Canadian tax lawyer David Rotfleisch Good Service Tax

TORONTO GST/HST LAWYER

Founding lawyer, David Rotfleisch is an expert in the realm of income tax law. You might say that income tax is David’s passion for David is not only a lawyer, he is a chartered professional accountant. He has helped start-up businesses, resident and non-resident business owners and corporations with their tax affairs, and over the years, he has assisted numerous corporations and individuals with simple and complex tax and estate planning matters as well as tax amnesty and tax litigation issues.

David’s second passion is technology, and with an extensive background in the computer and IT industry, David is especially adept at dealing with high-tech legal issues, such as software development and intellectual property.

He graduated from McGill University in 1975 with a Bachelor of Commerce Degree and became a chartered accountant in 1977. He then attended Osgoode Hall law School and was admitted to the Ontario bar in 1983. He founded the firm in 1987. He has published tax articles in professional magazines and in the popular press, radio and has appeared on Radio and Television.

Goods and Services/Harmonized Sales Tax (GST/HST) can be extremely complicated. Commodity taxes are often product specific and may vary by providence. They have their own unique laws and regulations that are separate and apart from general income tax rules.

Because of these important differences, having a Toronto lawyer who has experience with GST/HST is extremely beneficial if you are dealing with legal issues specific to GST/HST laws. The following items must be addressed under the umbrella of GST/HST regulations.

Proper planning and understanding of GST/HST tax issues are crucial to avoiding and minimizing potential penalties and other obligations related to business taxes.

Using Your Team of Toronto HST Lawyers

Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) is a consumption tax used throughout Canada. It combines provincial sales taxes and federal goods and service taxes into one value-added sales tax. It attempts to simplify and decrease administrative hurdles regarding various taxing entities throughout Canada.

The Canada Revenue Agency collects HST and then provides it back to the participating provinces.

Providences/territories that participate in HST include:

  • New Brunswick
  • Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Nova Scotia
  • Ontario
  • Prince Edward Island

If your business operates solely in Toronto, for example, then you will only need to collect the HST applicable to this area. However, if you have more than one location or you serve customers outside of Ontario, you must generally follow the tax structure in the Providence/territory in which those customers live.

Some smaller businesses are not required to participate in this program. However, they may want to because it provides an opportunity to take advantage of tax credits that might not otherwise be available.

Having an HST lawyer in Toronto who can provide advice and guidance regarding HST issues that affect your business can be extremely valuable. It helps you increase the potential for Input Tax Credits as well as increases the likelihood that your company is in full compliance with HST laws.

Accurately accounting for various issues surrounding GST/HST taxes can be a significant challenge for many business owners—and Goods Service Tax is an excellent resource to help you address these issues.

Ensuring Compliance by Working with a Toronto GST Lawyer

Not all provinces use the HST. Instead, they may use only the Goods and Service Tax (GST). There may also be a separate province-based tax as well. Provinces/territories that use only GST include:

  • Alberta
  • Northwest Territories
  • Nunavut
  • Yukon

In these areas, your company only needs to be concerned with collecting taxes for the GST.

The below provinces also have an additional province tax that you must collect and remit in addition to the GST. There is no streamlined combination between these taxes as there is in HST provinces/territories.

  • British Columbia
  • Manitoba all
  • Quebec
  • Saskatchewan

Unfortunately, you need to be aware of where your customer is located and the applicable tax laws in each area to ensure that you are collecting the right type and amount of taxes for each sale.

Even seemingly small mistakes can result in large tax obligations and other issues down the road, particularly in the event of a tax audit. A GST lawyer in Toronto can help you address concerns like these to ensure you comply with applicable tax laws.

HST/GST Lawyers Provide Insight on Business Tax Obligations

Both HST and GST taxes are established under the large umbrella of the Excise Tax Act. The Excise Tax Act (ETA) requires all businesses to collect a specific percentage of tax for each sale, regardless of whether the company is selling household products or services. However, some necessities are exempt from required taxes.

Exempt supplies will include things like:

  • Sale of housing that is used by individuals as a place of residence
  • Long-term rentals
  • Medical, health, and dental services performed by licensed professionals
  • Child care services provided to those under 14 years of age for less than 24 hours per day
  • Legal aid services
  • Domestic ferry services
  • Music lessons
  • Educational services
  • Services provided by most lending institutions
  • Insurance services

Although businesses may offer some of these services, companies may still be required to register and pay GST/HST if some of their services are not considered exempt. You may also want to register so you can claim Input Tax Credits (ITC). These credits offset the amounts that you must pay to acquire supplies to provide exempt goods and services.

Unfortunately, many business owners do not take full advantage of the ITCs that they are entitled to receive. The team of HST/GST lawyers at Goods Service Tax can help you reorganize to save money on this valuable tax savings over time

How a Toronto GST/HST Lawyer Can Help

Keeping up with all of the required tax obligations as a business owner is daunting. Having a tax lawyer who knows the GST/HST laws and requirements is extremely helpful.

