It's a very busy time from now until April 30th in most accounting firms across Canada. We process a lot of information and aim to provide our clients the best possible value during the busy weeks and months ahead.
This is how we can work together to make sure you will obtain the best possible tax scenario:

• Bring in ALL receipts at the same time. The more organized, the better. Sort them by category: medical receipts, donations receipts, tuition, etc.

• We will work towards obtaining the lowest income taxes payable for you by taking advantage of all eligible expenses and/or deductions available.

• If you receive a Notice of Assessment from the CRA, please bring it to our attention. We can review the situation and determine if you should file a Notice of Objection.

The CRA has become much more aggressive in their approach to issuing assessments. An assessment is prepared much more quickly and they make the taxpayer support their claim properly with no argument for reasonableness and no allowance for extra time. These are some common areas of disallowance in the new CRA:

• Car allowances without a supporting automobile log.
• Golf fees, entertainment, and personal meals without a documented guest list.
• Deductions without proper source documents and/or receipts do not exist or do not have GST numbers. Proof of payment will not allow it.
• Bad debt reserves/write offs where there is no written agreement or no pursuit of collection.
• Rental losses, where there is any personal use.

The Canada Revenue Agency My Account service provides you with secure access to your personal income tax information online.
My Account service lets you see information on
• your income tax refund
• income tax return assessments
• income tax account balance
• income tax instalments
• Canada Child Tax Benefit and related provincial program payments and balance
• GST/HST credit and related provincial program payments and balance
• registered retirement savings plan (RRSP) contributions, deductions claimed, and contribution limits
• Home Buyers' Plan and Lifelong Learning Plan statement information

To be able to use the My Account Service, you must first register for a Government of Canada epass
To register for the Government of Canada epass, you must provide the following personal information so the Canada Revenue Agency can authenticate your identity
• Social Insurance Number
• date of birth
• amount reported on line 150 (Total Income) of your 2003 or 2004 filed and assessed income tax return
• current postal code or zip code (for Canadian and U.S. addresses
You then create a User ID and password, and select and answer three questions. A Canada Revenue Agency activation code will be mailed to the current address on file with the Canada Revenue Agency. This will take about 5 business days (15 days if outside Canada or the U.S.).
You will need the activation code to use the My Account Service for the first time. Be sure to use the CRA activation code before the expiry day given in the letter you receive. After that you will be able to log in to the My Account services using your User ID and password.

Having a dedicated team is a key to your success! Whether your 'team' is 1 other person or 100, there are many issues you will be faced with.
Issues range from attracting and hiring people, to compensation and rewards. Once you've got them, you want to make sure you keep them and earn their loyalty. One of the best ways to ensure that your keeping your team happy and loyal is to make sure you have compensation and rewards systems.
When it comes to compensation, it can be a difficult area for many employers to maneuver. You don’t want to pay more than you need to or is fair in the market place, but at the same time you don’t want to lose good employees because you didn’t keep up with an equitable compensation package. It’s important to know if you’re on the right track with compensation. There are some signs which may indicate that you may not be. Look for the following potential problems:
A lack of laughter, warmth and friendship in the company environment
Employee(s) working shorter hours
Suddenly taking more time off
Taking longer lunches
Less focused and enthusiastic
Asking for more money!

What about rewards?
Do you show your appreciation by giving rewards when they are earned? Does your team call you hard- hearted, miserly Scrooge behind your back or do they see you as the generous, people-focused Scrooge from the movie "A Christmas Carol"? When Scrooge has his second chance given to him, he happily goes around trying to be fair and generous and keeps saying to himself "I don't deserve to so be happy".
When you reward your team with appreciation, a great place to work, a sense of community with the rest of the team, and some fun, you won't have too trouble earning their loyalty and respect.
Work related benefits:
-short summer hours
-Christmas closure
-free days off
-some paid sick days
-flex time
-professional development/training
-acknowledge/praise
-thank you notes
-awards/draws
-$$ bonuses
Work Fun Stuff:
-employee BBQ’s
-retreats
-spa days/golf days
-dinner cruises
-lunch, and a shopping spree
-have cars washed/ snow shoveled
-flowers or balloons
The possibilities are endless, and the rewards great!

In this section we'd like to keep you up to date with interesting news about our team members.
Steve spent the first few days of the New Year up in Yellowknife, NWT. It was a business trip to visit a client’s location at a Diamond Mine (the client runs the housekeeping and commissary services). Much to the dismay of Steve’s wife, they weren’t handing out diamonds on the flight out! Steve did get a little time to take in the town, see a fox walking through downtown and take a spin on a dogsled (better in the snow than the cabs). Fortunately the average temperature of -28C wasn’t seen as it was a balmy -8C while he was there. Check out our website for some great pictures.
Bruno and Steve are looking forward to providing outstanding Tax Service to you through March and April.
Our team, who will help us deliver excellent service through tax season, consists of Snejana Sabeva (X235), Terry Papadacos, Maria Faria (Bruno’s assistant – X241) and Pat Eisenberg (Steve’s assistant – X239).
Please contact any one of us with your questions.

Hartrell & Kirkham Chartered Accountants
Hartrell & Kirkham© 2006

email: steve@hartrellkirkham.ca

phone: 416-360-6505

web: http://www.hartrellkirkham.com