---
title: "Small Business Tax Blog for Canadian Owners | EverStone CPA"
url: https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog
description: "The EverStone CPA blog: plain-English tax and business guides for Canadian owners, on salary versus dividends, GST/HST, deadlines and much more. Read on."
type: tool
updated: 2026-10-05
summary: "Long-form guides on Canadian small-business tax, written by a CPA and updated as the rules change: corporate tax, GST/HST, payroll, bookkeeping and the decisions incorporated owners actually face. Use the category filters below, or start with the deadline calendar if you are here because something is due."
faq_count: 4
publisher: EverStone CPA Inc., a Chartered Professional Accountant firm registered with CPA British Columbia and CPA Alberta
service_area: British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Manitoba
language: en-CA
contact: info@everstonecpa.com · https://www.everstonecpa.com/book-online
---

[Home](https://www.everstonecpa.com/) Blog


EverStone Insights 

# The EverStone blog: plain-English tax & business guides


No jargon, no fluff — practical advice on corporate tax, paying yourself, bookkeeping and running an incorporated business in Canada, written by a CPA and kept current for 2026.


[Get My Fixed Quote](https://www.everstonecpa.com/book-online)[Free tools & calculators](https://www.everstonecpa.com/tools)





**Quick answer:** Long-form guides on Canadian small-business tax, written by a CPA and updated as the rules change: corporate tax, GST/HST, payroll, bookkeeping and the decisions incorporated owners actually face. Use the category filters below, or start with the deadline calendar if you are here because something is due.






Latest guides

## Start here in the blog

The questions business owners ask us most — answered properly.


Running an incorporated business in Canada means constant tax and money questions — when to [register for GST/HST](https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/businesses/topics/gst-hst-businesses/when-register-charge.html), how to pay yourself, whether to incorporate, what a return really costs, and how to stay onside with the CRA. These guides answer them in plain English, with 2026 figures and no jargon. They’re written by [a Chartered Professional Accountant](https://www.everstonecpa.com/about) for owner-managed small businesses and contractors — the same people we work with every day. Every article is educational, not a sales pitch: read it, apply it, and if you’d like a hand, an enquiry is always one click away. New guides are added regularly across tax, bookkeeping, advisory and deadlines.



