Last month, we asked: Did you buy yourself a job, or build a career? Here’s our follow-up question: When was the last time you stepped away to work on your business instead of in it? Most entrepreneurs spend their days putting out fires – emails, customers, invoices, staffing, and constant problem-solving. That work matters, but…

If you’re a parent, you already know how quickly the bills start adding up. As one school year wraps up, you’re registering for summer camps. Before you know it, you’re paying school fees and signing up for hockey, dance, gymnastics, music lessons, swimming, and countless other activities that somehow fill the family calendar. It’s easy…

Vehicle expenses are one of the most common topics we discuss with business owners. Unfortunately, they are also one of the areas where tax myths seem to spread the fastest. We’ve heard everything from “just put it through the company” to “buy a truck and write the whole thing off.” The reality is that vehicle…

Every year, we meet people who leave employment to start their own business. They’re talented. They’re motivated. They’re often very good at what they do. But somewhere between quitting their job and opening their doors, many underestimate what they actually signed up for. When you were an employee, your responsibilities were relatively straightforward. Show up,…

When business owners sell investments, real estate, or other assets inside their corporation, there is often a silver lining hiding inside the tax bill: the Capital Dividend Account, commonly called the CDA. The CDA is one of those lesser-known tax concepts that can create significant tax advantages when used properly. But it is also an…

Most business owners think payroll is simple: Set up employees → run payroll → remit deductions → done. But payroll has a sneaky side. The side that shows up months later with CRA penalties, frustrated employees, missing paperwork, or a scramble during an audit or termination. At Accent CPA, we often see business owners do…

Life insurance is one of those things most of us know we should have… but when the quote comes in, it can feel expensive. As business owners, many people immediately ask: “Can I just pay for this through my corporation instead of personally?” We get this question all the time at Accent CPA. While using…

The Difference Most Entrepreneurs Don’t Realize (Yet) In Part 1, we talked about how many entrepreneurs unintentionally find themselves in a partnership simply by the way they operate, without ever having the conversation or paperwork in place. Now let’s walk through a real-life example to show how a partnership and a joint venture can look…

The Difference Most Entrepreneurs Don’t Realize (Yet) It usually starts with excitement. Two entrepreneurs connect. Ideas are flowing. There’s momentum, opportunity, and a shared “let’s do this” energy. They talk through roles, rough numbers, and next steps. Maybe it’s over coffee. Maybe it’s a quick meeting squeezed between busy schedules. Someone says, “We’ll just start…

Personal Tax Myths  Myth: “Your primary residence becomes taxable once it’s worth over $1 million” Reality: There is no dollar cap on the Principal Residence Exemption in Canada. A qualifying primary residence can be worth $300,000 or $3 million. The exemption applies as long as it qualifies and is properly designated. Where people do get…

Capital Cost Allowance (CCA) is one of those tax concepts that often feels straightforward — you buy an asset, you write it off over time, and it reduces your taxable income. But over the past few years, temporary tax incentives have changed how depreciation works, and many business owners are now heading into a new…

Between TFSAs, RRSPs, RESPs, and regular savings accounts, it can feel overwhelming to know where to put your money. Many Canadians are already saving — the real challenge is figuring out how to save in a way that creates flexibility and tax savings at the same time. If you’re considered a first-time home buyer, you…

At Accent CPA, we look beyond individual tax returns and focus on the family unit as a whole. Pension splitting is a great example of a tax planning opportunity that can quietly create meaningful savings — but only if someone is actively watching for it. Pension splitting doesn’t always apply, and it doesn’t happen automatically.…

Planning, Timing, and Rebuilding Your Financial Picture In Separation & Divorce – Part 1, we covered the immediate tax considerations that come with separation or divorce — updating your marital status, understanding support payments, splitting assets, and navigating child-related credits. Once the dust starts to settle, the next question often becomes, “okay … now what?”…

Understanding the Tax Consequences Separation and divorce are rarely just emotional — they’re also administrative, financial, and can have tax consequences. At a time when everything already feels overwhelming, figuring out “what to do” and “who claims what” can feel like one more impossible task. The good news? You don’t have to figure it all…

Contributing to a RESP feels good. You’re doing the “right” thing — setting money aside, getting government grants, and planning for your child’s future. Every contribution feels like a win. Then fast-forward a few years. Your child gets accepted into school, tuition invoices start arriving, and suddenly the RESP you felt so confident about now…

Teaching Kids About Finances On Saturday mornings in our house, you can hear the same soundtrack every week:the hum of the vacuum, the clatter of dishes being put away, and the light chatter of kids negotiating who gets which chore. Some people call it “cleaning day.” I’ve started to think of it as life school.…

For many business owners, GST/HST feels confusing, overwhelming, and downright stressful. We hear it all the time at Accent CPA—clients aren’t always sure when to register, how to file, or what to charge. And because GST is a self-assessed tax, missing steps can lead to penalties, interest, and unnecessary worry. The good news? GST doesn’t…

As 2025 is winding to a close, many business owners are scrambling to make sure they’ve taken advantage of all possible deductions. Totally fair — no one wants to leave money on the table when it comes to tax savings. The good news? If you have employees, there are some fun and fully strategic ways…