General Tax Advice and Representation

An HST lawyer will provide general advice about collecting and remitting taxes. They can also represent you in the event of an audit or if an objection to tax obligations must be made. HST lawyers help with appeals at various levels of government as well, including to the Tax Court of Canada.

Tax Planning

Tax planning is a big part of compliance. This includes taking full advantage of rebates, credits, and other avenues for tax savings. A GST/HST lawyer can help with this type of planning. Tax services like this can save thousands of dollars over the life of your business.

Ongoing Compliance

The laws that apply to your business are constantly changing, even as cases are decided. A Toronto HST lawyer can help you ensure that you stay on top of developments and trends, so your business remains in compliance.

Creating a Relationship You Can Trust

Establishing a relationship with an HST/GST lawyer will give you the confidence you need to ensure that you can take on any tax issue that your business faces. A GST lawyer Toronto will provide a wide range of support, from help with audits to addressing ongoing tax obligations. Relying on an experienced attorney will help put your mind at ease—so you can focus on actually running your business. Contact a GST/HST lawyer today to get that relationship started.

Team of Canadian Tax Lawyers

KEVIN PERSAUD
KEVIN PERSAUD
Kevin earned his Juris Doctor from Osgoode Hall Law School and became an articling student in 2017. He has been with us as a tax lawyer since his call to the bar in 2018.
JACK WANG
JACK WANG
Jack started at our firm as a summer student and was called to the bar in 2021. He received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Ottawa law school and was awarded professor Vern Krishna’s scholarship for demonstrating strong academic standing and a genuine interest in Income Tax and Business Law.
ERIK KNOPF
ERIK KNOPF
Erik graduated from Queen’s University Faculty of Law as a member of the Dean’s Honour List. During his studies, Erik worked as a student caseworker for Queen’s Legal Aid and as an Associate Submissions Editor for Queen’s Law Journal.
NANCY LI
NANCY LI
Nancy recently graduated from the JD program at Osgoode Hall Law School. As an active member of the law school community, Nancy has participated in various Moot Competitions as well as student associations including Obiter Dicta, Osgoode Advocacy Society and CLASP.
JASON DOS ANJOS
JASON DOS ANJOS
Jason earned his undergraduate degree at Wilfrid Laurier University with a History and Classics Double Major with an English Minor and joined our team as a paralegal in 2018.
AMOL BHANGOO
AMOL BHANGOO
Amol Singh Bhangu joined our team as a paralegal in 2022, after graduating with his P1 paralegal license from LSO in March of 2021. Amol works on client tax files, dealing directly with the Canadian Revenue Agency and accountants.
EVGENIIA PREDANNYKOVA
EVGENIIA PREDANNYKOVA
Evgeniia Predannykova joined our tax law firm in 2023 shortly after graduation with a Honour specializing in Law Clerk studies from Centennial College. Her educational background includes a Master’s degree in Banking from the University of Ukraine.
DENISE TRIPP
DENISE TRIPP
Denise is our first responder who cheerfully answers the phones and generally interfaces with clients. She has been with us since 2016.
DANIELLE KUECHLER
DANIELLE KUECHLER
Danielle Joined our team in February of 2021. She is in charge of intake information. Danielle is ready willing and able to help anyone whether it be a client or other coworkers. She is an integral part of our support team.
SIMON LITHWICK
SIMON LITHWICK
Simon begun working at the firm as a summer student in 2023 and has returned as our articling student. Simon earned his Juris Doctor from Queen’s Faculty of Law and his MBA from Smith School of Business.
HOANG NGUYEN
HOANG NGUYEN
Hoang Viet Nguyen joined our team as an Articling Student in 2024. He earned his Juris Doctor from Osgoode Hall Law School and his MBA from Schulich School of Business. He also had a Bachelor of Business Management from Singapore Management University and a Bachelor of Laws from Ho Chi Minh University of Law. He had worked in market research and practiced law in private practice and in-house in Asia. In his spare time, Hoang loves reading and going outdoors.
ENCHANTÉE, GOODWILL AMBASSADOR
ENCHANTÉE, GOODWILL AMBASSADOR
The firm’s goodwill ambassador is Enchantée, a 12-year-old female Bichon Frisée. This dog breed is playful and has a sense of humour. They are great companion dogs. She is very well trained and fully bilingual in English and French.

She enjoys eating, mooching, begging for food, and raiding targets of opportunity: garbage bins.

GAAR-FIELD, TAX FAIRNESS DEFENDER
GAAR-FIELD, TAX FAIRNESS DEFENDER
One of the benefits of being a boutique Canadian tax law firm is being able to have a very different Reception Area. One corner is occupied by GAAR-field, our tax office’s reptile. The other well-known Garfield, of course, is the orange, smart-aleck cartoon cat who loves to fall face-first into every lasagna he meets.

Our GAAR-field is a 5-year-old male Bearded Dragon. His name is an “inside tax joke” and refers to the General Anti-Avoidance Rule (GAAR) of Canada’s Income Tax Act.