Clear Footing
for Your Business
Tax Affairs

Nova Scotia uses the Atlantic provinces' Harmonized Sales Tax rate of 15%, which combines the 5% federal GST with a 10% provincial component. This applies to most goods and services your business sells. How frequently you are required to file — monthly, quarterly, or annually — depends on your total annual revenues. Rideau Sums helps you select the right filing frequency and ensures every return reflects all eligible input tax credits.

If you operate through a corporation, the corporation itself files a T2 return each year. As the shareholder-director, you also file a personal T1 return reporting salary, dividends, or other amounts you received from the corporation. Both filings influence each other — the split between salary and dividends, for instance, has direct provincial and federal tax implications. Our Small Business Tax Preparation & Filing service covers both returns together as one coordinated engagement.

Canadian-controlled private corporations can claim the small business deduction on the first CAD 500,000 of active business income, resulting in a substantially lower combined federal and provincial tax rate. Nova Scotia applies its own provincial small business rate in addition to the federal rate. We confirm your corporation qualifies, apply the deduction correctly, and plan around the associated-corporation rules if that is relevant to your situation.

The advisory engagement is designed for business owners in Atlantic Canada with revenues above CAD 200,000 who are actively reinvesting in growth — acquiring equipment, taking on employees, or considering a transition in ownership structure. Two sessions per year give us the chance to review your direction, revise the strategy document as circumstances change, and keep you informed about Nova Scotia incentive programs as they become available.

Simply send us a message through the contact form below or call us directly at +1 (902) 476-8312. We will typically respond within one business day to arrange a short introductory call where we learn about your situation and determine which service fits your needs. From there, we outline what information we will need from you and set clear timelines together.

For most annual filings, you will need your year-end financial statements or bookkeeping records, prior year returns for carry-forward amounts, T4 or T5 slips issued by your corporation, and any CRA notices received during the year. If you use accounting software, an export of your general ledger is a good starting point. We will send you a clear document checklist after our introductory conversation so nothing is missed.