Personal Income Tax Services

Personal income tax return completion is more than filling out a return. For many individuals and families, it connects directly to business income, investments, and long-term financial decisions.

At Creekside Accounting, we provide personal income tax services for individuals, families, and business owners in Kelowna and the surrounding Okanagan area. Our focus is on accurate filings, clear explanations, and ensuring your personal tax return reflects your full financial picture.

This service is designed for clients who value correctness, clarity, and professional support.

Many clients come to us after experiencing:

• Unexpected tax balances owing
   
• Confusion around slips, deductions, or credits
   
• Missed opportunities due to lack of coordination
   
• Stress around CRA correspondence
   

Our role is to ensure your personal tax return is prepared accurately and reviewed with context, so there are no surprises and no unanswered questions.

Our personal income tax services may include:

• Preparation and filing of personal income tax returns (T1)
   
• Review of employment, investment, and other income sources
   
• Reporting of business or self-employment income
   
• Rental property income and expense reporting
   
• Review of deductions and available tax credits
   
• Coordination with corporate tax filings for business owners
   
• CRA audit risk considerations and recommendations 

• Guidance on instalments and tax balances owing
   

We focus on getting it right, not rushing it through.

For business owners, personal income tax does not stand alone.

Owner compensation, dividends, shareholder loans, and cash positions all affect your personal return. When personal and business tax filings are not coordinated, tax outcomes can become unpredictable.

For clients who operate through a corporation or earn business income, we ensure personal tax filings align with:

• Corporate tax planning
   
• Salary and dividend strategies
   
• Financial statements and bookkeeping
   
• Long-term planning decisions
   

This coordination reduces surprises and improves confidence in your overall tax position.

This service is a good fit if you:

• Want accurate, professionally prepared personal tax returns
   
• Have multiple income sources or complexity
   
• Own a business or receive business income
   
• Value clear explanations and support
   
• Want confidence when dealing with CRA
   

We work with individuals, families, and business owners who want their tax return handled properly.

This service may not be the right fit if you:

• Are looking for the lowest-cost, walk-in tax filing
   
• Want same-day or instant returns without review
   
• Prefer self-filing with no professional involvement
   
• Are seeking aggressive or non-compliant tax strategies
   

Our approach prioritizes accuracy, compliance, and long-term clarity.

Each year, we prepare and file a high volume of personal income tax returns for individuals and business owners. This experience gives us a strong understanding of CRA requirements, common risk areas, and how different income sources affect your return.

To ensure accuracy, consistency, and clear communication, we follow a structured, multi-step process for every personal income tax:

• Step 1: Complete and Intake/Update Forms - New clients will need to complete our intake forms and undergo our client onboarding processes to become a validated Creekside Accounting client. Returning clients can complete an update form to ensure all important tax details are up to date. 

• Step 2: Review our Checklist & Provide Your Info - We have checklists available on our website to help you gather all of the information needed to prepare your personal income tax return. Reviewing our checklist ensures your income tax return is completed more quickly and with less inquiry emails and follow up phone calls. Next you can provide your information. 

• Step 3: We'll Confirm Your Documents Have Been Received - Once you provide your documents you'll receive a thank you email from our administrative assistance letting you know that your info has been received and your tax return is underway. 

• Step 4: We'll ask for information (a lot of information) - Emails, phone calls, and inquiries can all be expected. This is us reviewing your tax documents, looking for additional write-offs and analyzing your tax risks. This process can take anywhere from 1 day to 2 weeks depending on your response time and the information you provided up front. This step is crucial to ensure your personal income tax return is completed accurately. 

• Step 5: First Review - Your personal income tax return will be reviewed by one of our experienced tax preparers or by a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) depending on its complexity. They'll review all of the information you've been providing and see if gaps still exist and if there are any tax planning options or audit risks that need to be assessed. 

• Step 6: More Info Please - Your dedicated income tax preparer will contact you for more information after your file has received is 1st experienced tax preparer or Chartered Professional Accountant review. 

• Step 7: Second CPA Review -  Your corporate income tax return is then reviewed a second time by our Chartered Professional Accountant. This ensures your information is accurate based on the information you provided. 

• Step 8: CPA Recommendations & Drafts For Your Review - If no further information is needed a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) will email you with a draft summary of your personal income tax return and send you a list of recommendations. 

• Step 9: Wrapping Up - If you are happy with your personal income tax return you'll sign your e-signature package and pay your invoice and have your income tax return e-filed. Once signed and paid we'll e-file your personal income tax return. 

While the process involves several steps, our role is to manage the details and keep everything moving smoothly. We will guide you through each stage, communicate clearly by email, and follow a documented workflow to ensure nothing is missed.

Our goal is to make the personal income tax process straightforward, organized, and predictable for you.

Don't miss your tax filing deadline!

Most personal income tax returns are due April 30th. To ensure you have lots of time for tax planning and audit risk reduction, find an accountant from July to December. 

Most unincorporated small business income tax returns are due June 15th although taxes must be paid by April 30th to avoid interest. March is a great time or mid-May to ensure your tax obligations are met. 

Many personal tax clients also work with us for their business accounting and tax needs:

• Corporate tax services
   
• Tax planning and advisory for business owners
   
• Corporate accounting and financial statements
   
• Ongoing bookkeeping support
   

This integrated approach ensures consistency and reduces the risk of errors or misalignment.

If you are looking for professional personal income tax support with clear communication and accurate filings, the next step is to begin your new client onboarding.