Call:  905-272-9692                  Email: info@amfinancialgroup.ca

COVID-19

Registering for your MyCRA Account:

 

Please follow the link to register for your account with CRA:

https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/e-services/e-services-individuals/account-individuals.html 

 

Step 1 – Provide personal information

 

  1. Scroll down and look for "Option 2 – Using a CRA user ID and password"
  2. Then click CRA Register
  3. Enter your social insurance number.
  4. Enter your date of birth.
  5. Enter your current postal code or ZIP code.
  6. HRefer to your 2019 tax return and look for the line number that is being asked and enter that amount.
  7. Create a CRA user ID and password.
  8. Create your security questions and answers.

 

After you complete step one of the registration process, you will have access to some information in MyCRA, but not all.

 

To get full access you must wait for your CRA security code, which will come to you by mail within 5 to 10 business days after your registration is complete.

 

Step 2 – Enter the CRA security code

 

  1. To access your account, return to the MyCRA mobile app, select "CRA login", and enter your CRA user ID and password. When prompted, enter your CRA security code.
  2. You can also log into MyCRA mobile app with a Sign-in Partner. This option lets you log in with a user ID and password that you may already have, such as for online banking.

 

Please note: The govenment may add other benefits or provide more details on how to apply for them.

As such, we will continue to update this page as more information is provided regarding the emergency benefits.

     

    Applying for the CERB:

     

    Step 1 - Sign in to your MyCRA Account

    Step 2 - Click on "Apply for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit" for the old CERB benefit

     

    OR

     

    Call: 1-800-959-2019

     

    Applying for the CRB:

     

    Step 1 - Sign in to your MyCRA Account

    Step 2 - Click on "Apply for Canada Recovery Benefits" for the new CRB benefit

     

    For help in applying for the CRB, call 1-833-966-2099

    • Call the recovery benefit line for general information about:
      • CRB eligibility requirements
      • Payments amount for each period
      • How and when to apply
    • This phone line is for general benefit information only.

             

    BEFORE APPLYING FOR ANY BENEFITS, PLEASE READ THE CRITERIA AND ENSURE THAT YOU ARE ELIGIBLE
     

    Tax Deadlines

     

    • Individuals

      • For individuals, the return filing due date will be deferred until June 1, 2020.  

      • However, the Agency encourages individuals who expect to receive benefits under the GSTC or the Canada Child Benefit not to delay the filing of their return to ensure their entitlements for the 2020-21 benefit year are properly determined.

    • Corporations

      • "The Canada Revenue Agency will allow all businesses to defer, until after August 31, 2020, the payment of any income tax amounts that become owing on or after today and before September 2020.  This relief would apply to tax balances due, as well as instalments, under Part I of the Income Tax Act. No interest or penalties will accumulate on these amounts during this period.

      • The Canada Revenue Agency will not contact any small or medium (SME) businesses to initiate any post assessment GST/HST or Income Tax audits for the next four weeks. For the vast majority of businesses, the Canada Revenue Agency will temporarily suspend audit interaction with taxpayers and representatives." -- CRA

        • To support Canadian businesses in the current extraordinary circumstances, the Minister of National Revenue will extend until June 30, 2020 the time that

          • Monthly filers have to remit amounts collected for the February, March and April 2020 reporting period

          • Quarterly filers have to remit amounts collected for the January 1, 2020 through March 31, 2020 reporting period; and

          • Annual filers, whose GST/HST return or instalment are due in March, April or May 2020, have to remit amounts collected and owing for their previous fiscal year and instalments of GST/HST in respect of the filer’s current fiscal year.

            Businesses in need of information about their particular obligations may contact the Canada Revenue Agency or refer to its website.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Applying for Canadian Emergency Response Benefits

     

    CRA will start accepting applications on April 6. Prior to April 6, individuals who are without work and are eligible for EI can continue to apply for Employment Insurance.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Eligibility

     

    The benefit will be available to workers:

    • Residing in Canada, who are at least 15 years old;
    • Who have stopped working because of COVID-19 and have not voluntarily quit their job;
    • Who had income of at least $5,000 in 2019 or in the 12 months prior to the date of their application; and
    • Who are or expect to be without employment or self-employment income for at least 14 consecutive days in the initial four-week period. For subsequent benefit periods, they expect to have no employment income.
    • The Benefit is only available to individuals who stopped work as a result of reasons related to COVID-19. If you are looking for a job but haven’t stopped working because of COVID-19, you are not eligible for the Benefit.

