Tax Preparation FAQ
Can you help me? I haven’t filed my recent returns.
Yes! We are all aware tax returns should be filed by the deadline date of April 30th but sometimes life happens and we get behind in filing our taxes. Other issues in our lives were more important for varying reasons.
What most people don’t know is that CRA has a potential forgiveness policy for those who have not filed or have filed incorrectly and are not yet under audit. If you are in this position, the sooner we contact CRA to let them know we are processing them the better.
We provide this business tax help service all year round (not just at tax time) and will work with you to get your filings up to date. If you are in this position don’t delay another day! Think how terrific it will feel to have this off your mind!
Can I bring my shoe box of receipts in or send them to you?
Of course! ~ the sooner the better though!
Will I get a refund?
We hope so! We use the information we ask you to help us make accurate assessments about your return. We ask lots of questions because we want to be sure we have looked at each business tax help opportunity to save you money!
Most business owners won’t receive a refund because of the mix of taxes and Canada Pension that is calculated together at this time.
If you are eligible for a refund and can file through Net File you may have your refund in as little as 8-10 days!
How much does it cost to prepare my return?
Our business tax help is as affordable as possible. Pricing is based on the complexity of your return – the number of documents, schedules and forms that need to be compiled and the amount of strategy we use to be sure you get the most accurate return possible.
- Personal Returns Fees start at $49
- Business Returns start at $99
Click here for more information on our business tax help pricing or feel free to call us for an appointment to discuss your needs and we’ll offer you a more comprehensive quote.
Who works on my return?
There are many eyes and ears on your return, from the moment you book your appointment and long after your return is filed. From administrative assistance to bookkeeping requirements we have your business tax help needs covered!
Phyllis Balkwill has a 3rd year CGA designation and is Simply Certified Trainer and Consultant. She is also a certified business coach who has helped clients with tax strategies for over 30 years.
Phyllis developed an interest in Canadian Tax law while still in high school. Her initial training and experience was with a franchised tax company. Since then she has spent her career working with clients to improve their effectiveness in business as well as reduce unnecessary tax costs.
You can be assured of the quality of experience Bill Rutgers brings to you. He has retired from the Canada Revenue Agency, spending a career auditing. You benefit from his understanding of tax law and ruling as well as tax strategies to keep more $ in your pockets.
Some clients will require a specialized tax strategist team for complex situations. We rely on a team of experts to offer the best possible business tax help on your behalf. Often we co-ordinate our experience with that of a CA firm.
CRA approved software is also a huge benefit to you! At BigHelp you can be assured our combined efforts and experience are used consistently on your behalf.
What business tax help do you specialize in?
We specialize in small to medium business taxes offering using strategic planning which includes assessing your day to day operations. We work year round with our clients to make April 30th less hectic. Our goal is to provide small and medium sized business owners an understanding of the best practices and solutions for keeping $ in their pockets. Sometimes this business tax help simply means finding a way to organize expenses so they can be claimed (used as an eligible expense).
Understanding your business and day to day work systems, training your bookkeepers, providing you full service bookkeeping, giving tips to help maintain or improve systems are all ways of decreasing the amount of tax you pay at tax time. These are just some of the ways our business tax help services helping find solutions to your tax problems.
Do you have the knowledge and experience to handle my tax situation?
If we don’t we’ll help you find it! We often refer our clients to other financial experts and those experts refer clients to us. Unlike companies that open just during the tax season we are available year round to work with you and give you business tax help related to your specific situations and decisions.
If this is your first year with us there is a lot to learn about your business and we want to take the time and be sure we understand yours.
A benefit to you in future years is that we continue to build an understanding of your business so you don’t have to tell the business story again next year. Your time is important, so although we need to be sure we understand – we don’t need to repeat the questions year after year!
How do I get started with you?
You can call our office at 519 326-2552 or email us at help@bighelp.ca for an appointment time. Evening and weekend appointments are available.
What happens at that first appointment?
There is a list of items on the website www.bighelp.ca to help you gather the information we may need to prepare your return and give you business tax help. Feel free to bring your information to your initial appointment.
Even if you don’t have it all collected continue with the appointment. We will ask questions to help us be certain we have discussed enough information so you may still have some information to provide following that initial appointment.
How long does it take for you to finish my return?
Times vary from next day to several weeks. The best idea is to bring what you have so we can start and follow up with the rest as soon as possible. Most information is required to be sent to you by Feb 28th, so scheduling an appointment for mid March is best if you know what needs to be gathered.
If you are unfamiliar with Canadian tax it might be best to schedule a time in February to review what you need to bring in.
By all means if you are a business owner and have not done bookkeeping for your 2009 – give us a call now so we can schedule bookkeeping assistance or business tax help for you. Besides having the information for tax time you will be better able to make decisions based on financial factors.
What’s your privacy policy? Will you share my tax information with anyone else?
Others will only be given information with your signed consent.
We respect your privacy and follow strict guidelines for confidentiality.
Do you believe I’m paying too much, too little, or just the right amount of tax?
We believe the statistics that say the majority of people are paying too much tax.
Our Tax Preparation Services & Fees
Personal Returns – Employment/Student/Pension
- Students/Seniors Basic Return: $39.00
providing last years assessment and return - Basic Canadian T1 return: $49.00
providing prior year tax assessment and return - Additional Schedules at variable rates, most between $10 and $25
- Net file no additional charge
Business and Self Employment Returns
- Self-Employed Basic Return: $150
- one business statement completed and provided by client
- provision of prior years tax assessment and return
- Rental income return: $150
- one rental statement completed and provided by client
- provision of prior years tax assessment and return
- Additional Schedules at variable rates, most between $10 and up
- Net file no additional charge
Business Returns (Non Corporate) with Bookkeeping
Call for an appointment to discuss your current needs. Feel free to bring your Shoebox!
CRA related issues
- GST
- WSIB
- Prior-year tax return adjustment/corrections
- Payroll deductions / T4’s
- PST
- Audit