, detailed, and updated records: This makes it easier to organize, check and file your business taxes without missing possible deductions or increasing your risk of an audit. Invest in accounting software to simplify accurate record keeping. Keep all financial information (such as your profit and loss statement, balance sheet, etc.) up to date to make filing easier during next year’s tax season.
  • Track expenses: As the government allows credits and tax deductions for qualified business expenses, it’s wise to keep track of all business-related expenses throughout the year. As the CRA does not accept credit card statements as proof of expenses, in order to take advantage of these tax deductions you must collect receipts for all business-related activities including accounting fees, business advertising and promotional expenses, business licenses and memberships, use of home expenses, interest and bank charges, insurance premiums, meals and entertainment, office expenses, rent, repairs and maintenance, tools and equipment, vehicle expenses, and parking fees. Record and file them appropriately. You can keep physical receipts or digital copies.
  • Keep business and personal banking separate: Open a dedicated bank account for your business, preferably one with online access as this makes it easier to make payments and do bank reconciliations. If you need business money for personal expenses, do a regular transfer to your personal account. This will make bookkeeping much easier.  Don’t use your personal credit card for work purchases or your business card for personal purchases.
  • Get organized:  Place your tax return and tax documents in a safe place where you’ll be able to quickly and easily find them. Separate any documents you receive that might have tax implications into at least four different categories including income items, deductions, business changes and others. Organize documents into each file accordingly. Better yet, digitize. It’s stressful keeping receipts, forms and other necessary paperwork organized and easily available. There are cloud-based platforms you can use to take pictures of receipts and categorize the expense.
  • Hire a CPA: Most small businesses prefer to have a Chartered Professional Accountant complete their Canadian income tax returns. This saves time and effort, provides assurance of accuracy and increases your chances of efficient tax planning.

As a business owner, you have a lot to think about such as daily operations, growth strategies, building/maintaining your customer base, hiring/retaining quality employees, etc. Use these tips to help make your business taxes and tax filing easier next tax season. It’ll be one less thing to worry about!

Not sure what tax deductions your company qualifies for? Need help with tax planning strategies? Contact Cook and Company Chartered Professional Accountants. Whether you operate a sole proprietorship or a sizable corporation with multiple subsidiaries, we use our experience and expertise to assist you. Contact us for a complimentary consultation.

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What to Remember for This Tax Season

What to Remember for This Tax Season - Cook & Company - Chartered Professional Accountants - Featured Image

Tax season is upon us and it’s a busy time! Each business must undertake the process of reporting earnings and paying income tax on business profits. It’s important to report income in the fiscal period you earn it, no matter when you receive it. It’s crucial to deduct business expenses but only if you incur them to earn income and if you are able to back up the claim. With filing deadlines approaching, what do you need to remember for this tax season? The following are some reminders for your business in this hectic time. 