     

    Eligibility for Individuals on EI

     

    • If you were eligible to Employment Insurance benefits that started before March 15, 2020, and these benefits end before October 3, 2020, you may then apply for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit if you meet the eligibility requirements, including that you have stopped work because of reasons related to COVID-19.
    • Frequently Asked Question:
      1. I have applied for Employment Insurance regular or sickness benefits, but my claim hasn’t been processed yet, do I need to reapply for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit? No.
        • If you became eligible for Employment Insurance prior to March 15th, your claim will be processed under the pre-existing Employment Insurance rules.
        • If you became eligible for EI regular or sickness benefits on March 15th or onward, your claim will be automatically processed through the Canada Emergency Response Benefit.
        • Service Canada is processing all of these claims as quickly as possible.
      2. If I would be entitled to more than the $500 per week under Employment Insurance, will I get the higher amount? No.
        • When you apply for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, you will receive $500 per week, regardless of what you may have been eligible to receive through Employment Insurance.
        • However, you retain your eligibility to receive for Employment Insurance after you stop receiving the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, and the period that you received the CERB does not impact your EI entitlement.
      3. If I am on special benefits such as maternity/parental am I eligible to apply for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit?
        • It is expected that you will return to work when you are finished collecting maternity/parental or other special benefits under the Employment Insurance Program.
        • If work is not available as a result of reasons related to COVID-19 upon conclusion of your maternity/parental leave, you may be eligible to apply for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit.

     

    Registering for Benefits

     

    Application for the Benefit will be available in April 2020, and require Canadians to attest that they meet the eligibility requirements. They will need to re-attest every two weeks to reconfirm their eligibility. Canadians will select one of three channels to apply for the Benefit:

    • By accessing it on their CRA MyAccount secure portal;
    • By accessing it from their secure My Service Canada Account; or
    • By calling a toll free number equipped with an automated application process.

    NOTE: You will need to provide your personal contact information, your Social Insurance Number and confirm that you meet the eligibility requirements. You may be asked to provide additional documentation to verify your eligibility at a future date.

     

    Emergency Disbursements

     

    1. Emergency Care Benefit

      • When will I get it: Early April

      • Temporary income support

      • $2,000 will be paid in blocks of four weeks. This is equivalent to $500 per week. A maximum 16 weeks of benefits can be paid.

      • The Benefit is taxable although tax will not be deducted at source. You will be expected to report the Benefit as income when you file your income tax for the 2020 tax year.

      • Apply online through My Account (CRA), My Service Canada Account, or Toll-free Automated Service

      • Applicable to self employed individuals staying at home and parents with children who require care or supervision due to school or daycare closures, and are unable to earn employment income, irrespective of whether they qualify for EI or not

    2. Emergency Support Benefit

      • When will I get it: Early April

      • Long-term income support

      • Apply online through My Account (CRA), My Service Canada Account, or Toll-free Automated Service

      • Workers not eligible for EI and who are facing unemployment

    3. GST Credit - For Low-Income Families

      • When will I get it: By Early May -- One time payment

      • Aproximately $400 for single individuals and close to $600 for couples will be provided -- allocation of benefit will be based off of your incom; for example, you may receive less than the $400 for single individuals and $600 for couples based on your family income

      • Will be applied automatically

    4. Enhanced Canada Child Benefit - For Low-Income Families

      • When will I get it: May -- One time payment

      • Will be applied automatically to your existing payments

      • If you receive the maximum child benefit ($6,639 per child under age 6 and to $5,602 per child age 6 - 17), a maximum of $300 per child will be added per child -- allocation of benefit will be based off of your income; for example, you may receive less than $300 based on your family income

    5. Temporary Business Wage Subsidy

      • When will I get it: Immediately

      • Will be applied at time of doing payroll remittance

      • 10% of payroll expenses per month (March 18 to June 20, 2020

     

    Avoiding Layoffs - Work-Sharing Program

     

    Extending the Work-Sharing program

    • CRA is extending the maximum duration of the Work-Sharing program from 38 weeks to 76 weeks.

    • The Work-Sharing program is offered to workers who agree to reduce their normal working hours because of developments beyond the control of their employers.

    • To determine eligibility and process of registeration, please visit: https://www.canada.ca/work-sharing/eligibility.html 

     

    OSAP Payments

     

    All OSAP payments will be suspended without interest accruing to borrowers until September 30th, 2020

    • Any payments made during this time will contribute entirely to the pricipal of your loan.