[GST/HST Late GST filing penalties in Canada: what missing the deadline actually costs The A + (B × C) formula with worked examples, the $250 demand penalty, mandatory e-filing, and why a nil return filed late costs nothing. Updated Aug 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/late-gst-filing-penalties-canada)[GST/HST How to change your GST/HST filing frequency (and when you can’t) More often is open to anyone, any time; less often has a 12-month rule, and the CRA never moves you down automatically. Updated Aug 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/change-gst-hst-filing-frequency)[Local data report Fraser Valley Small Business Report 2026 The sourced numbers behind your local economy — Canada, BC and Abbotsford–Mission business counts, farm receipts and growth, and what they mean for owners. Read the report →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/fraser-valley-small-business-report)
[BC PST BC PST: who registers & the Oct 2026 change The 7% provincial tax is not GST with a new name — registration rules, the $10,000 small-seller exemption, contractor rules and the coming professional-services expansion. Updated Jul 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/bc-pst-small-business-guide)
[Payroll BC Employer Health Tax: the $1M rule The exemption, the 5.85% notch between $1M and $1.5M, and the associated-employer trap that catches two-company owners. Updated Jul 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/bc-employer-health-tax-guide)
[Compliance CRA reviews & audits: what triggers them Matching letters, GST cross-checks, industry benchmarks and the flags that invite a closer look — plus how to respond without panic. Updated Jul 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/cra-review-audit-small-business)
[Tax planning Small business deduction & the $50K passive rule The ~9% small-business rate, the $500K limit, and how too much passive investment income inside your corp quietly grinds it away. Updated Aug 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/small-business-deduction-passive-income-canada)[Dividends Eligible vs non-eligible dividends The two dividend types, the gross-up and credit for each, and why most small-corp dividends are non-eligible. Updated Aug 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/eligible-vs-non-eligible-dividends-canada)[Payroll T4, T4A & T5 slip deadlines Who gets which slip, the end-of-February deadline, and what filing late actually costs. Updated Jul 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/t4-t4a-t5-slip-filing-deadlines-canada)[Deductions The meals & entertainment 50% rule Why business meals are only half-deductible, the exceptions that beat 50%, and the GST/HST angle. Updated Aug 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/meals-entertainment-deduction-50-percent-rule-canada)[GST/HST GST/HST instalments for annual filers The $3,000 threshold, the quarterly schedule most annual filers miss, and how to avoid instalment interest. Updated Jul 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/gst-hst-instalments-annual-filers-canada)[Owner pay Paying your spouse a salary: the rules When a family wage is deductible — CRA’s reasonableness test, payroll mechanics, and where TOSI fits. Updated Jul 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/paying-your-spouse-a-salary-canada)[Year-end Year-end bonus or dividend? The 180-day bonus rule, RRSP room, CPP and when bonusing down to the small-business limit still makes sense. Updated Jul 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/bonus-vs-dividend-year-end-canada)[CRA Can’t pay your CRA bill? Payment arrangements, how interest really works, trust-amount director liability, and taxpayer relief. Updated Jul 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/cra-payment-arrangements-cant-pay-tax-canada)[Incorporation Dissolving a corporation, cleanly The order of operations to close a corporation — final T2, closing CRA accounts, and the clearance certificate. Updated Jul 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/dissolving-a-corporation-canada)[Contractors Employee or contractor? CRA’s test The four factors CRA weighs, what misclassification costs the payer, and how it differs from PSB risk. Updated Aug 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/employee-vs-contractor-cra-worker-classification)[Construction T5018s: reporting your subcontractors Who has to file, what counts as construction activity, and why CRA cross-matches every slip. Updated Aug 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/t5018-subcontractor-reporting-construction)[Selling The lifetime capital gains exemption Selling your company tax-free is possible — if your shares qualify. The three tests, and why planning starts years early. Updated Jul 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/lifetime-capital-gains-exemption-canada-small-business)[Vehicles Company car: the taxable-benefit trap Standby charge and operating benefit explained, and when a company car beats a per-km allowance. Updated Aug 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/company-car-taxable-benefit-canada)[CRA Setting up CRA My Business Account Registration, your program accounts, and authorizing your accountant — step by step. Updated Aug 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/cra-my-business-account-setup-guide)[Compliance Fixing past returns: the VDP Unfiled returns or unreported income? How CRA’s Voluntary Disclosures Program works and who qualifies. Updated Aug 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/voluntary-disclosures-program-canada-fixing-past-returns)[Contractors Personal Services Business (PSB) risk The CRA test that can strip your small business deduction, and why single-client incorporated contractors are most exposed. Updated Aug 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/personal-services-business-psb-risk-canada)[Tax planning TOSI: paying dividends to family Why “just put my spouse on the shares” stopped being safe advice, and which exceptions still work. Updated Jul 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/tosi-tax-on-split-income-canada)[Corporate Tax How to file a T2 return, step by step Documents, statements, GIFI, schedules, filing and payment — the six steps in the order they happen. Updated Aug 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/how-to-file-t2-return-canada)[Choosing help CPA vs tax preparer: what the letters change Regulation, scope and accountability, and when each is the right choice for a small business. Updated Aug 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/cpa-vs-tax-preparer-canada)[Structure Incorporate vs sole proprietor: the real trade-off Liability, deferral, cost and paperwork — compared honestly, with the calculator to run your own numbers. Updated Aug 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/incorporate-vs-sole-proprietor-canada)[Payroll CPP and EI for 2027: what’s known so far The 2027 figures aren’t published yet — what carries over, what resets, and when the CRA announces. Updated Aug 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/cpp-ei-rates-2027)[Deductions Terminal loss: when and how to claim it The deduction a closing CCA class leaves behind, and why a building sold at a loss never gives a capital loss. Updated Aug 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/terminal-loss-canada)[Structure Retained earnings: what they are and what to do The leave-in-or-pay-out decision, the holding company question, and the small business rate erosion nobody sees coming. Updated Aug 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/retained-earnings-canada)[Deductions Capital cost allowance (CCA) explained The half-year rule, the classes that matter for small business, and what recapture means when you sell. Updated Jul 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/capital-cost-allowance-cca-classes-canada)[Structure Holding companies: when they make sense Creditor-proofing, inter-corporate dividends and estate planning, plus when a holdco simply isn’t worth the cost. Updated Aug 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/holding-company-canada-when-it-makes-sense)[Payroll Payroll remittances and your CRA RP account Opening an RP account, what gets withheld, and why unremitted source deductions carry personal director liability. Updated Aug 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/payroll-remittances-canada-rp-account)[Tax planning Associated corporations & the SBD Running two companies doesn’t double your $500,000 limit. How owners accidentally trigger association. Updated Jul 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/associated-corporations-small-business-deduction)[Owner pay CPP for incorporated owners Salary builds CPP and costs you both halves; dividends build none. How that changes the salary-vs-dividend call. Updated Jul 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/cpp-for-incorporated-business-owners-canada)[GST/HST Input tax credits (ITCs): claiming GST/HST back What qualifies, the records CRA expects, and the common mistakes that get ITC claims denied. Updated Aug 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/input-tax-credits-itc-canada-guide)[GST/HST Zero-rated vs exempt supplies Both mean no GST charged, but only one lets you claim ITCs. Getting it wrong costs real money. Updated Aug 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/zero-rated-vs-exempt-supplies-gst-hst-canada)[Benefits Health Spending Accounts for owners Turning personal medical costs into a deductible business expense, and the conditions that have to hold. Updated Jul 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/health-spending-account-canada-small-business)[Compliance How long to keep business records The six-year rule, what has to be kept permanently, and what happens when you close the business. Updated Aug 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/cra-record-retention-how-long-to-keep-records)[Incorporation Choosing your corporate year-end You get one free choice in the first 53 weeks. How to pick it, and why changing it later needs CRA approval. Updated Jul 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/corporate-fiscal-year-end-canada-how-to-choose)[Tax planning Should you leave money in your corporation? When to retain earnings for tax deferral vs pay yourself out, and the passive-income trap of investing inside the corp. Updated Aug 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/leave-money-in-corporation-or-pay-out-canada)[Deductions Home-office expenses for incorporated owners Reimbursement vs employment expenses, what’s actually claimable, and the CCA trap that can cost you at sale time. Updated Aug 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/home-office-expenses-incorporated-business-canada)[Deductions Vehicle & mileage deductions for business Logbook rules, owned vs leased, and the 2026 per-kilometre rates — how to claim your vehicle without CRA trouble. Updated Aug 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/vehicle-mileage-deductions-canada-business)[Tax planning Shareholder loans: taking money out of your corp The four ways to pull cash from your corporation, the one-year repayment rule, and the trap that turns a loan into taxable income. Updated Aug 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/shareholder-loans-canada-taking-money-out-of-corporation)[GST/HST The GST/HST Quick Method: can it save you money? How the Quick Method works, who qualifies, and a worked example showing when it puts real money back in your pocket. Updated Aug 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/gst-hst-quick-method-canada)[Incorporation I just incorporated — now what? The setup checklist for a brand-new corporation: CRA accounts, banking, year-end, GST, payroll and your first T2 deadline. Updated Aug 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/just-incorporated-now-what-canada-checklist)[Corporate Tax Corporate tax installments: when & how much Who has to pay installments, monthly vs quarterly, the three calculation methods, and how to avoid CRA interest. Updated Jul 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/corporate-tax-installments-canada)

