COVID-19 Update

Dear Clients,
Like all businesses, we are deeply concerned about the current medical situation and the difficulties it is imposing on all of our lives. These are certainly unprecedented times. We want to take this opportunity to communicate with our clients in terms of Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) matters, general business considerations, as well as our firm policies.

Bluenose to Continue Services

Our two offices remain physically open though we are suspending all nonessential in person meetings at this time. We are taking all precautions to safeguard our clients and team members by following all health department guidelines. We request that you avoid our offices if you have travelled abroad recently or you are feeling unwell. If you do attend our offices, please respect social distancing and use the hand sanitizers provided. Please refer to our website and feel free to reach out to our offices by phone or email for updates.

We are also able to send and receive documents electronically (by email or our secure portal) and personal returns can essentially be completed entirely by electronic means. We are making all of our personal intake forms available on our web site as well as by email upon request. Links to these are provided below.  We are available for drop off and pick up at our reception counters for personal tax and other returns. Each office is also equipped with a drop box.

1) Personal Tax Intake Form (New Clients)
2) Personal Tax Intake Form (Returning Clients)
3) Self Employed Checklist
4) Employment Expense Checklist
5) Rental Checklist
6) Home Office Checklist (for corporate clients)
7) Deceased Checklist
8) Moving Expense Checklist
9) Blank T183 Form (sign part G only)

Government Measures - Applying for Employment Insurance (EI)

Those of you laid off as a result of the pandemic may qualify for EI if you have worked a specific number of hours in the past 52 weeks and have a record of employment (ROE) from your employer. Applications can be made online. You may also apply to have the normal one week waiting period waived. The Government’s toll-free number is 1-833-381-2725. The link for more information is:

EI sickness benefits: Apply

We would suggest that you consult Service Canada for up-to-date information – a link is provided below.

Employment Insurance benefits and leave

Those Not Covered Under EI

Typically, self employed individuals or those who operate their business through a corporation would not qualify for EI. If you do not qualify for EI, the Federal Government has indicated that there will be opportunities to receive an “Emergency Care Benefit”.  We are being told that more information on this will be available on the CRA / Service Canada website in early April.

Employer Wage Subsidy

Many business owners have asked us for advice around handling out-of-work employees. If you are forced to close your business, you may wish to either retain your employees or lay them off. Retaining employees will be costly for small business, but the government has announced an Employer Wage Subsidy for a period of 3 months. The subsidy will be 10% of the remuneration paid during that period up to a maximum of $1,375 per employee and $25,000 per employer. Though the details are unclear at this time, it appears that employer remittances can be reduced accordingly. Only corporations eligible for the small business limit and non-profit organizations (including Charities) will qualify.
 

You may wish to consider reduced remunerating for your employees to enable them to get through this difficult time and presumably the wage subsidy would still qualify even on reduced wages. Allowing employees to work from home if your office is closed is also an option and one that we will consider if we are forced to close our offices.
 

Finally, you may need to lay off your employees. You will be required to comply with appropriate labour standards, possibly pay out vacation and then issue an ROE which the employees can use to apply for EI funding. We are not normally able to file ROEs for our clients. ROEs are either prepared manually on pre-numbered forms already received from Service Canada or by using ROE Web. A link is provided for those not already registered.

Register for Record of Employment on the Web ROE

Deadline extension

We remain committed to filing all returns on the standard due dates given all the current uncertainty. However, CRA has announced some extensions that we wish to communicate with you.
- The personal tax filing deadline has been extended from April 30 to June 1, 2020. However, credits such as GST credits and Child Tax Benefits will require you to meet the normal April 30, 2020 deadline to avoid delays in benefits.
- No extensions have been announced to the June 15 self employed deadline.
- Any business taxes owing as of now and up to August 2020 may be deferred until August 31. This includes tax balances due and installments. No interest or penalties will accumulate on these amounts during this period.
- All audit interactions will be suspended for this time period.

We remain committed to assisting our clients during this difficult time and I thank our dedicated team for their support during this time. All of us at Bluenose Accounting are available by email or phone to communicate with all of our clients about any of your concerns. Please stay safe during these difficult times.

