CRA Online Mail Failure to actively monitor and review CRA online mail may result in significant penalties, interest and/or loss of ability to dispute CRA assessments. Individuals: As of July 3, 2025, approximately 500,000 benefit recipients, such as those receiving the Canada Child Benefit, Old Age Security, or the Disability Tax Credit began receiving CRA correspondence online through their Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) My Account . On September 4, 2025, an additional 900,000 individuals were transitioned. If you were affected, the CRA indicated that you should have received an email and in some cases a letter in late August outlining these changes and what to expect. Unlike the changes made to Business mail, the CRA did not provide any advance notice of their plan to transition individuals to online mail until after letters were sent. The dates for subsequent phases have not yet been announced. Important Steps for Taxpayers: Check your CRA My Account regularly even if you aren’t affected to ensure you have access to notifications (paper or online) and that you haven’t missed any important correspondence such as instalment reminders, notices of assessments or reassessments, or CRA review letters with a limited time to reply to the CRA. You can change your notification preferences including opting out of online mail at any time. Should you wish to continue receiving online correspondence, ensure that your email address on file with the CRA is correct under your profile in your My Account . Businesses: As a reminder, on May 12, 2025, the CRA transitioned to online mail as the default method for delivering most business correspondence. This means that if you operate a business, your tax notices and other communications including letters, forms, and statements will be sent through My Business Account . Once posted, the correspondence is legally considered delivered on that date, so it is important to log in and check your CRA correspondence regularly as well as to ensure that you have set up your notification preferences . You do have the option to opt out of online correspondence. To do so, you must either: Submit Form RC681 – Request to Activate Paper Mail for My Business, or Adjust your notification settings directly in My Business Account . Please note that any requests to receive paper mail must be renewed every two years. Also, be aware that accounting firms and other representatives do not have access to any CRA notification preferences for both individuals and businesses. We cannot make changes or receive CRA notifications on your behalf. How does the Canada Post Strike affect correspondence from CRA Due to the recent Canada Post strike the CRA strongly encourages all Canadians and tax-filers sign up for a CRA account and direct deposit . To avoid disruptions receiving important CRA documents and benefit payments please sign up for direct deposit and set your correspondence preferences in your CRA account to “electronic mail.” To avoid potential interest and penalties on amounts owing, we also encourage you to send any payment(s) to the CRA electronically. The CRA typically does not resend notices delayed or lost in the mail. Ensuring uninterrupted access to digital services is therefore essential. Ontario Annual Return Filings Please be advised that some business owners may experience a temporary loss of access to their CRA My Business Account following the filing of the Ontario Corporate Annual Return. This issue occurs during the transfer of information between the Ontario Business Registry (OBR) and the CRA. Both the CRA and OBR are aware of the problem and are actively working toward a resolution. Should you find that your access has been revoked, please contact our office. A member of our administrative team will be happy to assist you.

Our team has assembled the most relevant and recent tax, business and agriculture updates for you in this season's newsletter.

All businesses will need to update their communication preferences either through their CRA My Account or by submitting the new Request to Activate Paper Mail form.

As we near the end of Tax Season, please note our office hours below: Hours until April 29th Mon, Tues, Weds, Fri: 8:30 am - 5:30 pm Thursday: 8:30 am - 8:00 pm Saturday: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Sunday: Closed Hours on April 30th 8:30am – 5:00pm Hours May 1st – May 2nd Closed Hours beginning May 6th Monday – Thursday: 8:30am – 5:00pm Friday: 8:30am – 4:30pm

We are thrilled to announce Ward & Uptigrove was selected as a recipient of the Southwestern Ontario's Top Employers Award for 2025. The award is based on the following criteria: 1. Workplace, 2. Work Atmosphere and Social, 3. Health, Financial and Family Benefits, 4. Vacation and Time-Off, 5. Employee Communications, 6. Performance Management, 7. Training and Skills Development, 8. and Community Involvement! Here are some of the reasons why Ward & Uptigrove was selected as one of Southwestern Ontario's Top Employers (2025): Ward & Uptigrove increased its full-time workforce in Canada by over 13 per cent in the past year and lets everyone benefit in the company's success with profit-sharing -- the company also offers generous referral bonuses of up to $5,000 per successful candidate as an incentive for employees to recruit friends Ward & Uptigrove hosts three major social events each year, giving employees the opportunity to unwind and connect with food, beverage and entertainment covered by the firm's partners -- events include a post-tax season party (employees plus a guest), a fall golf tournament, and an annual holiday celebration Ward & Uptigrove matches employee donations in kind, and encourages them to lend a helping hand in the community with a paid day off to volunteer Emily MacRobbie, Human Resources Manager at Ward & Uptigrove, says clients appreciate the close connections and sense of care their small-town environment fosters. “We’re big enough to attract and retain some of the best and brightest minds in the industry, while simultaneously being small enough that staff and clients are known on a more personal level,” says MacRobbie. “Employees really appreciate the flexibility the firm offers, such as work location (in office or hybrid) and hours of work arrangements. We keep a pulse on what’s happening and make sure we remain competitive with things like paid time off and flexible health benefits.” To learn more about career opportunities at Ward & Uptigrove visit www.wardanduptigrove.com/careers

Our team has assembled the most relevant and recent tax, business, and agriculture updates for you in this season's newsletter.

Buying your first home has never been so intimidating or expensive. The market is at an all time high, many homes are entertaining multiple offers, selling well over their asking price, and now, interest rates are beginning to rise. If you’re looking to enter the market for the first time, you’re going to want to use every resource at your disposal, whether that’s government programs or professional guidance, or preferably both. Knowledge is power, so let’s discuss several incentives and programs available to help you reach your goals. 

Accounting

When contemplating the next steps for your corporate ownership and succession planning, maintaining fairness among family members is often a main priority even though all families members may not be involved in the business. One crucial aspect often overlooked is estate equalization, particularly in family-owned or closely-held businesses. Unequal distributions of wealth can lead to the business being forced to sell necessary business assets, jeopardizing the future viability of the core operations and business altogether. However, with strategic planning and the implementation of corporate life insurance, businesses can ensure equitable outcomes while safeguarding ongoing business sustainability. Understanding Estate Equalization Estate equalization refers to the process of balancing inheritances among heirs, particularly when certain assets, such as business interests, are illiquid or disproportionately valuable. In the context of corporate ownership, ensuring fair vs equitable distributions becomes more complex due to the interplay of family dynamics, business operations, sweat equity and financial considerations. Without proper planning, disparities in inheritances can cause families disputes and undermine the integrity of the business.