Sharing our expertise.
We are grateful that 94% of our clients are referred to us by accountants, lawyers, and financial advisors. The following articles and presentations are our way of sharing our expertise with those who’ve helped make us a success.
INSIGHTS AND ARTICLES
The Blachford Brief – Spring 2025
Welcome to the Spring edition of The Blachford Brief, where we share content to help your clients avoid tax disputes, and news from our professional community.

Protecting CPAs using Solicitor-Client Privilege
CPAs who Dean is working with on tax disputes always want to know how they can prevent CRA from accessing their analysis and correspondence with the client. We don’t want your work to become a road map for the CRA auditor. Click below to read Dean’s article on solicitor-client privilege, which has been published by Canadian Accountant.

Client Asset: Paying down CRA Debt
One of our core values at Blachford Tax Law is “collaboration”. We achieve this partly through our “Client Asset Bank”, which includes instructional videos that educate our clients on issues relevant to their dispute. Click to watch our video on whether clients should pay their tax debt while objecting to the amount, and CRA’s collections powers.

Community News - CPAs in 2025: Frustrated, Overworked, and Underappreciated
CPAs are feeling disillusioned by what their careers have become, and don’t expect their circumstances to change soon. Dean corresponded with about 15 CPAs and heard they are frustrated, overworked, and often unappreciated. Click below see if Dean’s article captures your experience.

The Blachford Brief – Winter 2024
Welcome to the Winter edition of The Blachford Brief, where we share content to help your clients avoid tax disputes and news from our professional community.

Tax Dispute Update 2024 Video & Slides
On November 5th, over 330 professionals attended our 8th annual Tax Dispute Update. We shared the most influential legislative and policy changes that Dean has seen over the past decade and how they affect your clients today.
Registration Open for In-Person STEP Ottawa Seminar
Registration is now open for the in-person STEP Canada seminar. Dean and his co-presenter, Spencer Brooks, will share advice on navigating CRA audits, objections, and Tax Court appeals, focusing specifically on disputes involving estates and trusts.

Community News - Net Worth Audit Awareness Month
Blachford Tax Law officially declared November to be Net Worth Audit Awareness Month. We shared one nugget of NWA knowledge each business day through the month.
Net Worth Audits
This page contains all our resources to help you better understand Net Worth Audits by the CRA. If you're experiencing a NWA, we hope you find these valuable, and please feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

The Blachford Brief – Fall 2024
Welcome to the Fall edition of The Blachford Brief, where we share content to help your clients avoid tax disputes and news from our professional community.

Registration open for Tax Dispute Update 2024 on November 5: Free, 1-hour Webinar
Dean has been resolving tax disputes for business owners for over 10 years. In this year’s annual Tax Dispute Update webinar, Dean will share the most influential legislative and policy changes that he has seen over the past decade and how they affect your clients today. Last year, over 300 CPAs attended.
Report: Improving Services for Business Owners Facing a CRA Net Worth Audit
Net Worth Audits (“NWAs”) are a brutal audit technique CRA uses to identify unreported income. In January of 2023, Dean and Ella launched a project to improve the services available to business owners facing NWAs. In this report, Dean explains their project goals, what they accomplished, and how you can help spread the word during "Net Worth Audit Awareness Month" in November.
Community News - Blachford Tax Law Charity Game
The vibe was awesome at this year’s Blachford Tax Law Charity Game! The game was a nail-biter and we raised more money than ever for charity. CPAs from 12 firms participated in the event and there were more fans in the stands. Check out the action photos from the game.

CRA Property Flipping Assessments: What You Need to Know
The CRA recovered $1.4 billion as a result of audit activities related to real estate in Ontario from April 2015 to March 2023. Since 2016, individuals must report the sale of their principal residence on their annual tax return and in 2022 the Federal Government added a definition of “flipped properties” to the Income Tax Act. With the CRA’s increased attention to the real estate sector, it is critical that real estate professionals and home owners understand the rules surrounding property flipping.

Justice St-Hilaire appointed Chief Justice of the Tax Court of Canada
Blachford Tax Law is thrilled with the appointment of Justice St-Hilaire as the next Chief Justice of the Tax Court of Canada. Justice St-Hilaire has an incredible track record of serving Canadian taxpayers and advancing our Canadian tax system, not to mention educating the next generation of legal professionals. Watch this video to get a feel for her commitment to access to justice and her respect for the accounting profession.

How to Avoid Large CRA Audits: Video & Slides
On June 18th, 230 professionals attended our webinar on How to Avoid Large CRA Audits. Dean and his team shared what CPAs and lawyers must know to help their clients avoid large CRA audits.

The Blachford Brief – Summer 2024
Welcome to the Summer edition of The Blachford Brief, where we share content to help your clients avoid tax disputes and news from our professional community.

Dean interviewed on property flipping
Cherry Chan, the Toronto-based CPA who founded “RealEstateTaxTips.ca”, interviewed Dean on CRA property flipping audits. Watch their discussion on how property flipping disputes work and how to win one.

Free, 1-hour webinar on June 18th: How to Avoid Large CRA Audits webinar
Tax disputes are a nightmare. In this webinar, Dean and Ella will share CRA’s methods for selecting audit targets; their powers and techniques; and how you can protect your clients. Attendees will receive a certificate that can be used for CPD credits.

Community News - Google Reviews for Mid-Market Accounting firms
Should mid-market accounting firms seek out Google reviews from their clients? In this article, Dean gives 4 reasons why your firm should, even though you already have lots of work and you are not looking for cold calls from people on the internet.