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Bookkeeping and accounting in the time of COVID

Here are some tips to keep in mind this tax season brought to you by Steve Huson, who has been an accountant with the Bookkeeping Bureau for over five years. He’s a cloud accountant who leverages state of the art tools in accounting.

We should start by acknowledging that the Bookkeeping Bureau is not your average accounting firm. They’re a (self-professed) laid back team of forward-looking professionals who bring together a left-brain/right-brain approach.

Steve fits right in.

He’s one of those special folks that you find around Ottawa who can switch between English and French seamlessly and speaks both languages flawlessly. And, what are NUMBERS other than another language? He speaks that one very well, too.

The Bookkeeping Bureau prides itself on embracing technology and Steve is one of the most proficient team members on this front. He is well-versed in fintech, tech stack, and cloud accounting.

Intuit Canada has recently recognized The Bookkeeping Bureau as National Cloud Leaders in the Canadian Cloud accounting industry and at the forefront of its development and adoption.

As a Firm of the Future, The Bookkeeping Bureau is leveraging technology beyond the majority of accounting firms and, that’s important because it’s efficient, it’s secure, and it supports clients in reaching their goals!

When he’s not helping companies understand their bookkeeping needs and advising on accounting requirements, Steve loves backcountry camping in the summer and reading and watching movies in the winter.

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Bookkeeping tips in the time of COVID brought to you by Steve Huson of The Bookkeeping Bureau

1. What are the things a business should look for when completing their taxes this year given it is year 2 of the pandemic?

  • There are some new reporting requirements where business’ are required to disclose which grants were received throughout the tax year.
  • If your business has employees that were required to work from home, you may need to prepare form T2200S (Declaration of Conditions of Employment for Working at Home due to Covid-19)

2. If a business has taken out a loan(s) to assist them during the pandemic, what implications does this have at tax time?

  • Although the principal repayment of the loan cannot be deducted as an expense, the interest paid on the loan is an allowable business expense and can be deducted on the tax return.
  • A corporation is also required to submit a balance sheet along with their tax return where the loan balance must be identified.
  • The Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA Loan) deadline has been extended to December 31st, 2023.

3. If a business has received a grant, how does this impact their tax return?

  • Covid-19 related support grants are considered to be taxable income for the business and should be included as other income on the tax return.

4. If a business has received breaks on their rent or heat and hydro, is their anything they need to know as they make their claim?

  • If these breaks are related to federal or provincial funding, the amounts received are also considered to be taxable income and are to be included as other income on the tax return.

5. What is the time frame to pay the tax owing? Has it been extended?

  • If your business is a small business corporation, any tax owing is usually due to be paid 3 months after the fiscal year-end. Tax instalment schedules should also be respected throughout the year.
  • If you are self-employed, any tax owing would be due by April 30th and if you are required to send instalments, those instalment deadlines should be followed as well.
  • Currently there are no extensions on any tax payment deadlines.

6. What is the most important thing a business can do when it comes to completing their tax returns? Is their anything else a business should know?