Julie Van Wagner dba JJ Enterprises
549 Grey St N6B 1H6 London, ON, Canada

CERB Expansion!! Great news for all part timers! Retroactive to March 15, the CERB is now available to those making less than $1,000/mo and those whose EI benefits have run out and cannot return to work due to COVID. Apply online via CRA My Account per previous posts.

Investing - what to do during all this market volatility? Short story: don't sell anything! Even though the article is UK-based, the advice is sound globally. Hold. Wait. Maybe buy if you've got spare cash kicking around. https://www.goodhousekeeping.com//a32183674/coronavirus-i/

BEWARE OF SCAMS. Not only around CERB (which is still vague on execution/application let alone close to sending anyone money), but also EI. Don't give out your personal information via text or email, and doubt/interrogate callers who ask for it. Stay safe people. https://www.cbc.ca//phishing-messages-surge-coronavirus-1.

FYI: Here is what I could find regarding COVID benefits being offered by the Canadian government to those who can't work. If you are employed and laid off or unable to make money due to closure or illness, apply for EI. I understand they are waiving the Record of Employment requirement and shortening the wait time, but don't quote me on that. Apply online and beware of phone scammers. If you are NOT eligible for EI and are out of work, there is what they are now calling the... Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB). An online portal is promised for early April (no specific date yet) from which to apply and they claim money will flow within ten days and pay out monthly after that. The latest I can find on what's available is up to $2,000/mo for up to 4mos - I expect how much each individual is eligible for will be based on income and that it'll follow the EI formula, i.e., what you made in the 24 weeks before March 15 x some % to the two grand cap. Nothing available yet on what details/documents will be required or what the formula actually is. Here's are a couple of really good overview articles: https://www.cbc.ca//trudeau-income-supports-covid19-1.5509 https://www.theglobeandmail.com//article-how-to-apply-for/

The income tax deadline for filing has been extended to June 1st and if you owe, the deadline to pay has been extended to July 31st. FYI https://nationalpost.com//government-extends-tax-deadline-

In consideration of client self-isolation, depending on the complexity of your information/situation, it is possible to do income tax returns remotely via scanning/emailing your slips, receipts, etc., or even sending them to me snail mail. And even though I have no symptoms at all, I have also set up a drop box by my apartment door for those who don't wish to come in. Be safe, but file. :)

EI for the Self-Employed. I get asked quite a bit about this, generally around maternity leave for those thinking of starting a family. Here is a really good article laying out the pros & cons. Bottom line: do the math. FYI, the EI rate for 2019 was 1.62% of Net Income. https://www.cbc.ca//taxes/ei-for-the-self-employed-1.977064

Part-time & Seasonal workers now eligible for CERB plus a bunch of others who didn't initially qualify. Full details re formulae and the application process are not yet released, but expect to see them soon. Stay tuned!

Find the COVID benefits available to you! This is a great little tool to see what you're entitled to and how to get it. Pass it on! https://newsinteractives.cbc.ca/coronavirusbenefits/

CERB Application Update: Ok, so you DO have to have a CRA My Account to apply. You can also call them at 1-800-959-2019/-2041. Expect HUGE wait times, if you can even get through. If you already have a My Account, log in and click on the Apply button right at the top of the home screen. If you haven't already, you should sign up for direct deposit first to get your $ faster - CERB, refunds, HST/Trillium benefits, etc. You will need your bank transfer info - institution #..., branch/transit # and account # (what would be printed at the bottom of a cheque). From the home screen, on the right side, click Arrange my direct deposit. If you don't, you need to register. You will need your last filed tax return handy as they will ask for a # from a specific line. They still snail mail a security code to the address on file to complete the process BUT to apply for CERB in My Account the security code is not required. "You will be able to apply for this benefit at the end of the registration process." Note, until you get the security code in the mail and confirm it online, you cannot set up direct deposit. Please remember your day of the week to apply based on your birthday: Jan-Feb-Mar: Monday Apr-May-June: Tuesday July-Aug-Sept: Wednesday Oct-Nov-Dec: Thursday Any/all: Friday, Saturday, Sunday

Update: the 14-day rule only applies to the first period. The next ones will be no income at all for all four weeks. ~J CERB Update: See either/both of the links at the bottom for more information/greater detail. This post is intended as a summary of what I think are the most salient points. *Applications: It is still super confusing how applying will work - the CRA website still says it is either via your CRA My Account (which not everyone has and the process to get one... is archaic and takes a few weeks) or by telephone, but all the articles I'm reading say there will be a portal which will be managed by the CRA. So maybe they're streamlining the existing set-up process? No idea. We won't know for sure until Monday. They are very clear on which days of the week you are allowed to apply though. See first link below. *Criteria: As of yesterday, the main criteria to qualify is that you would have been making $, but made none at all for at least 14 consecutive days within the 4-week reporting period (the first of which is March 15 - April 12) as a result of COVID. If you qualify (and it's entirely honour-based - you confirm that you qualify likely by clicking a button), you get two grand, a set amount for everyone. You re-apply every 4 weeks and re-affirm you still meet the criteria for the new period. There is currently *no benefit* to be had for those with decreased earnings, those who were already out of work, those who quit their job, or those whose future employment prospects are now gone. Many folks in those situations are complaining to their MPs so it's possible that may change, but for now it's just those with no income at all that get it. https://www.canada.ca//benef/apply-for-cerb-with-cra.html https://globalnews.ca//ei-for-covid-19-what-we-know-so-fa/

HST Deferrals: HST 2020-Q1 instalment payments, which would normally be due by April 30th, have been deferred to June 30th. Ditto balances owing for 2019. The deadline for filing (annual filers) your HST return remains June 15th as of yesterday. FYI and pass it on.