[Switching How to switch accountants without the hassle It’s easier than you think. The 5-step process, who does what, and why you won’t lose your tax history. Updated Jul 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/how-to-switch-accountants)
[Home office Home office deductions for incorporated owners What your corporation can and can’t pay for — the T2200 rules, renting space to your corp, and the PSB trap that undoes it all. Updated Jul 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/home-office-deduction-corporation-canada)
[Inventory accounting Inventory accounting for breweries & dealers Valuing inventory for tax, work-in-progress for producers, brewery and dealership specifics, and year-end counts the CRA respects. Updated Aug 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/inventory-accounting-bc)
[Farm accounting Dairy quota & herd accounting on the T2 How milk quota (Class 14.1) and your dairy herd are treated for tax — depreciation, inventory vs capital, and AgriStability, for Fraser Valley farms. Updated Jul 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/dairy-quota-accounting-bc)
[Equipment & CCA Equipment CCA: depreciation classes for trades The common CCA classes for BC trades and small manufacturers, the half-year rule, and whether to buy or lease your equipment. Updated Jul 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/equipment-cca-classes-bc)
[Construction Subcontractor or employee? CRA’s tests How the CRA classifies construction workers — control, tools, risk of loss — and why getting it wrong can leave you liable for CPP and EI. Updated Aug 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/subcontractor-vs-employee-cra)
[Buyer’s guide Choosing an accountant: 10 questions to ask A plain-English buyer’s guide for Fraser Valley owners — designation, fixed fees, who does the work, availability and the red flags to watch. Updated Jul 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/choosing-accountant-fraser-valley)
[Switching When your accounting firm merges or retires What happens to your prior-year files and CRA authorization, and how to switch accountants cleanly if you’d rather choose fresh. Updated Jul 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/accounting-firm-merged-what-now)
[Owner pay Salary vs dividends: how to pay yourself RRSP room, CPP, tax integration and the blended approach most incorporated owners use in 2026. Updated Aug 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/salary-vs-dividends-2026)

