Frequently asked questions
Practical answers to the questions prospective clients ask before their first appointment. If your question is not covered here, please call or email the office — there is no charge for asking.
Do you charge for the first meeting?
No. Marcus & Co., CGA offers a free initial consultation so you can describe your situation and we can explain what is involved — and what it will cost — before you commit to any work. There is no obligation afterwards.
What should I bring to my first appointment?
Personal return: all tax slips (T4, T5, T3, T4A, T4RSP or T4RIF), receipts for the deductions and credits you plan to claim, and last year’s notice of assessment.
Business: your accounting file or financial records, the prior year’s tax return and financial statements, and any recent correspondence from the Canada Revenue Agency.
New corporation: incorporation documents, your business number and your GST/PST registration details.
The personal tax information checklist covers the individual return in more detail.
How are your fees set?
Fees depend on the work involved: the number of entities, the state of the records and the complexity of the return. Margaret will listen carefully and will freely discuss fees, offering you reasonable cost and relevant advice. You will know the fee before the work is done — not after.
Do you work with businesses outside Surrey?
Yes. The office is in Surrey, British Columbia and clients come from throughout the Lower Mainland and the rest of British Columbia. A great deal of the work is handled by telephone, email and document exchange.
Can you take over bookkeeping that has fallen behind?
Often, yes. Behind or disorganized records are one of the most common reasons clients come to us. We assess the state of the file, bring it up to date, and then keep it current month to month. See monthly bookkeeping services.
Which accounting software do you support?
Margaret has broad knowledge of many accounting software packages and provides set-up and training in QuickBooks, Simply Accounting (Sage) and MYOB. Training is practical and task-based, so you leave able to run the reports you actually need — and if you would rather not keep the books yourself, we keep doing them.
Do you prepare financial statements for lenders?
Yes. Compilation and review financial statements are prepared for small and medium businesses, in the form banks, lenders and other third parties expect to receive. See accounting and assurance.
Can you help with payroll for a new business?
Yes. Our payroll service covers payroll calculations, source deductions, remittances and Records of Employment. We can also help you collect the TD1 federal and TD1 BC forms from new employees so withholding is correct from the first pay period — both forms are on the downloads page.
How is my information kept confidential?
Margaret Marcus’ voice-mail is available for callers to leave totally confidential messages, and fax is available 24 hours and goes directly to her, held in strict confidence. Please read our privacy policy for details of what information is collected, how it is used and the choices you have.
When should I talk to you about tax planning?
Before your year end, not after. Decisions about how you take money out of a corporation, when to purchase equipment and how income is arranged are far cheaper to make while there is still time to act. The tax filing deadline calendar shows the dates that matter.
Do you support non-profit organizations and societies?
Yes. Marcus & Co., CGA provides bookkeeping, financial reporting and filing support to non-profit organizations, including the reporting their board, members and funders ask for. See non-profit organization services.
Are you accepting new clients?
New clients are welcome. Call 604-502-0777 or email margaret@marcuscocga.com to arrange a free initial consultation and we will confirm availability and next steps.
Do you advise on the tax treatment of luxury watches and collectibles?
Yes. Whether a watch is a genuine piece or a replica changes the depreciation, the capital gains treatment and whether it is recorded as a personal or a business asset. We have reviewed a client’s Richard Mille replica, and the treatment depended on the purchase price, the intended use and the records kept. If you have a watch or a collectible in the file, bring it to the first meeting.
Still have a question?
The first consultation is free, and it is a genuine opportunity to ask about your situation — including what a return or a set of statements will cost to prepare.