Norman MacDonald Asset Protection and Tax Law
Why Retain Norman MacDonald Over Other Lawyers?
Every law firm claims to have the most knowledge, the most skill, and the best lawyer for the job; but how do you know these claims are true? In many cases, law firms will fail to provide solid, factual evidence to prove that their services are exemplary, and oftentimes their success statistics will be vague. In other cases, firms will promise to have excellent service and reasonable rates, when in reality they pass their case to a student or junior and charge you excessively by the hour. But with the Law Offices of Norman MacDonald, there are three things that set us apart from other firms: Our firm has saved our clients millions of dollars, each case is handled personally by Mr. MacDonald himself, and we offer fixed fees instead of hourly rates.
Lawyer Norman MacDonald has over 20 years experience in civil and criminal litigation, corporate and commercial law, and international business law and dispute resolution. Norman MacDonald, J.D., LL.M. worked in corporate counsel positions in Europe for 6 years with international companies including BBC Worldwide, Ericsson, and Kumera Corporation. Whatever your case, our firm will be adequately experienced to offer you sound counsel and could be able to help you in any of the following areas:
Tax Law
Navigating the complexities of tax law requires deep knowledge and expertise. I offer comprehensive tax law services, addressing a wide range of tax-related issues including planning, compliance, and disputes. With years of experience and a proven track record, I provide personalized legal solutions tailored to your unique needs.
Tax Litigation
The way a tax dispute is presented in court varies from other forms of civil litigation. Any person proceeding with a tax dispute must first file a Notice of Appeal in the Tax Court of Canada. Then, depending on whether the amount in issue is CAD $12,000 or more, your case could be an Informal or General Procedure, and certain steps will have to be taken.
Tax Amnesty
If your taxes are past due, you may still be able to file late without excessive penalty or criminal prosecution. With proper legal representation, you could address the CRA to discuss and resolve your tax liability from past tax periods.
Tax Court
Aside from the CRA, you may need to bring your tax dispute before the Tax Court of Canada (TCC). The TCC is a superior court separate from any other department of the Government of Canada. Most appeals before the TCC are regarding income tax, goods and services tax (GST), and employment insurance.
Criminal Tax Defence
Some tax law cases can be considered a criminal offense and treated as such. The most common cases of criminal tax offenses include tax evasion, tax avoidance, and tax non-compliance. Our firm can help defend you in criminal tax cases.
Appealing Tax Assessments
Though the CRA is a powerful agency, their tax assessments can still be incorrect. If you believe that your tax assessment is faulty in some way, you have the right to file an objection, but you must do so within 90 days from the date of your Notice of Assessment. There are different forms you could use to file your objection, so be sure to study the options and to get legal advice for your situation.
Tax & Estate Planning
When it comes to your taxes and estate, you want to be sure that your assets are in good hands should something happen to you. Tax planning focuses mostly around life insurance and ensures that your family is secure in the case of your death. With estate planning, you ensure that all your property and personal finances will be placed in good hands and be well taken care of after your death.
Tax Audit
The CRA has three different tax review programs that they administer in order to promote awareness of and compliance with tax laws in Canada. The Pre-assessment Review Program is the most common and uses electronic means to review taxpayers’ returns before issuing the Notice of Assessment (NOA). The Processing Review Program is similar, but takes place after the NOA has been issued. The Matching Program also takes place after the issuing of the NOA, but the information in the notice is then compared with information provided by third-parties such as employers or financial institutions.
Penalty & Interest Relief
Many different penalties can be incurred during the taxation process. If you file for taxes after April 30, you may be liable for late-filing penalties. If you repeatedly fail to report your income taxes, you may have to pay a federal penalty, as well as a provincial/territorial penalty. Also, if necessary information you provide in filing for taxes is false or missing, you may be required to pay a penalty. Also, if you are late in filing for taxes, daily interest rates will be charged until you do so. These penalties and interest rates may be waived, however, with proper evidence and legal counsel.
Liens
There are two different kinds of creditors: Unsecured and secured. An unsecured creditor, also known as a general creditor, has a weak claim against their debtor, meaning that the debt may go unpaid. When a creditor is secured, they can claim interest in the debtor’s property to ensure the debt will be paid. These interests are known as liens. Regarding taxes, liens are placed against the debtor’s property by the CRA to secure payment for back taxes
Americans Living in Canada
Even if you are not Canadian citizen, you may be required to pay taxes depending on certain circumstances of your residency. The qualifications to be considered a non-resident for tax purposes include having no residential ties in Canada and staying in Canada for less than 183 days of a tax year. However, you may be a deemed resident and be required to pay taxes if you stay in Canada for 183 or more days in a tax year, have no significant residential ties with Canada, and are not a resident of any country under a tax treaty with Canada. If you are an American and each of these applies to you, you may be required to file for taxes in Canada, and certain regulations apply.
Estate Planning
Estate planning gives you many options in securing the future of your property and of your loved ones . To ensure that your property and finances fall into good hands after your death, you can designate the heir(s) to your property. You can also ensure the safety and care of your dependents by designating guardians for them and creating beneficiaries for your life insurance, Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) and/or the Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA). Estate planning also includes making funeral arrangements so you don’t burden your family with them should you happen to die unexpectedly.
Asset Protection
Protecting your assets is crucial to securing your financial future. I offer expert asset protection services, tailored to your unique needs. With my extensive experience and personal attention to your case, I develop strategies that safeguard your wealth and provide peace of mind.
Garnishments
A garnishment occurs when a creditor sues you for a debt and, if they believe you will not pay of your own accord, have the repayment be deducted directly out of your wages. Common cases for garnishment include child support, defaulted student loans, tax debts, and unpaid court fines. Such garnishments could be fought if you believe them to be unlawful.
Past-Due Returns
As you may be aware, the date by which all taxes must be filed is April 30. Should you file for taxes after this date-or not at all-your taxes will likely be considered past-due. As such, fines may be charged and interest rates may be applied until you do file. Also, if you fail to file at all, you may be charged with tax evasion and have to go to court unless you can come to a resolution with the CRA beforehand.
Meet Norman
Contact a Toronto Tax Lawyer Today
Why wait? The Law Offices of Norman MacDonald have the experience you need at a flat rate, and your case will be handled by Mr. MacDonald himself. Just like we have won back millions for our previous clients, we can win back what is rightfully yours. Don't hesitate—call us today!