[Pricing How much does an accountant cost in BC? Real 2026 fee ranges for T2, T1, bookkeeping and monthly packages — and fixed-fee vs hourly explained. Updated Jul 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/how-much-does-an-accountant-cost-bc)
[Deadlines T2 deadlines & late-filing penalties The two deadlines, the penalty math with a worked example, and instalments. Updated Jul 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/t2-deadline-penalties-canada)
[Advisory Incorporate or stay a sole proprietor in BC? Tax deferral, the small business deduction, liability and cost — and when it’s worth it. Updated Aug 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/incorporate-vs-sole-proprietor-bc)
[Tax planning GST/HST registration for small business The $30k threshold, voluntary registration, input tax credits and filing frequency. Updated Aug 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/gst-hst-registration-guide-small-business)
[Tax planning Year-end tax checklist for incorporated owners Remuneration, shareholder loans, bonuses and capital timing — before your year-end. Updated Aug 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/year-end-tax-checklist-incorporated-owners)
[Bookkeeping 7 bookkeeping mistakes that cost you money Mixing accounts, missing receipts, skipped reconciliations — and how to fix each. Updated Aug 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/bookkeeping-mistakes-small-business)
[Advisory What is a fractional CFO? Senior financial leadership part-time — what it does, what it costs, and when you need one. Updated Aug 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/what-is-a-fractional-cfo)
[Tax planning CRA audit triggers for small business What flags a return — and how to stay audit-ready without avoiding legitimate deductions. Updated Jul 2026 Read the guide →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/cra-audit-triggers-small-business)
[Deadlines Canadian tax deadlines 2026 Every T2, T1, GST/HST and payroll due date for the year in one plain-English calendar. See the calendar →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/cra-tax-deadlines)
[Calculator Salary vs dividends calculator Model your own mix and see the tax impact instantly — free, no sign-up. Try the tool →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/salary-vs-dividends-calculator)
[Tools All free tools & guides Calculators and downloads to help you plan tax, incorporation and owner pay. Browse all →](https://www.everstonecpa.com/tools)











## Have a question these guides didn’t answer?


Send an enquiry to a Canadian CPA — no obligation, no jargon, just a straight answer.


[Get My Fixed Quote](https://www.everstonecpa.com/book-online)[Ask a Free Question](https://www.everstonecpa.com/quick-question)





## All guides — 160 articles

Everything published, grouped by subject. Written for Canadian incorporated owners; every figure on these pages links to its source.

### Corporate tax (66)

- [Abbotsford agri-food processors: what the year end has to show](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/abbotsford-agri-food-processor-year-end)

- [Accruing a bonus at year end: the 180-day rule](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/accrued-bonus-180-day-rule-canada)

- [Advertising and promotion: what a Canadian business can actually deduct](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/advertising-promotion-deductions-canada)

- [Associated corporations: sharing one small business deduction](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/associated-corporations-small-business-deduction)

- [Bare trusts in Canada: the arrangement and the filing question](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/bare-trust-reporting-canada)

- [Business travel expenses: what the CRA accepts](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/travel-expenses-business-canada-cra)

- [Buying equipment in Mission: the purchase date, CCA and the timing](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/mission-equipment-purchase-cca-timing)