  • File on time: If you wish to receive the benefits/credits your business is entitled to and avoid penalties, it’s important to file your return on time. File your return no later than six months after the end of each tax year. The tax year of a corporation is its fiscal period. If your business’ tax year ends on the last day of a month, file the return by the last day of the sixth month after the end of the tax year. If your tax year ends on March 31, your filing due date is September 30. If your tax year ends on August 31, your filing due date is February 28. If your tax year ends on September 23, your filing due date is March 23. When a filing due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or public holiday recognized by the CRA, your return is considered on time if the CRA receives it or if it is postmarked on or before the next business day. For more information, go to Important dates for corporations.
  • File online: To receive your refund faster, sign up for a direct deposit and file your return online through NETFILE-certified tax software or the services of an authorized service provider who can use the CRA EFILE service. 
  • Claim all benefits, credits and deductions: Your business may be able to claim tax deductions, credits and/or expenses on your return. Top deductions for business owners include advertising expenses, business-use-of-home expenses, meals and entertainment, office expenses and vehicle expenses.
  • Remit GST: You may be required to register and file a GST/HST return. Your GST due date depends on your tax filing period. Some businesses choose to pay their GST/HST quarterly or annually. For more information on how to (pay) your GST/HST, the CRA has additional guidance here.
  • Reduce adjustments: To reduce the number of changes made to your business return each year, find information about common adjustments, including how to get forms, guides and other publications.
  • Pay on time: To avoid interest charges, pay any balance owed by the deadline. If this is not possible, work out a payment arrangement with the CRA. 
  • Keep receipts/documents: In case you are selected for review,  keep all receipts/documents for at least six years. If you’re self-employed or a sole proprietor, you may need to keep some of your business records for a longer period of time.
  • Claim non-capital losses: If your expenses exceed business income in any year, use this loss to decrease your income tax bill. The loss can be carried back three years or carried forward up to 20 years. Your Chartered Professional Accountant can help you decide if it makes sense to use the non-capital loss in the current tax year, carry the non-capital loss back to recover income tax you’ve already paid or carry it forward to offset a larger tax bill.
  • Strategize your capital cost allowance: Instead of deducting the cost of the depreciable property you’ve acquired in your business in a particular year, deduct this cost over a period of years through a capital cost allowance claim. You can use as much or as little of this claim in any year and carry any unused portion forward to help offset a larger income tax bill in the future. Also, consider buying and selling your assets at the right time. Buy new assets before the end of your fiscal year and sell old assets after the current fiscal year.
  • Manage RRSP and TFSA contributions: Registered Retirement Savings Plans and Tax-Free Savings Accounts are excellent income tax deductions for small-business owners. Since some or all of your allowable RRSP contributions can be carried forward into subsequent years, you’re better off saving RRSP contributions for years in which you expect a high income. If you’ve maxed out your RRSP contributions and need a tax-free place to put cash or investments, the TFSA is a good choice. TFSAs allow you to shelter savings and investment income from taxes. Income and capital appreciation from stocks, bonds, or other interest-bearing instruments are tax-free inside a TFSA. Your Chartered Professional Accountant can help you maximize savings using RRSPs and TFSAs.

Business taxes are complex and complicated. Consider hiring a CPA. Most businesses prefer to have a certified professional accountant complete their Canadian income tax returns. This saves time and effort, provides assurance of accuracy and increases your chances of efficient tax planning. 

Need help with your business’ tax returns? Looking for business advice? Contact Cook and Company Chartered Professional Accountants. We are based out of Calgary, Alberta, serving clients across Canada and the United States. We provide high-quality tax, assurance and succession planning services for a wide variety of privately-owned and managed companies. Contact us for a complimentary consultation.

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Strategies to Improve your Business’s Accounting

Business accounting

If you want to weather the current economic climate and encourage growth for your business, you need a well-planned and implemented accounting strategy – an approach that tracks revenues, expenditures and profits, systematically. Being on top of your financial situation enables you to make decisions best suited to your circumstances. The following are some strategies to improve your business’s accounting.

Keep business and personal banking separate:

Open a dedicated bank account for your business, preferably one with online access as this makes it easier to make payments and do bank reconciliations. If you need business money for personal expenses, do a regular transfer to your personal account. This will make bookkeeping much easier.  Don’t use your personal credit card for work purchases and vice versa.

Recognize business vs. personal expenses:

You need to know what type of expenses can and can’t be claimed against your profit for the purpose of reducing tax. An expense that is directly related to the operation of the business and towards producing income is tax-deductible. An expense that is for your personal pleasure is not. Mixing personal and business does not mean a full claim for business can be made. If you’re in doubt about whether or not to claim an expense, contact your accountant.

Develop a budget:

Begin by coming up with revenue projections and a list of anticipated expenditures. Compare this budget to actual expenses and revenue. Adjust the budget as needed.

Keep an eye on high-cost expenses:

Labour and inventory costs are the largest expenses for most small businesses. To reduce labour expenses, consider outsourcing  work to contractors that bill at an hourly rate. They may not need 40 hours/week to complete your work and they don’t require benefits. Time-tracking software makes it easier to understand how much certain tasks cost your business, enabling you to find ways to control expenses. Track inventory carrying costs, inventory turnover ratio, amount lost to obsolete inventory and other key metrics.

