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.

At Blachford Tax Law, a surprising number of the voluntary disclosures (VDs) we handle involve taxpayers who are deceased. So, Dean and Ella wrote an article on this issue for  the Canadian Tax Foundation. Whether you’re advising an executor or working with a client on estate planning, this piece offers practical guidance and issues to consider. Click below to read our article.

Dean recently had the unexpected honour of being a guest on “AI Meets the Firm”, a new podcast hosted by Julian White. While Dean might still need help from his 9-year-old to navigate our TV remotes, thanks to Ella’s vision and leadership, we’ve built a law firm that integrates simple AI and software tools to streamline our work and create efficiencies for clients. On the podcast, Dean and Julian dig into the real-world tech they are using — and how your firm might benefit, too.

What happens when a CPA decides to tackle one of the most persistent problems in tax compliance? You get Remitian — a new fintech solution that automates tax payments, improving efficiency for tax professionals and reducing the risk of penalties and interest for clients. In our Community News section, we profile Larry Hasson of McIntyre and Associates, a familiar face in the local tax scene, who started Remitian. Learn how Larry joined forces with a team of elite tech entrepreneurs to bring this ground-breaking platform to life.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.