- A Roadmap To CRA Compliance and Financial Stability
- The Concierge Desk
The Concierge Desk
Because Some People Just Belong Here
By L.Kenway BComm CPB Retired
This is the year you get all your ducks in a row! Start by starting ... and keep it simple. Consistency beats perfection.
Published April 19, 2026
WHAT'S IN THIS ARTICLE
What is the Concierge Desk? | Where Would You Like To Go? | Tax Rates Quick Access | Topical Reads | Notes From The Concierge | Terms Used
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There is a certain kind of visitor who does not need a map.If you’ve been here before, you shouldn’t have to hunt for the next useful thing. The Concierge Desk is where returning visitors can check what’s new, jump straight to frequently used tax-rate links, and browse helpful extras that do not fit neatly under a navigation pillar. It is a practical stop for updates, quick access, and short notes worth keeping on your radar.
You aren't lost. In fact, you may simply know this site well enough to want the shortcut. And if you’re a little rusty, that’s okay too. Think of this as a quick roadmap to help you find what you need faster and get back to work. Nice!
What Is The Concierge Desk?
There is a certain kind of visitor who does not need a map. They have been here before. They know what they are looking for or they are happy to browse until something catches their eye. The concierge knows them. Remembers what they asked about last time. Has the key ready before they even reach the desk.
Some pages on this site are meant for reading and learning. Others are meant for reaching. This one is for reaching. This is that desk.
A well worn rolodex. A stack of room keys. A message board. A guest book. A recommendation list. Everything a regular needs, nothing they have to hunt for.
Pull up a chair. You belong here.
🦆 Heads Up!
Some of the information on this page may seem a bit technical and dry to you ... so I apologize in advance but that is the nature of tax. It is complex. How do I suggest you handle it? Just like my Dad used to tell me ...you don't always have to understand the logic of the tax regulations and CRA requirements ... you just have to learn them and follow them ... leave the rest to the tax specialists.
The Concierge Desk
Where Would You Like To Go?
I built this page because I find it genuinely useful. I like shortcuts and I hope you do too.
- What's New (The Blog Feed)
Here's where new and updated articles land ... and the occasional bloglet. - Canadian Bookkeeping Tax Rates Quick Access Links
No hunting around. Here are the rates I reach for most often. - The Command Centre
Quick access to your obligations around compliance deadlines, deduction limits, registrations & thresholds, getting caught up, responding to a tax notice ... or what obligations apply to me. - Small Business Bookkeeping
This resource is from my sister site Bookkeeping-Essentials.com. It gives you quick access links to getting setup, good bookkeeping practices and financial statement reporting. - Topical Reads
These are articles that did not fit neatly into one category ... so they live here. - Notes From The Concierge
Short takes. Timely thoughts. Things worth knowing that did not need a full article but were too good to leave on the cutting room floor. And unlike the blog feed, bloglets do not disappear. They live here. - Explore The Site (Coming In The Future)
- Beyond The Spreadsheet ... Because Life Happens
I know. I know. This is a bookkeeping compliance and how to build financial resilience site, and yes, this section may seem a little out of place. But I keep it here because you matter to me.
You cannot show up for your business if you are running on empty. Scattered throughout this site, you will find reminders to take care of yourself.
Consider this my gentle nudge to look after the person behind the business. You are its greatest asset. Here you'll find a taste of beyond the spreadsheet. - Not Sure Where To Start?
If you landed here and are not quite sure where to begin, start with learning the CRA rules. It will help you understand what applies to you and what needs your attention first.
Looking for a rate you use often? Start here.
Canadian Bookkeeping Tax Rates
Quick Access Links
This section brings together the tax rates I reach for most often. I created it because I was having trouble remembering where I'd put this information on the site. Yes, it is a bit technical. It is here for those moments when you just want the rates without the hunt. I hope it helps you as much as it helps me.
- If you already know the terms used in this table, you can jump straight in.
- If an acronym looks familiar but fuzzy (or it looks like a foreign language), check the Terms Used section below.
Interest & Tax Rates
- Prescribed quarterly interest rates - used for shareholder loans, spousal and employee loans
- Capital Gains Inclusion Rate (November 6, 2025)
- Lifetime Capital Gains Exemption (LCGE) and Canadian Entrepreneur's Incentive (CEI)
- CCPC Tax Rates and Limits | Small Business Deduction
- Common CCA Rates - used to classify your capital assets and depreciate them using a declining balance method
- Annual CRA indexation adjustments - tax rates are adjusted for inflation
Payroll Tax Rates
- Employment Insurance Premiums - used for employee source deductions
- Canada Pension Plan Contributions - used for employee source deductions
Sales Tax Rates
- PST QST GST HST Rates - includes territories
- BC PST non-regular rates - varies between 7% and 12%
- Simplified Rates - used as an alternative method of claiming input tax credits
- Quick Method Rates - used as an alternative method of claiming input tax credits
- Out of Province Customer Rates - how to determine the rate to charge
Canadian Travel and Vehicle Mileage Rates
- Per Kilometre Tax-Free Automobile Allowance
- Self Employed - must use detailed method to claim car expenses
- Simplified Non-Business Travel Rates - used for medical and moving expenses not business expenses
- MORE >> Canadian Travel and Vehicle Mileage Rates
Personal Tax Rates & Thresholds
Topical Reads Worth Knowing About
Articles that don’t fit neatly under one pillar but are still worth your time.
Some topics do not fit neatly into one category but they matter too much to leave buried. These are worth a read when you have a few minutes.
A. General Knowledge
B. Backgrounders For When You Want To Understand The Why
Brief Notes From The Concierge
Bloglets: Short Notes and Updates
FEB 26, 2026
Prescribed Interest Rates Hold Steady For Q2 2026
The CRA's prescribed interest rates remain unchanged for the second quarter of 2026. As a home-based solopreneur, these rates touch your life in two different ways.
- If you owe the CRA money, interest accrues and compounds daily. So paying your unpaid tax balance down quickly saves you real money.
- It also has tax planning opportunities for income splitting.
Click to see the rates for overdue taxes, shareholder loans, and spousal loans.
Continue reading "Prescribed Interest Rates Hold Steady For Q2 2026"
FEB 22, 2026
CRA SimpleFile Service | 2026 Tax Filing Season
CRA SimpleFile service is a streamlined service to make the process of filing tax returns easier for Canadian taxpayers. It opens Mar 9, 2026 for 2025 tax year.
Continue reading "CRA SimpleFile Service | 2026 Tax Filing Season"
2025 forward
Trade Tariff Developments
Below is the jump link that provides the context and analysis of significant trade policy shifts as they unfold, helping you understand the changing Canada-U.S. trade relations.
Jump To >> Trade Development Archives
Terms Used
BC: British Columbia
CEI: Canadian Entrepreneur's Incentive
CCPC: Canadian Controlled Private Corporation
CCA: Capital Cost Allowance
CRA: Canada Revenue Agency
GST: Goods and Services Tax
HST: Harmonized Sales Tax
LCGE: Lifetime Capital Gains Exemption
PST: Provincial Sales Tax
QST: Quebec Sales Tax
RRSP: Registered Retirement Savings Account
TFSA: Tax Free Savings Account