Plan for major investments

Consider what expenses will arise in the next one to five years (upgrade of facilities, new office equipment, peaks in staffing costs, emergencies). By planning for major expenses, you can avoid taking money out of the company during good months and finding yourself short in slow months. Track expenses and revenue to help identify the best time for large investments. Business credit cards help establish a credit history giving you a better chance at qualifying for financing (lines of credit, loans) and they often offer perks such as business or travel rewards.

Utilize bookkeeping software:

There are free bookkeeping software packages if you are on a tight budget (Wave, ZipBooks, Akaunting, SlickPie, GnuCash, CloudBooks). If you can afford it, purchase a good-quality program that comes with occasional updates (Cashbook, Quickbooks, Xero, Sage, Freshbooks, Zoho). Choose one that is easy to use, customizable, produces charts for quick reference and combines different aspects of reporting from one period to the next. 

Organize and store source documents:

Quotes, orders, delivery dockets, sales and purchase invoices, credit and debit notes, payment/remittance advice, cheques, receipts, wage records and deposit slips need to be filed and archived for 5 to 7 years. Keeping source documents at your fingertips makes it easier to prevent fraud in your business, improve your accuracy and ease finding transactions when needed.

Read and understand monthly reports:

Keep your bookkeeping system up to date and produce reports monthly. Learn to read and understand these reports, in particular the income statement and the balance sheet. 

Reconcile bank statements

to get a fair picture of your financial health. Make sure the figures in your accounts are registered on your bank statements and vice versa. 

Keep on top of sales invoices

Late and/or unpaid bills hurt cash flow.  As soon as a job is complete or a product is delivered, prepare and send out customer invoices. Put a process in place to track your billing carefully (issuing a second invoice, a phone call reminder, penalties and/or extra fees). Be organized.

Ensure inventory data is accurate

To prepare financial statements you need accurate inventory data. Track physical inventory either manually, by counting items on a regular basis, or by pairing counts with an inventory management system that automatically adjusts the numbers as sales happen (via integration with your point-of-sale system). Inventory management software makes it much easier to track inventory and the information will be more accurate.

Make accounting a joint effort

Educate new employees on how your accounting process works and how they can contribute to smooth operations. Ensure that staff are aware of deadlines and cutoffs for payroll, expenses and payment runs. Inform your team of key performance indicators and how they can provide financial information that would support your goals.

Know when to outsource:

If you find bookkeeping too difficult or don’t have enough time for it, outsource the task. This can be cost-effective and professional help will ensure accuracy. Professional bookkeepers often give great business advice and assist with many tasks (recommend good software, attend meetings with your banker, explain accounts you find difficult, prepare annual budget and cash flow reports, etc).

 

Don’t let accounting be the downfall of your business. Try these accounting strategies to help you improve your business, spend less time on finances, focus on growing your company and enhance your customer relationships. When it’s time, get professional bookkeepers and/or accountants involved. 

Need help establishing a good accounting system? Looking for business advice? Contact Cook and Company Chartered Professional Accountants. We are based out of Calgary, Alberta, serving clients across Canada and the United States. We provide high-quality tax, assurance and succession planning services for a wide variety of privately-owned and managed companies. Contact us for a complimentary consultation.

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Can Your Business Plan for Inflation?

Business Plan for Inflation

Historically, inflation has plunged countries into long periods of instability and politicians have won elections on promises to combat it. Inflation is currently at a high not felt for decades. Canada’s annual inflation rate rose to 8.1% in June of 2022, the highest since January 1983. Businesses are paying more to find and retain talent. Supply costs are escalating. Companies are feeling squeezed as the costs of goods and services continue to rise. Inflation is expected to remain elevated until 2024. It’s necessary for businesses to take decisive action to strengthen their growth plans and deal with the pressures of an inflationary period. The following are strategies to plan for and deal with the impact of inflation on your business. 

What is inflation?

Inflation is the rate of increase in prices over a given period of time. It represents how much more expensive a relevant set of goods and/or services has become. It can be translated as the decline of purchasing power over time and is expressed as a percentage. Essentially, inflation means that a unit of currency effectively buys less than it did in prior periods. When inflation rises, consumer spending declines as people can’t afford to buy as much as previously. 