     

    Mortgage Deferrals

     

    Please contact your mortgage provider

    • Deferrals are being made on a case-by-case basis

     

    Emergency Benefits

     

    For those affected by the pandemic, the government is in the process of providing financial relief.

    • Self employed individuals

      • The applications for these benfits will be available April 2020

    • Salaried employees

      • Can apply for EI benefits if they are facing a temporary layoff by asking their employers for an ROE (Record of Employment) and then registering using the Service Canada website

    • Small businesses

      • May be eligible to receive a subsidy to cover 10% of payroll expenses per month.

        • Your are an eligible employer if you:

          • And pay salary, wages, bonuses, or other remuneration to an employee

          • Have an existing business number, payroll program account with the CRA on March 18, 2020

          • Are a non-profit organization, registered charity, or a Canadian-controlled private corporation (CCPC -- small business)

        • What is my business is closed?

          • If you did not pay salary, wages, bonuses, or other remuneration to an employee between March 18, 2020, and June 20, 2020, you cannot receive the subsidy, even if you are an eligible employer.

        • How much is the subsidy?

          • The subsidy is equal to 10% of the remuneration you pay between March 18, 2020, and June 20, 2020, up to $1,375 per employee and to a maximum of $25,000 total per employer. For example, if you have 5 employees, the maximum subsidy you can receive is $6,875 ($1,375 x 5 employees), even though the per employer maximum is $25,000.

        • How do I calculate the subsidy?

          • The subsidy must be calculated manually. For example, if you have 5 employees earning monthly salaries of $4,100 for a total monthly payroll of $20,500, the subsidy would be 10% of $20,500, or $2,050.

    • How will I receive the subsidy?

      • What if subsidies exceed the remittances?

        • If the income taxes you deduct are not sufficient to offset the value of the subsidy in a specific period, you can reduce future remittances to benefit from the subsidy. This includes reducing remittances that may fall outside of the application period for the wage subsidy (after June 20, 2020). For example: If you calculated a subsidy of $2,050 on remuneration paid between March 18, 2020, and June 20, 2020, but only deducted $1,050 of federal, provincial, or territorial income tax from your employees, you can reduce a future income tax remittance by $1,000, even if that remittance is in respect to remuneration paid after June 20, 2020.

      • When can I start reducing remittances?

        • You can start reducing remittances of federal, provincial, or territorial income tax in the first remittance period that includes remuneration paid between March 18, 2020, and June 20, 2020. For example, if you are a regular remitter, you can reduce your remittance that is due to the CRA on April 15, 2020.

      • Once you have calculated your subsidy, you can reduce your current remittance of federal, provincial, or territorial income tax that you send to the CRA by the amount of the subsidy. Important: You cannot reduce your remittance of Canada Pension Plan contributions or Employment Insurance premiums. For example, if you calculated a subsidy of $2,050, you would reduce your current remittance of federal, provincial, or territorial income tax by $2,050. You could continue reducing future income tax remittances, up to the maximum of $25,000, for all remuneration paid before June 20, 2020.

      • A separate subsidy for 75% of wages for qualifying businesses, for up to 3 months, retroactive to March 15, 2020. This will help businesses to keep and return workers to the payroll. More details on eligibility criteria will start with the impact of COVID-19 on sales, and will be shared before the end of the month.

        • Eligibility may be based on atleast a 30% decline in business due to COVID-19

      • To ensure that small businesses have access to the capital they need to see them through the current challenges, the Government of Canada is announcing the launch of the new Canada Emergency Business Account, which will be implemented by eligible financial institutions in cooperation with Export Development Canada (EDC).

        • The EDC will provide interest-free loans of up to $40,000 to small businesses and not-for-profits, to help cover their operating costs during a period where their revenues have been temporarily reduced, due to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 virus.

        • Small businesses and not-for-profits should contact their financial institution to apply for these loans.

        • To qualify, these organizations will need to demonstrate they paid between $50,000 to $1 million in total payroll in 2019. Repaying the balance of the loan on or before December 31, 2022 will result in loan forgiveness of 25 percent (up to $10,000).

     

      For more detailed news on emergency benefits please go to:

      Canada's COVID-19 Economic Response Plan Support For Canadians & Businesses

       

      Please stay tuned for updates as they become available.