On April 23, 2015 the Ontario government tabled a 2015 budget that proposes significant changes to the programs aimed at supporting film, television and digital media. Ontario Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit (OIDMTC) Eligibility criteria for the program will be restricted to supporting entertainment products as well as educational products for children under the age of 12. The list of specifically excluded products will be extended to include products centered on news and public affairs. Exclusions to promotional products will be further strengthened. These changes are effective immediately and will apply to expenditures incurred after April 23, 2015. Products which qualified for the credit under the old rules but are no longer eligible will qualify for relief with respect to expenditures incurred prior to April 24th, 2015. The “all of substantially all” rule requiring that at least 90% of the product be developed in Ontario by the company claiming the […]
Alexei Gavriline
In 2014, the CRA started rolling out a new program for the first-time SR&ED claimants appropriately named the First-Time Claimant Advisory Service or FTCAS. The program is new, and there seems to be some confusion with respect to its objectives and consequences. The confusion seems to stem from the CRA’s description of the program and the way it is being implemented. On the one hand, the CRA states that “the FTCAS is not a review or an audit and the CRA staff will not make any determination of the eligibility of work or expenditures claimed”. On the other hand, in the same document, the CRA explains that “should a refund be expected as a result of filing a claim, it will be processed after the site visit.” After reading this, one would immediately wonder why the SR&ED refund is being processed after the site visit if during the visit the […]
As consultants we meet with many different companies and, to our surprise, a substantial number of business owners, particularly owners-managers, are reluctant to tap into the government incentives available to them. Somehow these very capable, self-made, independent businesspeople perceive applying for government assistance or tax credits as an acknowledgement of their inability to succeed on their own. The most prevailing excuse is “it’s too much hassle to deal with the government”. Consider that by maximizing your benefits from various government programs and incentives you actually help the government to achieve their public policy objectives. It may sound funny, but the government needs you. Don’t be shy to apply. Take for example SR&ED. The Federal government uses the Scientific Research & Experimental Development (SR&ED) program to give Canadian industries a competitive edge over international companies. The purpose of the program is to encourage SR&ED activities by reducing the amount of business […]