Legal
Terms & Conditions
Last Updated: March 14, 2025 · Effective Date: March 14, 2025
Table of Contents
These Terms and Conditions govern your use of the Rideau Sums website and your engagement with our accounting and tax services. By accessing our website or engaging our services, you indicate your agreement to these terms. Please read them carefully. If you have questions, we encourage you to reach out before proceeding.
Definitions
- "Rideau Sums", "we", "us", "our" — refers to Rideau Sums, operating at 1583 Barrington Street, Halifax, NS B3J 1Z7.
- "Client", "you", "your" — refers to any individual or business entity that engages our services or uses our website.
- "Services" — refers to all accounting, tax preparation, HST compliance, and advisory services offered by Rideau Sums.
- "Agreement" — refers to these Terms and Conditions, along with any service engagement letter or proposal accepted by the client.
- "Content" — refers to all text, documents, reports, and deliverables produced by Rideau Sums in connection with services.
- "CRA" — Canada Revenue Agency.
Acceptance of Terms
By submitting an inquiry, signing an engagement letter, or using our website, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.
Our services are available to individuals and businesses aged 18 years and older who have the legal capacity to enter into a binding agreement under the laws of Canada and Nova Scotia.
If you are engaging our services on behalf of a corporation or other entity, you represent that you have the authority to bind that entity to these terms.
Service Description
Rideau Sums provides the following categories of professional accounting and tax services to small businesses in Atlantic Canada:
- HST Compliance & Filing — Registration assistance, quarterly and annual return preparation, input tax credit review, and electronic filing with the CRA (CAD 210).
- Small Business Tax Preparation & Filing — T2 corporate returns, T1 self-employment returns, provincial tax considerations, and post-filing summary meetings (CAD 505).
- Tax-Aware Business Growth Advisory — Strategic advisory sessions, written roadmap, and responsive support for growing businesses (CAD 895).
The specific scope of services for any engagement is confirmed in a written engagement letter issued prior to commencement. Services are available to clients located in Canada, with a primary focus on Atlantic Canadian businesses.
Client Responsibilities
To enable us to deliver accurate and timely services, clients agree to:
- Provide complete, accurate, and timely financial records and documentation as requested.
- Promptly notify us of any material changes to your business structure, ownership, or financial circumstances.
- Review draft returns and documents provided for your approval before submission deadlines.
- Use our website and communications channels for lawful purposes only.
- Not attempt to gain unauthorized access to our systems, software, or client data.
Rideau Sums relies on the accuracy of information provided by clients. We are not responsible for errors or omissions arising from incomplete or inaccurate information supplied to us.
Fees & Payment
Service fees are denominated in Canadian dollars (CAD) and are as set out in your engagement letter. Standard fees are:
- HST Compliance & FilingCAD 210
- Small Business Tax Preparation & FilingCAD 505
- Tax-Aware Business Growth AdvisoryCAD 895
Fees may vary for engagements of unusual complexity and will be discussed and confirmed in advance. Applicable taxes (HST) are additional where required by law.
Payment terms: Invoices are due within 14 days of issuance unless otherwise agreed in writing. We accept payment by electronic transfer or cheque.
Cancellations & Refunds: Work completed up to the point of cancellation is billable at the applicable rate. Fees for work not yet commenced are not charged. Refund requests for completed work are evaluated on a case-by-case basis at our discretion.
Intellectual Property
All content on the Rideau Sums website — including text, design, layout, and graphic elements — is the property of Rideau Sums and is protected by applicable Canadian intellectual property law. You may not reproduce, distribute, or use our website content for commercial purposes without written consent.
Reports, strategies, and written documents prepared specifically for your engagement are provided for your use in connection with the services rendered. These materials may not be represented as independently developed, shared publicly, or used to engage third parties in work that replicates our processes without prior agreement.
Financial records and source documents you provide remain your property at all times.
Confidentiality
We treat all client financial information as strictly confidential. We do not disclose client information to third parties except as required for the performance of services (e.g., CRA filings), as authorized by you, or as required by law.
We ask that you treat any methodologies, internal processes, or fee structures shared with you as confidential in kind.
Disclaimers
Our website content is provided for general informational purposes and does not constitute tax, legal, or financial advice applicable to your specific situation. Engaging our professional services is separate from reliance on website content.
Tax law is subject to change. While we make every effort to apply current rules and regulations, we cannot warrant that the outcome of any filing will meet specific expectations, as tax authority reviews and assessments are decisions of the CRA, not Rideau Sums.
Our website is provided on an "as available" basis. We do not warrant that the site will be continuously accessible or free from technical issues.
Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by Nova Scotia and Canadian law, Rideau Sums's liability for any claim arising from our services is limited to the fees paid for the specific service giving rise to the claim in the twelve months preceding the event.
We are not liable for indirect, consequential, incidental, or special damages, including lost profits or business opportunities, arising from any aspect of our services or the use of our website.
This limitation does not apply in cases of fraud, gross negligence, or where liability cannot be excluded under applicable law.
Termination
Either party may terminate an engagement by providing written notice. Rideau Sums reserves the right to decline or discontinue services where we determine a conflict of interest exists, where provided information is materially inaccurate, or where the engagement is no longer professionally appropriate.
Upon termination, fees for work completed to that point are payable. We will return your source documents and provide reasonable transition assistance.
Dispute Resolution
These Terms are governed by the laws of the Province of Nova Scotia and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein. Any dispute arising from these terms or our services will first be addressed through good-faith discussion between the parties.
If informal resolution is not reached within 30 days, either party may pursue mediation as a next step. Litigation, if required, will be conducted in the courts of Nova Scotia.
You may also contact the Chartered Professional Accountants of Nova Scotia if you have concerns about the conduct of our practice.
General Provisions
- Entire Agreement: These Terms, together with any engagement letter, constitute the entire agreement between the parties regarding the subject matter herein.
- Severability: If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions continue in full effect.
- Waiver: Failure to enforce any provision does not constitute a waiver of the right to enforce it in the future.
- Assignment: You may not assign your rights under these Terms without our written consent. We may assign our obligations in connection with a business transfer or restructuring.
- Notices: Formal notices should be delivered in writing by email to [email protected] or by mail to our registered address.
Changes to These Terms
We may revise these Terms from time to time. Material changes will be communicated to active clients by email with reasonable notice. The "Last Updated" date at the top of this page reflects the most recent revision.
Continued engagement with our services after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms. If you disagree with any revision, please contact us to discuss your options before the effective date.
Contact Information
For questions about these Terms, or to exercise any rights related to an engagement, please contact us:
Legal Enquiries
[email protected]Phone
+1 (902) 476-8312Address
1583 Barrington Street, Halifax, NS B3J 1Z7