January 18, 2021
There are some important updates regarding COVID-19 benefits that we thought were important to bring to your attention.
Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) deadlines
· CEWS applications are due the later of 180 days after the end of the period and January 31, 2021. Because CEWS Periods 1 - 5 ended on or before August 1, 2020, this means CEWS applications for these periods must be received no later than January 31, 2021.
· If you need to amend any elections made for Periods 1 – 5, this must also be done before January 31, 2021.
· Note that there are decisions made in some elections that will impact subsequent CEWS periods, such as the decision to use the cash or accrual basis, or determining the prior period reference in order to determine revenue declines. Once you are no longer able to make amendments to CEWS Periods 1 – 5, the elections used for those particular periods will effectively determine the ones you will need to use for subsequent periods.
· Also note that, if you have applied or are anticipating applying for the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS) and if you have claimed the CEWS, you must use the same method to determine your revenue drop for the CERS as you used for the CEWS. As such, your choice for this, which will effectively be locked in by January 31, 2021, will also impact how you determine your CERS rent subsidy moving forward as well.
Therefore, if you anticipate a potential need to make an amendment for CEWS Periods 1 – 5, be sure to do so before January 31, 2021, and be sure to consider the implications that elections made during those periods will have on subsequent CEWS applications, as well as possible CERS applications.
Click here for more information about the CEWS.
CERB Letters of Eligibility
The CRA has started to send out letters to people who have collected CERB payments regarding eligibility for the benefit. Many of these letters have been sent to people for whom the CRA could not confirm eligibility, such as those who have not yet filed their 2019 personal tax returns. If you receive a letter like this from the CRA, it does not necessarily mean that you are ineligible for the CERB. However, it may require that you provide additional information to the CRA, in order to confirm your eligibility. If you have received such a letter and have any questions, please let us know.
BC Small and Medium Sized Business Recovery Grant
Grants of $10,000 to $30,000 are available to small and medium sized BC businesses who have been impacted by COVID-19, with additional amounts of $5,000 to $15,000 available for tourism-related businesses. The application process involves developing a recovery plan which will be reviewed as part of your grant application, and grant recipients may be asked for information and documentation about how recovery efforts are progressing, and how the funds from the grant were used.
The grant program goes until March 31, 2021, or until all grant funds have been allocated, whichever is first.
For more information on this recovery grant, click here.
BC Recovery Benefit for Individuals
The application process is now open for the BC Recovery Benefit. This is a one-time tax-free payment for residents of BC of up to $1,000 for eligible families and single parents, or up to $500 for eligible individuals.
The deadline for applications is June 30, 2021.
Personal Tax Returns
Lastly, please also note that personal tax returns for 2020 are due by April 30, 2021, or June 15, 2021 for self-employed individuals. Last year there were extensions granted for when tax returns needed to be filed, due to COVID-19, but it does not appear that similar extensions are being made this year. As a reminder, the RRSP contribution deadline for 2020 is March 1, 2021, and so any contributions made before March 1, 2021 can be claimed in your 2020 tax return. As with last year, we continue to be able to process your personal tax returns electronically, which includes the use of electronic signatures, which means you do not need to physically come into our office in order for us to take care of your taxes. If you are not a business client with an online portal already set up, you can click here in order to upload files for your personal taxes, once you have everything ready for us to work on it.
If you have any questions about the information above, please let us know.
The information contained in this communication is of a general nature and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Although we endeavor to provide accurate and timely information, there can be no guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No one should act upon such information without appropriate professional advice after a thorough examination of the particular situation.
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