I want to assure you that we are still open for business. We prepared extensively to ensure that all of our staff are able to be productive from their own homes and we have tested this extensively. Direct telephone numbers remain connected, email service is unaffected and all of our programs and resources are fully operational.
As of March 19, 2020, some of our staff will be shifting to remote work from time to time. We do not expect this to impact our services to you. Our front door will be locked but most business hours there will be someone in the building.
Please consider emailing your information or calling ahead before you visit us.
Tax deadlines:
Personal taxes have been moved to June 1
Trust returns are now due May 1
Corporate taxes and personal tax balances due after March 18, 2020 have been deferred to August 31 without interest or penalty.
In order to help us continue to serve you, we have the following recommendations:
- Please scan all necessary support documentation to us. If you have yet to submit your initial personal tax package, please scan or send pictures of the supporting documentation to personaltax@ribeyre.ca.
- We have cancelled in person meetings and have shifted to an online meeting product. If you have a meeting previously scheduled, our staff will be in touch with information as to how to do this.
- We now accept Interac E-Transfers for Payment. Our address for payment is tribeyre@ribeyre.ca. There is no security questions required.
- For our proprietorship clients: Don’t scan individual business expense receipts. Give us a summary total instead. Talk to your preparer about simple ways to make this work for you.
- Printing and delivery of paper copies of products may be delayed in the future. As of today we are still producing paper but this may change. Digital copy production will not be impacted. How to reach us:
Our general phone number of 604-945-3639 is still in being answered during business hours and any messages left will be promptly returned. For your convenience we have attached an up to date contact list of our direct phone numbers and email addresses for each staff person.
Additionally we have created email addresses for you to route your document submissions as you may not be able to drop them off in person:
personaltax@ribeyre.ca – Please send your initial set of personal tax documents here, then any future ones directly to your preparer once they have been assigned.
sharefile@ribeyre.ca – Please email our admin team here if you have any questions regarding your Sharefile registration or if you need technical assistance
signedforms@ribeyre.ca – Please send any completed forms here for prompt e-filing and processing.
The Federal Government has undertaken the following Measures that will be relevant to all of our clients: https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/economic-response-plan.html
Key highlights:
- Funding has been provided to BDC to help fund working capital loans and other debt based supports.
- To support businesses that are facing revenue losses and to help prevent lay-offs, the government is proposing to provide eligible small employers a temporary wage subsidy for a period of three months. The subsidy will be equal to 10% of remuneration paid during that period, up to a maximum subsidy of $1,375 per employee and $25,000 per employer. Businesses will be able to benefit immediately from this support by reducing their remittances of income tax withheld on their employees’ remuneration. Employers benefiting from this measure will include corporations eligible for the small business deduction, as well as non-profit organizations and charities.
- EI and additional funding programs have been provided at the individual level for those who are unable to collect EI. This includes a new Emergency Care Benefit that provides up to $900 Bi-weekly for 15 weeks. This flat-payment Benefit would be administered through the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and provide income support to:
- Workers, including the self-employed, who are quarantined or sick with COVID-19 but do not qualify for EI sickness benefits.
- Workers, including the self-employed, who are taking care of a family member who is sick with COVID-19, such as an elderly parent, but do not quality for EI sickness benefits.
- Parents with children who require care or supervision due to school closures, and are unable to earn employment income, irrespective of whether they qualify for EI or not.
Application for the Benefit will be available in April 2020, and require Canadians to attest that they meet the eligibility requirements. They will need to re-attest every two weeks to reconfirm their eligibility. Canadians will select one of three channels to apply for the Benefit:
- by accessing it on their CRA MyAccount secure portal;
- by accessing it from their secure My Service Canada Account; or
- by calling a toll free number equipped with an automated application process.
For Canadians who lose their jobs or face reduced hours as a result of COVID’s impact, the Government is:
- Introducing an Emergency Support Benefit delivered through the CRA to provide up to $5.0 billion in support to workers who are not eligible for EI and who are facing unemployment.
- Implementing the EI Work Sharing Program, which provides EI benefits to workers who agree to reduce their normal working hour as a result of developments beyond the control of their employers, by extending the eligibility of such agreements to 76 weeks, easing eligibility requirements, and streamlining the application process. This was announced by the Prime Minister on March 11, 2020.
Contact your partner or preparer if you require any assistance with these measures.
Paul (Ted) Ribeyre, B Ed, CPA, CA (BC) CPA (Nevada)
Managing Partner
