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Travel Expenses: Home to Work Site

Although it may be possible to deduct travel amounts against employment income, such amounts are often challenged by CRA.

Post published:February 21, 2019
Post category:Business – Taxes / Employee Discounts / Individual – Taxes / Personal Taxes / Tax Planning

Employer-Sponsored Social Events: After the Party

In an April 9, 2018 French Technical Interpretation, CRA clarified their position on taxable benefits arising from employer-sponsored social events, such as a holiday party or other event. Where the cost of the social event does not exceed $150/person (previously the limit was $100), excluding incidentals such as transportation, taxi fares and accommodations, there would be no taxable benefit to employees. CRA indicated that the cost should be computed per person who attended, and not per person invited. If the cost exceeds $150/person, the entire amount, including the additional cost, is…

Post published:October 10, 2018
Post category:Business – Taxes / Corporate Taxes / Employee Discounts / Individual – Taxes / Personal Taxes

Subsidized Meals: Are They a Taxable Benefit?

Do you have an employee dining room or cafeteria? In a March 21, 2018 Technical Interpretation, CRA stated that they do not consider meals subsidized by the employer to be a taxable benefit provided the employee pays a reasonable charge. This charge should be sufficient to cover the cost of the food, its preparation and service. Where the charge is less than the cost, the difference would be considered a taxable benefit and should be…

Post published:October 1, 2018
Post category:Business – Taxes / Employee Discounts / Individual – Taxes / Personal Taxes

Reasonable Vehicle Allowances: GST/HST Claim

A travel allowance paid to an employee for the use of their personal vehicle for business purposes will be non-taxable if it is reasonable. Where such reasonable allowances are paid, an input tax credit (ITC) may be claimed by the employer. The ITC is computed as the imputed GST/HST in the allowance, without adjustment for the fact that some costs likely did not attract GST/HST. In non-harmonized provinces/territories (such as Alberta and BC), the ITC would be 5/105 of the allowance. The ITC in a harmonized province is different.…

Post published:June 14, 2018
Post category:Business – Taxes / Corporate Taxes / Employee Discounts / Individual – Taxes / Personal Taxes / Special Interest / Tax Planning

Employee Discounts on Merchandise: Change in CRA Policy

Historically, CRA has stated that an employee enjoying a discount on the purchase of merchandise from their employer is only taxable if a limited number of specified situations exist, such as where the employer makes a special arrangement with the employee or group of employees to buy the merchandise at a discount; the employee buys the merchandise for less than the employer's cost; or the employer makes a reciprocal arrangement with another employer so that the employees of one employer can buy merchandise from the other at a discount.

Post published:October 2, 2017
Post category:Employee Discounts

Tax Articles