We have many years of experience designing and implementing international structures for e-commerce businesses of all types. We understand e-commerce technology and have spoken and written extensively on the tax issues involved. International tax structures are complex and get progressively harder to put in place as time goes on. Nevertheless, there are possibilities in the…

Tax audits happen increasingly often. Before a tax auditor arrives at your door, why not have a friendly party go through the audit process to prepare you? We can pinpoint your exposure areas and prepare you for the types of questions you will likely be asked in the audit. In addition, by diagnosing problem areas…

Recent changes to corporate tax rates have changed the rules of thumb followed for decades on how to remunerate owner-managers. The ability to defer tax by leaving funds in a corporation rather than take a bonus or a dividend is very enticing. Yet, this must be balanced against the family’s cash needs and other matters…

We have assisted with designing and implementing employee share ownership programs (ESOPs) for many years. These range from granting a small share position to a key executive to the complete buyout of a company by its employees. We can assist with designing the ESOP and arrange for valuation reports where required. We will also recommend…

We are often asked to assist non-residents who wish to invest in Canada. This may take the form of a real estate purchase for investment or development, an equity investment in a Canadian business (private or public) or a business start-up. We can advise on the tax implications, how to structure it using a corporation,…

We have particularly strong expertise in real estate taxation, having served as Editors of the publication Taxation of Real Estate in Canada for many years. As a result, we have many real estate clients in all aspects of the real estate industry, both here and abroad. We are frequently consulted on tax planning matters for…

It is useful to take a fresh look at a corporate structure from time to time to determine whether every available tax-planning opportunity has been employed. This exercise is worthwhile every few years because circumstances and laws change, yielding new opportunities or unexpected drawbacks. When approaching this kind of engagement, we meet with representatives of…

There are many reasons companies or corporate groups may need to be reorganized: to amalgamate or combine companies to use the profits of one company against the losses of another; to create holding companies for creditor-proofing reasons; to divide the assets of a corporation among the shareholders (referred to as a butterfly reorganization); to incorporate…

Many entrepreneurs who have built successful companies are concerned about business succession as they get older. They often want to pass the family business to the next generation but believe this cannot be done without paying significant capital gains tax. We can often reduce the tax greatly with advance planning. We assist with business succession…