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Privacy Policy

Bluenose Accounting (the “Firm”) is committed to maintaining the confidentiality, security and accuracy of your personal information. The Firm collects uses and discloses personal information related to its clients and employees to the extent required to provide requested services for those clients, to fulfill its professional responsibilities and operate its business. We are committed to protecting the privacy of information in our possession and control. To that end, the Firm has established a Privacy Policy to protect the privacy rights of its clients, employees and others. The Firm’s Privacy policy sets out principals and guidelines it follows in order to meet its privacy commitments and complying with provincial and federal privacy legislation. This policy relates to the collection, use and disclosure of personal information by the firm, its partners and employees.

What is Personal Information?

The firm defines personal information as any information that the firm receives as a part of servicing individuals, or indirectly, through clients that are organized as corporations, not-for profit organizations, charities or other like organizations in addition to information related to its employees and partners. Such information would include, but is not limited to, names, addresses, telephone number, age, sex, marital status, identifying numbers, education status and medical history. A more detailed definition can be found in the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act of Nova Scotia. The Firm only collects information required to provide the services requested and agreed upon. Such information is contained as required within filings with government agencies or as part of its working papers as required by professional standards, rules of professional conduct and regulation.

The Firm’s Commitment

The Firm has established and put into place policies and procedures designed to protect personal information. The firm has communicated to its partners and employees its policies with respect to privacy and has established responsibilities for all individuals with access to private information. The firm has designated Anthony Fielding Ph.D., CA (anthony@bluenoseaccounting.com) as its Privacy officer.

Consent

Information provided to us, including that collected from our website, is used solely for the purpose of the service(s) indicated and is often, but not always, set out in its engagement letter. Should you advise us at any time that you no longer consent to the use of the personal information that you have provided to us, we will take your information off our database.

Safeguards

The Firm protects the privacy of personal information in its possession by using security safeguards appropriate to the sensitivity of the information. Such safeguards include physical restriction (locked premises and security systems) and electronic protection (password protection and encryption).

Legal Disclaimer

Although we make every effort to preserve user privacy, we may need to disclose personal information when required by law when we have a good-faith belief that such action is necessary to comply with a current judicial proceeding, a court order or legal process.

Other Use of Your Information

Except as set out in this Privacy Policy, we do not make any other use of the personal information which you provide to us unless you have consented to its use for any other purpose. We do not sell or disclose your personal information to anyone, except as required by law.

Website

In using our website, you consent to the collection, use and disclosure of your personal information in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

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Terms of Use

Terms of Use

The use of this web site is governed by the terms and conditions as set out below. By using this web site, you have agreed to be bound by these terms.

Copyright

The information contained within this site, including the underlying HTML, text, images and any other content is the property of Bluenose Accounting (the “Firm”). Any reproduction or redistribution of content of this site without the express written permission of the Firm is strictly forbidden.

Disclaimer

The information provided in this site is free of charge and is for information purposes only. Such information should not be relied upon or used as a basis for decisions. The Firm has made all efforts to maintain the accuracy of the content of this web site. Information provided on this web site is provided without any warranties of any kind. The Firm assumes no responsibility or liability for damages that may arise from the use of this site or of any information contained within.

External Links

The Firm may provide external links to third party sites and some content provided on this site may actually be from third party sites. The Firm assumes no liability for the accuracy of third party information contained within this site or in those reached through links contained within this site. Any links are provided for information purposes only and are not to be construed as an endorsement by the Firm. The Firm has not reviewed or otherwise attempted to verify the accuracy of information contained within such sites.

The Firm assumes no responsibility or liability for damages that may arise from the use of these links including any computer security issues such as, but not limited to, viruses, Trojan horses or other disruptive code which may be downloaded or transferred from such linked sites.

Acknowledgement

By using this site, you are agreeing to the terms and conditions as set out above. Any use of information contained within this site is not to be construed as professional advice and the use of such information does not relieve you from applying the standard of care and due diligence relevant to the use of such information contained in this web site. You are solely responsible for verifying the accuracy and reliability of all information contained within this web site.

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