How does inflation affect a business?

Inflation means that a company’s cash reserves are worth less. Labour expenses rise. Consumers buy less of a business’s goods and/or services. The value of some assets (real estate, steel, lumber) increases. Supply chain issues often occur, affecting scheduling, pricing and estimation. The shifting nature of the economy during an inflationary period is unnerving for many business owners. The answer? Be prepared!

How can a business plan for and address inflation?

Normal economic cycles include four stages: expansion, peak, contraction, and trough. As a business owner, it’s wise to have contingency plans for navigating each stage. A company’s plan for a period of inflation should include metrics to measure success and actionable steps to take. The following are tips for dealing with inflationary pressure as a business.

  • Be aware of real income: Track net income against the rate of inflation (real income). As the rate of inflation increases, profit decreases, reducing value and equity. 
  • Adjust the length of contracts: Lock in pricing for materials and/or expenses with a long-term contract. This protects your budget and guarantees revenue for your supplier. 
  • Time your purchases: Make large purchases before the price rises, particularly for equipment, land or other assets. This allows you to borrow cash when it is worth more and pay off your debt with money that is worth less. 
  • Optimize pricing: Create value for your product/service through marketing and an improved customer experience. This will allow you to raise your prices with less difficulty. Tie your price increase to the PPI (producer price index) or the CPI (consumer price index). Consider targeting less price-sensitive customers. 
  • Understand your cash flow: Cash flow and working capital are essential parts of a plan to deal with inflation. Do a financial modelling exercise to map out your situation. Look at ways to improve cash flow:
    • extending payments to vendors
    • tightening up invoicing and collection policies
    • divesting underperforming divisions or assets
    • prioritizing your resources in areas that are performing well
  • Reduce your tax burden: Talk to your accountant about ways to reduce your tax burden. Take advantage of losses. 
  • Review your debt and capital needs:  Assess your ability to meet current debt obligations. Reach out to lenders if you’re considering expansion, the purchase of new technology and/or refinancing existing debt.
  • Consider your strategies for growth: What worked in the past may not work now. Reevaluate and refresh your strategies.
  • Assess your technology: Do you have access to real-time data regarding your business? If not, it may be time to upgrade your technology. Consider a cloud accounting system, an enterprise resource planning system (ERP), a warehouse management system (MHS) and/or a customer relationship management system (CRM). The information provided can guide your decision-making. 
  • Simplify operations: Look for ways to streamline complicated processes, run leaner, reduce cost and increase profitability. 
  • Prioritize high-profit margin products: Many companies give priority based on the date of the order regardless of profit margin. Tell customers purchasing low-profit items/services that delivery will be slow. Ship goods/deliver services that are most profitable first. 
  • Differentiate between strategic and nonstrategic cost cutting: Selectively trim costs to improve the return on operating expenses. Boost growth through greater investment in the strategic capabilities needed to achieve differential results. Deploy scarce resources to reinvigorate strategy and maximize shareholder value.
  • Eliminate work: Scrutinize what activities are performed and how those activities are performed.  Eliminate unnecessary work and automate when possible.
  • Keep morale high and prevent attrition: Losing key employees results in lost productivity and requires time and effort to find and train a replacement. To avoid this, openly communicate with employees. Be aware and accommodating of personal needs. 

Inflationary pressures and supply chain issues are real and complicated. It’s important to develop a plan that addresses the rapidly evolving situation. Utilize the wisdom and leadership available to your business by talking to your accountant. They have the knowledge and experience to help you weather current circumstances. 

Does your business need help weathering current inflationary conditions? Contact Cook and Company Chartered Professional Accountants. We can provide you with powerful financial planning solutions. Whether you operate a sole proprietorship or a sizable corporation with multiple subsidiaries, Cook and Company use their experience and expertise to help your business. Contact us for a complimentary consultation.

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Financial Planning, Where to Start?

No business can expect to make money without also managing it effectively. Establishing and achieving key financial milestones is essential to the health of a business. Every financial decision you make can have a significant impact on the overall strength of your company, ultimately defining the future of your business. This is why financial planning is crucial. 

