Secker Ross & Perry LLP
4 Cataraqui Street, Suite 300 K7K 1Z7 Kingston, ON, Canada

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been working hard to ensure the safety of our staff, while still addressing our clients’ tax filing requirements. To assist with sending us tax filing documents, our clients can do so either through our online client portal or by placing any hard copy documents in our dedicated client drop box outside our building. This box is next to the bench at the main entrance on Cataraqui Street and is clearly marked Secker Ross & Perry ...LLP. It is emptied by us multiple times throughout the day. We ask that, for the protection of your own documents, they be enclosed in a sealed envelope. For delivery of your 2019 personal tax returns when completed, we can do so electronically through our client portal, by courier through our dedicated delivery service or, if required, you can attend our office at a prescheduled time to pick up your tax return and any other documents. Our office is observing all physical distancing protocols that are currently being followed in the broader community. The filing deadline for your personal tax return(s) is June 1, 2020. To ensure we can complete your return(s) by then, we ask that your information is provided to us by May 11, 2020. Any tax payments in respect of the 2019 year that are due after March 18, 2020 and before September 1, 2020 are not required to be paid to CRA until September 1, 2020. Thank you for your business and your understanding and co-operation in these usual times.

The following is a brief update for our clients regarding our office polices related to the COVID-19 pandemic. In an effort to continue to make our work environment safe for our employees and clients, we have adopted the additional following policies and procedures: Our office is closed to clients and our employees are working remotely.... For now, we can accept hardcopy documents, however only between 9:00 am - 10:00 am and between 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm, Monday to Friday. Someone will be available at the main entrance to our building to collect your information, however we ask that you please have all of your documents contained in a separate envelope/folder and clearly labelled. We will be following strict social distancing procedures and will not be handling documents for a period of 48 hours. We will only be delivering documents (including tax returns) to clients digitally or by mail. To access our secure portal for document sharing, please email us at [email protected]. We will attempt to continue to update you on our office polices, however please note that they are subject to change as we continue to monitor the situation and the public health authorities’ guidelines. We wish everyone good health as we navigate these very difficult times.

Good Morning Clients, Due the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we have just been notified that the exterior doors of our building, The Woolen Mill, will be locked indefinitely to external visitors. Our office remains open with a skeleton staff on-site. At the moment, clients can still pick up and drop off documents, however, you will need to call our office when you arrive at The Woolen Mill and someone will meet you at an exterior door. The phone number is 613-544-1517 (the num...ber is also posted on the exterior doors of our building). Please ensure your contact information is noted clearly on any documents you drop off. We again strongly encourage clients to use our secure portal if at all possible. To obtain access to the portal, please email us at [email protected]. As noted in our email yesterday, the CRA extended the personal tax deadline until June 1st and there were no extensions to corporate deadlines. Due to the ongoing uncertainty and constant changes to our work environment, we recommend that you deliver documents to us as soon as possible in an effort to help you meet all filing deadlines.

On Wednesday, March 18, the Federal Government introduced some new measures to temporarily assist business owners and individuals experiencing financial hardship during the COVID-19 outbreak. More details can be found on the Government of Canada website, however, below is a summary of some of the significant income tax measures. Corporations... -There are currently no proposed changes to any filing deadlines. -However, businesses may defer all income tax payments until after August 31, 2020 and avoid late penalties and interest. This includes any income tax (including instalments) that were due on or after today and before September 2020. Note that this deferral does not appear to apply to other tax payments such as HST or payroll source deductions. Individuals -The personal tax return filing deadline has been extended until June 1, 2020. -Individuals may defer all income tax payments until after August 31, 2020 and avoid any late filing penalties or interest provided their tax return is filed by June 1, 2020. This includes any income tax (including instalments) that were due on or after today and before September 2020. Note that this deferral does not appear to apply to other tax payments such as HST or payroll source deductions. -An enhanced GST credit and Canada Child Benefit has been proposed. -Required minimum withdrawals from RRIFs will be reduced by 25% for 2020. Although these measures will provide some relief in terms of extensions to filing and payment deadlines, we strongly recommend that business owners, in particular, still attempt to meet their regular filing deadlines if possible. Our offices remain open at this time, however, many of our employees are now working remotely and we strongly encourage clients to use our secure portal to deliver information electronically if possible. Please contact us at [email protected] if you would like instructions to access our portal.

As concerns over COVID-19 continue to increase, we have introduced temporary policies to protect our clients and employees while at the same time making every effort to minimize interruptions to the delivery of services to our clients. One of our policy changes includes the introduction of significant restrictions on face-to-face meetings with clients. All of our professional staff are being asked to communicate with clients using telephone or video conferencing wherever poss...ible. This is an extremely busy time of year for us and we have many clients visiting our office to deliver tax information and pick up and sign tax returns. As a result, we encourage you to consider taking advantage of our secure portal which provides a very easy-to-use method to deliver information digitally. If you are interested in receiving instructions to access our portal, please email us at [email protected]. The health and safety of our clients and employees is our top priority. All of the actions we are undertaking are being guided by the advice of Canadian public health authorities. If you have any questions on our policies, please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected].

Getting in the Halloween spirit with a costume contest at SRP!