- [Capital cost allowance: how CCA classes actually work](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/capital-cost-allowance-cca-classes-canada)

- [Cellphone and internet: splitting business from personal use](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/business-use-of-cellphone-internet-canada)

- [Charitable donations: giving personally versus giving through your corporation](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/charitable-donations-personal-vs-corporate)

- [Choosing an accountant in Abbotsford, and what to ask first](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/choosing-an-accountant-abbotsford-bc)

- [Choosing an accountant in Aldergrove, and what to ask first](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/choosing-an-accountant-aldergrove-bc)

- [Choosing an accountant in Calgary, and what to ask first](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/choosing-an-accountant-calgary)

- [Choosing an accountant in Chilliwack, and what to ask first](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/choosing-an-accountant-chilliwack-bc)

- [Choosing an accountant in Edmonton, and what to ask first](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/choosing-an-accountant-edmonton)

- [Choosing an accountant in Langley, and what to ask first](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/choosing-an-accountant-langley-bc)

- [Choosing an accountant in Maple Ridge, and what to ask first](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/choosing-an-accountant-maple-ridge-bc)

- [Choosing an accountant in Mission, and what to ask first](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/choosing-an-accountant-mission-bc)

- [Choosing an accountant in Ottawa, and what to ask first](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/choosing-an-accountant-ottawa)

- [Choosing an accountant in Surrey, and what to ask first](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/choosing-an-accountant-surrey-bc)

- [Choosing an accountant in Toronto, and what to ask first](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/choosing-an-accountant-toronto)

- [Choosing an accountant in Vancouver, and what to ask first](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/choosing-an-accountant-vancouver-bc)

- [Choosing an accountant in Victoria, and what to ask first](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/choosing-an-accountant-victoria-bc)

- [Choosing an accountant in Winnipeg, and what to ask first](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/choosing-an-accountant-winnipeg)

- [Choosing your corporate fiscal year-end: and changing it later](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/corporate-fiscal-year-end-canada-how-to-choose)

- [Corporate tax instalments: when and how much](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/corporate-tax-installments-canada)

- [CRA audit triggers — what gets small businesses flagged](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/cra-audit-triggers-small-business)

- [Dairy quota and herd accounting in Chilliwack, and what the return has to show](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/chilliwack-dairy-quota-herd-accounting)

- [Eligible vs non-eligible dividends: what the two types mean for an owner-manager](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/eligible-vs-non-eligible-dividends-canada)

- [Equipment CCA: depreciation classes for BC trades, forestry and small manufacturers](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/equipment-cca-classes-bc)

- [Expanded trust reporting: who the T3 now catches](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/trust-reporting-rules-canada-t3)

- [Fixing past returns: how CRA’s Voluntary Disclosures Program works](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/voluntary-disclosures-program-canada-fixing-past-returns)

- [Foreign exchange gains and losses: receivables, payables and the capital-versus-income line](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/foreign-exchange-gains-losses-business-canada)

- [Form T1135: who has to file the Foreign Income Verification Statement](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/t1135-foreign-income-verification-canada)

- [GST and PST filing for Fraser Valley businesses, and what applies to yours](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/gst-pst-filing-fraser-valley-businesses)

- [GST/HST Quick Method: can it save you money?](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/gst-hst-quick-method-canada)

- [GST/HST registration: when your business must register](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/gst-hst-registration-guide-small-business)

- [Health Spending Accounts: turning medical costs into a business expense](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/health-spending-account-canada-small-business)

- [Home office deductions for incorporated owners: what the corporation can and can’t pay for](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/home-office-deduction-corporation-canada)

- [Home-office expenses for incorporated business owners](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/home-office-expenses-incorporated-business-canada)

- [Incorporated professionals in Langley: PSB risk, the home office and paying yourself](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/langley-incorporated-professionals-psb-home-office-pay)

- [Inter-corporate dividends, and the conditions on them](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/inter-corporate-dividends-canada)

- [Interest deductibility: what the borrowed money is used for](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/interest-deductibility-canada-business)

- [Investment income inside a corporation: refundable tax, dividend refunds and integration](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/investment-income-in-a-corporation-canada)

- [Maple Ridge manufacturers: inventory, work in progress and CCA on the shop floor](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/maple-ridge-manufacturers-inventory-wip-cca)