What is financial planning for a business?

Financial planning is the task of determining how your business will finance its strategic goals and objectives. The plan is a document that describes the activities, resources, equipment and materials needed to achieve these objectives. It sets time frames for your goals and strategies for achieving them. It helps you be in control of your company’s income, expenses and investments and is essential to building a successful business. A good plan includes an assessment of the business environment, company goals, resources needed to reach these goals, team and resource budgets and risks that might be faced. It ensures a company is equipped in advance to deal with changing circumstances at both personal and business levels. 

Why create a financial plan for your business? 

There are a myriad of reasons to create a financial plan for your company. 

  • To manage your risk and respond quickly to financial issues: A business must plan for a lot of risks (death or disability of central figures, illness, property ownership loss, lawsuits, interruption of business, lower than expected revenue, high overheads, etc.). By regularly reviewing risks and planning a response, a company is prepared to tackle issues quickly, before they become hard to manage. 
  • To provide a road map for growth: It’s easy to focus on daily issues and neglect long-term planning. A financial plan helps a company focus on the future by providing clear goals for company growth and performance.  It helps you analyze your current situation and project where you want the business to be in the future.
  • To help you develop a good tax strategy: Financial planning is helpful when it comes time to submit your tax return or if you sell the company.
  • To identify sales trends: A financial plan that includes quantifiable targets and sales records helps determine which individual products and which initiatives are most lucrative, making it possible to adjust your marketing strategy appropriately.
  • To prioritize expenditures: A financial plan sets clear expectations for cash flow and helps a business owner to consider spending priorities. 
  • To identify necessary cost reductions: A financial plan helps you refer to past spending and identify unnecessary or over-inflated costs so you can adjust accordingly. 
  • To create transparency with staff and investors by sharing key figures (revenue, costs, profitability, etc.).
  • To show progress: A financial plan is helpful in showing increased revenues, cash flow growth and overall profit in quantifiable data, encouraging business owners.

How to get started with your financial plan: 

The following are the basic steps of creating a financial plan for your business. 

  • Determine your financial goals:  Are you looking to expand your business? Do you wish to increase your product/service’s market share? Are you interested in strengthening your customer service? Do you need more equipment and/or staff? The financial plan you build for your company largely depends upon your goals and your unique stage of business development.
  • Take stock of your assets: What is the balance of your business bank accounts? What are your accounts receivable, cash equivalents and short-term investments? How much stock do you have on hand? How many supplies are presently in storage?  
  • Determine your income, expenses and debt: Where does all your money go? Examine your cash flow and track your spending. Look at salaries (including your own), rent or mortgage payments, communication expenses (internet, telephone services, etc.), utilities, storage, distribution, promotion, office supplies and general maintenance. What is your monthly, quarterly and yearly income? What debt do you carry (bank loans, lease payments, income taxes payable, etc.)
  • Develop financial projections: Create monthly projections based on sales forecast and anticipated expenses (labour, supplies overheard). Prepare a projected income (profit and loss) statement and a balance sheet projection. This is a crucial part of your business plan if lenders and/or investors are involved.
  • Arrange for financing (if needed): Use your financial projections to determine your financing needs. Approach your financial partners to discuss options. Well-prepared projections reassure bankers/investors that your financial management is solid.
  • Plan for contingencies: Decide what you will do if your finances suddenly deteriorate. Establish emergency sources of money (maintain a cash reserve or keep some room on your line of credit).
  • Monitor your progress: Periodically, compare actual results with your projections to see if you’re on target or need to adjust. Monitoring helps you spot financial problems before they get out of hand.
  • Get help: Consider hiring an expert to help you put together and monitor your financial plan. Your accountant is an invaluable resource. They can provide you with powerful financial planning solutions. By carrying out a detailed analysis of your current processes, bringing your objectives into focus, and developing viable strategies, they’ll help you utilize your company’s finances in the most effective ways possible. The result? Greater clarity, measurable results and long-term growth. 

