Tax Planning & Compliance
Clear tax guidance for every stage of your business.
Legal Support for Your Tax Planning Needs
Our tax team provides individuals, businesses, and institutions with clear, practical advice on corporate, personal, and commodity tax. We support clients both within and outside Canada and regularly collaborate with other professional service providers, including lawyers, who depend on us for tax planning and compliance support.
Corporate Tax Planning
We advise on matters such as: designing compensation arrangements for executives and employees; designing structures for the distribution of profits to shareholders; planning to finance corporations including issuing securities; structuring transactions to utilize losses, deductions, and credits; protecting the preferred tax status of not-for-profit and charitable organizations; designing systems for holding Canadian property; and designing systems for carrying on business in Canada.
GST/HST Compliance
We ensure that our clients comply with their GST/HST requirements and implement solutions that enable them to recover tax expenditures through means such as GST/HST rebate claims and input tax credits.
Cross-border Tax Planning
Our clients operate in Canada, the United States, and around the world, so we have experience in cross-border transactions and the application of tax treaties. We can assist with the unique income tax, GST/HST, and customs law requirements that must be considered when investments, people, goods and services cross borders. The US is becoming increasingly focused on US citizens who reside outside of the US and we ensure that our clients are fully compliant with US tax law.
Tax-Efficient Structures
We have years of experience working with Unlimited Liability Companies (“ULCs”), which can be an effective way for American investors to set up operations in Canada. We advise on taking advantage of changes in residence to minimize tax and utilizing the advantageous effects of bilateral tax treaties.
Registered Charities Tax
We act for more charities, non-profits and tax-exempt entities than any other law firm in the province on taxation matters. We advise on tax planning with respect to receiving donations and other income, significant purchases and sales, and disbursement of fundraising revenues. We ensure that our clients comply with their income tax, GST/HST, and municipal tax requirements. We also implement solutions that enable them to recover tax expenditures through means such as GST/HST rebate claims.
International Tax Treaties
We have experience in applying tax treaties and can assist with leveraging the advantageous effects of bilateral tax treaties. We provide advice for soon-to-be residents and soon-to-be non-residents.
Succession Tax Planning
A well-thought-out succession plan enables business owners to pass on their business in a tax-effective manner. There are many ways to pass on your business, such as transitioning it to family members or selling it to a third party. Selling or transitioning your business can carry significant tax implications; therefore, by developing a succession plan early, you can ensure that you benefit from the tax advantages when you decide to sell, including maximizing personal capital gains exemptions. We utilize family trusts, professional corporations, and estate freezes tailored to your specific needs to maximize tax savings and finance your retirement.
Regulatory Compliance with CRA
Government taxation and enforcement agencies play a crucial role in our economy. However, Canadian taxpayers also have rights that must be respected. We assist clients when they have to deal with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) on matters such as Voluntary Disclosure of taxes to be paid, and requests for cancellation of interest and penalties. We also assist clients when the CRA is collecting amounts through means such as garnishments and directors’ liability assessments.
Small Supplier Rules
Generally, a small supplier is a person with annual sales of less than $30,000. However, a public service body remains a small supplier until its annual sales exceed $50,000. If a person is a small supplier, they do not have to collect GST/HST on most of their supplies of property and services. However, they must collect GST/HST on the following transactions: sales of real property, sales of capital property by a municipality, and sales of designated municipal property by a designated municipality.
Input Tax Credits
The GST/HST is a value-added tax, which means that GST/HST is charged at every stage of production. To avoid paying tax on tax, businesses can recover the GST/HST they pay when purchasing inputs for production. This GST/HST is recovered by claiming input tax credits (ITCs). The amount of GST/HST that can be recovered is based on the extent to which the good or service was used in a commercial activity.
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Tax Planning & Compliance Lawyers
Legal Services:
- Business Operations
- Commercial Transactions
- Taxation
Legal Services:
- Commercial Litigation
- Criminal Law
- Media Law
- Tax Controversy
Languages:
English
Legal Services:
- Business Operations
- Commercial Transactions
- Non-Profit & Tax-Exempt Entities
- Tax Controversy
- Taxation
Languages:
English
Legal Services:
- Commercial Litigation
- Defamation
- Estate Litigation
- Media Law
- Tax Controversy
Languages:
English
Legal Services:
- Loan and Mortgage Enforcement
- Tax Controversy
Languages:
English
Legal Services:
- Business Operations
- Commercial Transactions
- Taxation
- Wills, Trusts & Incapacity Planning
Languages:
English
Frequently Asked Questions
What should businesses consider when planning for corporate tax?
Corporate tax planning often involves structuring compensation, financing, and profit distribution in ways that reduce tax risk and support long-term growth. Businesses should also consider loss utilization, available deductions and credits, cross-border issues, and how transactions may affect their overall tax position. Our team helps design tax-efficient structures tailored to each organization’s needs.
When does a business need to charge and remit GST/HST?
Most businesses in Nova Scotia must register for GST/HST once their annual sales exceed $30,000. Public service bodies remain small suppliers until they exceed $50,000. Even small suppliers must charge GST/HST on certain transactions, such as the sale of real property. Registered businesses can recover GST/HST paid on business inputs through input tax credits.
What tax issues arise when doing business across borders?
Cross-border business can trigger unique income tax, GST/HST, and customs obligations. Businesses may also need to consider the impact of tax treaties, residency rules, and U.S. tax requirements, especially for U.S. citizens living in Canada. Our team assists with planning transactions, understanding treaty benefits, and ensuring compliance when goods, services, investments, or people cross borders.
Managing & Growing a Business
Explore all services in this area:
- Employment & Labour for Employers: We offer practical employment advice to assist you in navigating hiring, performance management, workplace policies, and termination decisions with clarity and confidence.
- Commercial Operations: We assist with supplier contracts, distribution arrangements, outsourcing, and governance needs to help your business run smoothly and protect your interests.
- Commercial Real Estate: We support the purchase, sale, financing, and leasing of commercial properties, as well as development and zoning matters across Atlantic Canada.
- Tax Planning & Compliance: We advise on corporate tax, commodity tax, and cross-border matters, and help structure transactions and compensation plans to meet CRA requirements.