- [NR4 slips: paying rent, dividends and interest to a non-resident](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/nr4-slips-non-resident-payments-canada)

- [Personal services business risk: why a single-client contractor is exposed](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/personal-services-business-psb-risk-canada)

- [Professional dues and subscriptions: what is deductible](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/professional-dues-subscriptions-deductible)

- [Regulation 105: paying a non-resident for work done in Canada](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/non-resident-withholding-regulation-105)

- [Shareholder loans: taking money out of your corp](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/shareholder-loans-canada-taking-money-out-of-corporation)

- [Should you leave money in your corporation, or pay it out?](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/leave-money-in-corporation-or-pay-out-canada)

- [Small business deduction: the $50,000 passive income rule](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/small-business-deduction-passive-income-canada)

- [Surrey construction: T5018, holdbacks and WorkSafeBC in one year end](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/surrey-construction-t5018-holdbacks-worksafebc-year-end)

- [T4, T4A and T5 slips: deadlines, who gets which, and what late filing costs](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/t4-t4a-t5-slip-filing-deadlines-canada)

- [The capital dividend account, explained](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/capital-dividend-account-explained)

- [The capital gains reserve: spreading a gain when the money arrives over years](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/capital-gains-reserve-canada)

- [The company car taxable benefit: what owning a vehicle in your corporation really costs](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/company-car-taxable-benefit-canada)

- [The half-year rule for CCA, explained](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/half-year-rule-cca-canada)

- [The lifetime capital gains exemption: what it takes to actually qualify](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/lifetime-capital-gains-exemption-canada-small-business)

- [The meals and entertainment deduction: why you only get to claim half](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/meals-entertainment-deduction-50-percent-rule-canada)

- [TOSI, the tax on split income: paying dividends to family members](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/tosi-tax-on-split-income-canada)

- [Underused Housing Tax: why corporations get caught](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/underused-housing-tax-canada-corporations)

- [Vehicle & mileage deductions for business (2026)](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/vehicle-mileage-deductions-canada-business)

- [Writing off bad debts: income tax and GST/HST](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/writing-off-bad-debts-canada)

- [Year-End Bonus or Dividend? How Owners Decide](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/bonus-vs-dividend-year-end-canada)

- [Year-end tax checklist for incorporated business owners](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/year-end-tax-checklist-incorporated-owners)

### Working with an accountant (21)

- [Amalgamation vs wind-up: the tax differences](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/amalgamation-vs-wind-up-canada)

- [Buying a business in BC: the accounting and tax checklist](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/buying-a-business-bc-checklist)

- [Choosing a small business accountant in the Fraser Valley: 10 questions to ask before you sign](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/choosing-accountant-fraser-valley)

- [CPA vs Tax Preparer in Canada: What the Letters Actually Change](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/cpa-vs-tax-preparer-canada)

- [CPP and EI for 2027: What’s Known, and What Isn’t Yet](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/cpp-ei-rates-2027)

- [Employment contract vs contractor agreement: what each document actually does](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/employment-contract-vs-contractor-agreement)

- [Estate freezes: locking in value for the next generation](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/estate-freeze-canada-small-business)

- [Holding companies: when they actually make sense](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/holding-company-canada-when-it-makes-sense)

- [How much does an accountant cost in BC? (2026 fee guide)](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/how-much-does-an-accountant-cost-bc)

- [How to File a T2 Return in Canada: The Six Steps, in Order](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/how-to-file-t2-return-canada)

- [How to switch accountants without the hassle](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/how-to-switch-accountants)

- [Incorporate vs Sole Proprietor: The Real Trade-Off](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/incorporate-vs-sole-proprietor-canada)

- [Multiple corporations: when a second company makes sense](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/multiple-corporations-when-it-makes-sense)

- [Retained earnings: what they are, and what they quietly decide](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/retained-earnings-canada)

- [Section 85 rollovers: moving assets into a corporation](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/section-85-rollover-explained)

- [Shareholders’ agreements: what they should cover on tax](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/shareholders-agreement-tax-implications)

- [Should you incorporate in BC or stay a sole proprietor?](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/incorporate-vs-sole-proprietor-bc)

- [Terminal loss: the deduction a closing CCA class leaves behind](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/terminal-loss-canada)