A financial plan affects day-to-day fiscal decision-making, defining the future of a business and shaping a company’s journey. A detailed financial plan brings a company’s objectives into focus and helps in developing viable strategies. Corporate financial planning demands a strong understanding of commerce and how companies operate fiscally. It also calls for attention and care for the immediate financial needs and specificities of your enterprise. 

Need help preparing a financial plan for your business? Contact Cook and Company Chartered Professional Accountants. We can provide you with powerful financial planning solutions. Whether you operate a sole proprietorship or a sizable corporation with multiple subsidiaries, Cook and Company use their experience and expertise to help your business. Contact us for a complimentary consultation.

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Tips for Handling Charitable Donations

Many businesses look for ways to give to and/or be involved with their communities. They search for organizations they feel a connection to, then donate their time and money. This benefits the community and builds goodwill for the company. Charitable contributions from businesses to nonprofits qualify for a reduction of taxable income. The CRA considers a gift/donation to be a voluntary transfer of money or property for which you expect and receive no consideration. Sometimes the paperwork and/or tax requirements for these contributions are complicated. The following is information and tips for handling charitable donations. 

  • To make the most out of company donations, choose the right organization to donate to. 
  • For a small business that’s tied to a community, it makes sense to pick a local group.
  • Put sufficient time, effort and energy into choosing the right organization for your support.
  • Ensure you’re supporting causes that are meaningful to you and allocate your giving to align with your values and ideals.
  • Set an annual donation budget.
  • Recurring or automatic monthly donations are easy and convenient.
  • For a donation to be eligible, the transfer of ownership has to be voluntary.
  • Contributions of services, such as time, skills and effort do not qualify.
  • Donations of cash, goods, land and/or listed securities to a registered charity or other qualified organization are eligible. 
  • Businesses can only donate to qualified entities. Most of these are registered charities.
  • Donation tax credits vary by province. 
  • Incorporated business owners have the choice to donate personally or via their corporations.
  • Securities are the most efficient way to give. Donating publicly traded securities (stocks, mutual funds, bonds, etc.) directly to a charity eliminates the capital gains tax as these securities are sold and you still receive a tax receipt for the fair market value on the date the security is received by a broker. Your charity gets the full value of the securities.
  • Before making a donation of securities, it’s important to contact the qualified donee and verify that they can accept in-kind donations.
  • Ask the charity for its registration number and confirm its status in the List of charities. You can also call the Charities Directorate at 1-800-267-2384.
  • To qualify for a deduction, ask for an official donation receipt that meets the requirements of the Income Tax Act and its regulations. 
  • If an organization you donated to is no longer registered but was registered when you made your donation, you can still use your receipt to claim.
  • When a business donates to charity it can claim a tax deduction against income. By reducing taxable income, the corporation reduces its tax liability.  
  • Canadian small businesses can claim deductions on charitable donations for up to 75% of their net income. 
  • There are two charitable tax credit rates (federal and provincial) and any eligible amount you give above $200 qualifies for a higher rate.
  • When you donate over $200, you are automatically eligible to carry the donation forward and claim it on your tax return for any of the next five years. This flexibility means that the unclaimed carry-forward portion may qualify for a larger deduction in the future.
  • You cannot claim charitable donations to create or increase a loss but unused charitable donations can be carried forward and used in any of the five following tax years. 
  • The tax treaty between Canada and the U.S. allows for a deduction of donations made to U.S. charities if your business has U.S. source income.
  • Qualified donees include:

Corporate charitable donations provide shareholders with a chance to support their community and receive tax incentives at the same time. The tax incentive for donating to charity is generous, reducing the effective cost of the donation and making the act of giving both an emotionally and financially gratifying experience. The rules for charitable donation by a business are many and complicated. Speak with your accountant. They have the knowledge and experience to help you fully leverage your donations. 

Looking for an experienced accounting firm that can minimize your tax obligations and help with your charitable giving? Contact Cook and Company Chartered Professional Accountants. Whether you operate a sole proprietorship or a sizable corporation with multiple subsidiaries, Cook and Company uses their experience and expertise to help your business. Contact us for a complimentary consultation.