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Liaison Officer Service - Canada

Liaison Officer Service

Last Update: January 17, 2025
Canada
Get free tax help for your small business

At a glance

Eligible Funding
  • No Condition
Timeline
  • Open Date : November 14, 2019
Financing Type
Expert Advice
Eligible Industries
  • All industries
Funds Providers
Unspecified
Program status
Open

Overview

Request in-person support and guidance at key moments in your business’ life cycle to help you understand and meet your tax obligations.

Activities funded

The Liaison Officer service offers small business owners and self-employed individuals in Canada the opportunity to receive personalized tax assistance and education on the Underused Housing Tax. Through personalized visits, seminars, and webinars, individuals can access confidential support to better understand their tax obligations.
  • Request a personalized visit from a Liaison Officer, available in person, by phone, or online.
  • Organize an in-person seminar or online webinar for groups or associations.
  • Gain insights into tax obligations, business deductions, and avoid common tax errors.
  • Learn about bookkeeping concepts, best practices, and online tools offered by the CRA.
  • Receive answers to tax-related questions and address concerns with a Liaison Officer.
  • Use Financial Performance Data to compare business revenues and expenses with industry standards.
  • Access educational webinars on the Underused Housing Tax, aimed at informing property owners about their obligations under this tax.
Examples of admissible projects:
$ 3,000
Host a seminar on tax compliance strategies for local businesses by FinanceCo-op
$ 2,000
Launch a series of educational webinars about tax obligations for small businesses
$ 2,500
Implement new bookkeeping software and employee training at EcoEnergy Solutions
$ 2,300
Upgrade accounting system and tax training for staff at Maple Leaf Grocers
$ 1,700
Enhance bookkeeping processes with new tools and training at GreenFarm Ltd
$ 1,000
Pilot workshop on bookkeeping improvements for artisans at CraftUnion Co-op

Eligibility

Eligibility for the Liaison Officer service and associated educational webinars is primarily centered on the type of business or individual seeking assistance.
  • Owners of small businesses and self-employed individuals are eligible for personalized support to understand tax obligations.
  • Groups and associations can organize in-person seminars or online webinars on tax topics including the Underused Housing Tax.
  • Owners of residential properties in Canada must determine if they are affected by the Underused Housing Tax to potentially benefit from related guidance.

Who is eligible?

The Liaison Officer service by the Canada Revenue Agency is designed to support owners of small businesses and self-employed individuals across Canada. The eligibility criteria for this service primarily include:- Owners of small businesses looking for guidance on understanding their tax obligations and improving their bookkeeping practices.- Self-employed individuals needing assistance with tax-related queries and bookkeeping recommendations.

Eligible expenses

The Liaison Officer service by the CRA provides small business owners and self-employed individuals with personalized tax support and educational resources. Eligible activities include personalized visits, seminars, webinars, and assistance with understanding new tax regulations such as the Underused Housing Tax.
  • Requesting a personalized visit from a Liaison Officer.
  • Organizing seminars or webinars for groups or associations.
  • Participating in free webinars on the Underused Housing Tax.
  • Receiving guidance on tax obligations and bookkeeping best practices.
  • Utilizing online tools and electronic services for tax management.

Eligible geographic areas

This service is available across Canada to help small business owners and self-employed individuals with their tax obligations. The support is intended to ensure businesses nationwide can benefit from the CRA's Liaison Officer service.
  • All provinces and territories in Canada.

Selection criteria

There are evaluation and selection criteria for this grant. The criteria include:
  • Determining eligibility based on owning a small business or being self-employed
  • Providing personalized support to understand tax obligations
  • Offering free educational webinars on the Underused Housing Tax
  • Assessment of potential benefits through the Liaison Officer service
  • Feedback and satisfaction surveys from participants

How to apply

1

Request a personalized visit or organize a seminar/webinar

  • Content: Choose between a personalized visit or organizing a seminar/webinar
  • Implications: Decide on the type of interaction you want with the Liaison Officer service
2

Interact with the Liaison Officer

  • Content: During the visit or seminar/webinar, liaisons officers will provide tax assistance, explain bookkeeping concepts, offer online tools overview, answer questions, and give recommendations.
  • Implications: Understand tax obligations, learn about deductions, avoid errors, improve bookkeeping, and strengthen your business operations.
3

Book your free liaison officer visit

  • Content: Click the "Request a Liaison Officer service" button to schedule a visit or seminar/webinar.
  • Implications: Initiate the process to receive free tax help and personalized support.

Additional information

Here are additional relevant details for this grant:
  • The Liaison Officer service's assistance is 100% confidential, ensuring that discussions are not shared within CRA or externally.
  • Since its inception in 2014, the service has aided over 94,000 small business owners.
  • An anonymous post-visit survey indicated a high satisfaction rate, with 97% finding it helpful for understanding tax obligations and 98% pleased with the assistance provided.
  • There are about 180 CRA liaison officers available across Canada to assist small business owners and the self-employed.
  • The service includes help with using the Financial Performance Data tool to benchmark business performance against industry standards.
  • Business owners can verify the authenticity of the service through specific caller identification measures as outlined.
  • New free webinars on the Underused Housing Tax are available, complementing personalized support services.

Documents and links

Liaison Officer Service

Apply to this program

Frequently Asked Questions about the Liaison Officer Service Program

Here are answers to the most common questions about the Liaison Officer Service. This section explains what the program is, how much funding is available, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and other important details to help you determine if this grant is right for your business.

What is the Liaison Officer Service?

How much funding can be received?

What is the deadline to apply?

Is the Liaison Officer Service a grant, loan, or tax credit?

Who are the financial supporters of the Liaison Officer Service?

Who is eligible for the Liaison Officer Service program?

Who can I contact for more information about the Liaison Officer Service?

Where is the Liaison Officer Service available?

Apply to this program

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