Common Questions

Here we have listed some of the commonly asked questions about accounting and tax. Contact our accountants at Can-Am CPA Professional Corporation in Weston, Toronto for more information.

Q: How many years of personal taxes can I file?

A taxpayer can file up to 10 years of unfiled taxes. You are still entitled to all refunds that those years would generate.

Q: How far back can I go to receive missed benefits?

• HST/GST Benefit

  To get the GST/HST credit, including any related provincial credits, you must file a tax return for the current year, even if you have not received income in the year.

  You are eligible for this credit, if you are a resident of Canada for income tax purposes in the month before and at the beginning of the month in which we make a payment and one of the following applies:

  1. you are 19 years of age or older;
  2. you have (or had) a spouse or common-law partner; or
  3. you are (or were) a parent and live (or lived) with your child.

  If you are a new resident of Canada and you want to get the GST/HST credit, send Form RC151, GST/HST credit application for individuals who become residents of Canada, for the year that you became a resident of Canada. For more Information see Pamphlet T4055, or click here.

  You have up to three years to ask for a retroactive payment. If you have not filed the previous two years returns tax returns within the three-year period, you can send us a request under the taxpayer relief provisions of the Income Tax Act. For more information, see Taxpayer Relief Provisions.

  For a deceased recipient, the GST/HST credit entitlement ends the quarter following the date of the death. For more information, see Has a GST/HST credit recipient died?

  Generally, you are not eligible for the GST/HST credit if at the beginning of the month in which we make a quarterly payment, any of the following apply:

  1. you are not a resident of Canada for income tax purposes;
  2. you do not have to pay tax in Canada because you are an officer or servant of another country (such as a diplomat) or a family member or employee of such a person; or
  3. you are confined to a prison or similar institution for a period of 90 consecutive days or more
• Child and Family Benefits

  If you’ve received the Child Tax Benefit and related programs in the past for your child, generally you will be able to recover all missed payments. If you’ve never applied or received any benefits you can expect 11 months retroactive payments. You can apply to receive the entire amount through taxpayer relief provisions of the Income Tax Act. For more information, see Taxpayer Relief Provisions.

  See Canada Child Benefits

Professional accountants at Can-Am CPA Professional Corporation provide our accounting, tax preparation, tax planning, payroll, bookkeeping services to clients across Toronto, Pickering, Ajax, Mississauga, Brampton, Vaughan, Woodridge and the surrounding areas.

Contact Can-Am CPA Professional Corporation - Accountants in Toronto, ON