- [Virtual accountants in Canada: 10 online firms and who each suits](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/best-virtual-accountants-canada)

- [What is a fractional CFO — and do you need one?](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/what-is-a-fractional-cfo)

- [When your accounting firm merges or retires: what happens to your file](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/accounting-firm-merged-what-now)

### Payroll & owner pay (16)

- [BC Employer Health Tax: the $1M exemption and the notch rate explained](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/bc-employer-health-tax-guide)

- [CPP for incorporated owners: salary vs dividends](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/cpp-for-incorporated-business-owners-canada)

- [Hiring your first employee — the Canadian checklist](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/hiring-first-employee-canada-checklist)

- [Paying Your Spouse (or Family) a Salary: What CRA Actually Allows](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/paying-your-spouse-a-salary-canada)

- [Payroll remittances: what your CRA RP account actually requires](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/payroll-remittances-canada-rp-account)

- [Payroll year-end: a checklist for Canadian employers](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/payroll-year-end-checklist-canada)

- [Restaurant tip reporting and payroll: controlled versus direct tips](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/restaurant-tip-reporting-payroll-canada)

- [RRSP vs dividends: why how you pay yourself decides how much you can contribute](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/rrsp-vs-dividends-business-owner-canada)

- [Salary vs dividends: how to pay yourself from your corporation](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/salary-vs-dividends-2026)

- [Statutory holiday pay: who qualifies, how it is calculated, and where payroll goes wrong](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/statutory-holiday-pay-canada-employers)

- [Taxable vs non-taxable benefits — what goes on the T4](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/taxable-vs-non-taxable-benefits-canada)

- [Terminating an employee: final pay, the vacation payout and the ROE](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/terminating-an-employee-canada-final-pay)

- [The record of employment — when, how and by when](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/roe-record-of-employment-canada)

- [Vacation pay rules for employers: accrual, pay-as-you-go and the year-end treatment](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/vacation-pay-rules-canada-employers)

- [Worker classification: how the CRA tells an employee from a contractor](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/employee-vs-contractor-cra-worker-classification)

- [WorkSafeBC workers compensation registration: who has to register](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/workers-compensation-registration-bc)

### CRA, audits & records (14)

- [Can’t pay your tax bill? CRA payment arrangements explained](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/cra-payment-arrangements-cant-pay-tax-canada)

- [CRA asked for backup — answering a request for information](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/cra-request-for-information-letter)

- [CRA collections — what happens next](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/cra-collections-what-happens-next)

- [CRA My Business Account: a setup guide for incorporated owners](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/cra-my-business-account-setup-guide)

- [CRA pre-assessment review — what to send](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/cra-pre-assessment-review-what-to-send)

- [CRA record retention: how long to keep business records](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/cra-record-retention-how-long-to-keep-records)

- [CRA reviews and audits: what actually triggers them, and how to respond](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/cra-review-audit-small-business)

- [Digital record keeping: what the CRA actually accepts](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/digital-record-keeping-cra-requirements)

- [Direct deposit and CRA online mail: setting both up for your corporation](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/direct-deposit-and-cra-online-mail-business)

- [How to file a notice of objection with the CRA](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/cra-notice-of-objection-how-to-file)

- [T2 corporate tax deadlines & late-filing penalties](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/t2-deadline-penalties-canada)

- [The corporate annual return: the registry filing that is not your T2](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/corporate-annual-return-bc-vs-federal)

- [The CRA filed a return for you — undoing an arbitrary assessment](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/cra-arbitrary-assessment-notional)

- [Your CRA notice of assessment — line by line](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/cra-notice-of-assessment-explained)

### Bookkeeping & cash flow (11)

- [7 bookkeeping mistakes that cost small businesses money](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/bookkeeping-mistakes-small-business)

- [A month-end close checklist, and why it makes year end cheap](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/month-end-close-checklist-small-business)

- [Accounts receivable — terms, follow-up, and writing one off properly](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/accounts-receivable-collection-small-business)

- [Bank reconciliation — what it catches, and what a skipped year costs](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/bank-reconciliation-why-it-matters)

- [Cash flow in a seasonal business — instalments, GST/HST and the lumpy year](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/managing-cash-flow-seasonal-business-canada)

- [Cash vs accrual accounting: which basis your business has to use](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/cash-vs-accrual-accounting-canada)

- [Chart of accounts that survives growth, and makes the T2 easier](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/chart-of-accounts-small-business-canada)

- [Inventory accounting for breweries, food producers and dealerships](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/inventory-accounting-bc)

- [Petty cash and reimbursing yourself — what the CRA expects to see](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/petty-cash-and-owner-reimbursements-canada)

- [Prepaid expenses at year end: what has to be deferred](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/prepaid-expenses-year-end-canada)

- [The year-end inventory count: what CRA expects to see](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/year-end-inventory-count-canada)

### GST/HST & PST (10)

- [A GST/HST audit: what the CRA actually checks](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/gst-hst-audit-what-cra-checks)

- [BC PST: who registers, what is taxable, and what changes in October 2026](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/bc-pst-small-business-guide)

- [GST/HST instalments: the quarterly payments annual filers forget about](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/gst-hst-instalments-annual-filers-canada)

- [GST/HST on exports and non-resident customers](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/gst-hst-on-exports-and-non-residents)

- [How to change your GST/HST filing frequency (and when you can’t)](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/change-gst-hst-filing-frequency)

- [Input tax credits (ITCs): claiming GST/HST back](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/input-tax-credits-itc-canada-guide)

- [Late GST filing penalties in Canada: what missing the deadline actually costs](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/late-gst-filing-penalties-canada)

- [Place of supply: which province’s GST/HST rate do you charge?](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/gst-hst-place-of-supply-rules-canada)

- [The section 156 election: nil GST/HST between related corporations](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/gst-hst-section-156-election-related-corporations)

- [Zero-rated vs exempt supplies: the GST/HST difference that matters](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/zero-rated-vs-exempt-supplies-gst-hst-canada)

### Industry guides (8)

- [Construction holdbacks: when they become income and when the GST/HST is due](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/construction-holdbacks-accounting-canada)

- [Dairy quota and herd accounting on the T2: a Fraser Valley farm guide](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/dairy-quota-accounting-bc)

- [Dental practice incorporation: professional corporations, associates and equipment](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/dental-practice-incorporation-canada)

- [Ecommerce marketplace facilitator rules: when the platform collects and when you must](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/ecommerce-marketplace-facilitator-rules-canada)

- [Subcontractor or employee? CRA’s tests for construction businesses](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/subcontractor-vs-employee-cra)

- [T5018 reporting: what construction businesses must file about subcontractors](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/t5018-subcontractor-reporting-construction)

- [The farm rollover: transferring farm property to the next generation](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/farm-succession-rollover-canada)

- [Truck driver meal claims: the simplified method, the 80% rate and the logbook](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/trucking-per-diem-meal-claims-canada)

### Incorporation & structure (7)

- [Business number and CRA program accounts: RC, RP, RT and RZ explained](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/business-number-program-accounts-canada)

- [Dissolving a corporation in Canada: the tax steps to close it down cleanly](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/dissolving-a-corporation-canada)

- [Federal or provincial incorporation: which one fits your business](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/incorporating-federally-vs-provincially-canada)

- [Just incorporated? your action checklist](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/just-incorporated-now-what-canada-checklist)

- [Opening a business bank account — what you need and why it matters](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/opening-a-business-bank-account-canada)

- [Separating business and personal money, and how to unwind the mess](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/separating-business-and-personal-finances)

- [The corporate minute book: what belongs in it, and why it gets asked for](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/keeping-a-minute-book-canada-corporation)

### Personal tax & property (7)

- [Change in use rules: when a home becomes a rental property, or the reverse](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/change-in-use-rules-property-canada)

- [OAS clawback planning: why an owner-manager has more control than most retirees](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/oas-clawback-planning-canada)

- [Pension income splitting: what qualifies and when the age test applies](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/pension-income-splitting-canada)

- [Rental property: current expense or capital expense?](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/rental-property-current-vs-capital-expense)

- [Running a business from home: what it does to the principal residence exemption](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/principal-residence-exemption-business-use)

- [Selling a rental property: recapture, capital gain and the order the numbers work in](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/selling-a-rental-property-canada-tax)

- [The medical expense tax credit: the threshold, what counts, and the alternative for owners](https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog/medical-expense-tax-credit-canada)







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Source: https://www.everstonecpa.com/blog
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