The Tax Chick Podcast

Meet the amazing tax professionals behind the Canadian Tax Foundation's Mississauga Young Practitioners (YP) group!

Many years ago, when I was a young tax practitioner looking to find community, I founded the Saskatoon YP group, and it had such a positive impact on my career.  The CTF YP groups exist across Canada and provide a community for early-career tax professionals looking to build their network, learn from peers, and grow their practice locally.

In this episode, members of the Mississauga YP Chapter share their diverse paths into tax, and explain how the YP program supports professionals just starting out.  Plus, we spotlight the upcoming Mississauga YP Event happening on Friday, October 30th... where I will be attending in person to co-present on the topic, "Trust Mechanics, Decoded"! 

RESOURCES DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE:

• Register for the October 30th event!

MORE ABOUT MY GUESTS TODAY:

• Gular Mammadova
• Shriyah Sadana
• Ashna Pahwa
• Sumit Garg
• Balaji Katlai

HERE ARE SOME OTHER WAYS TO CONNECT WITH ME:

• My website! 
• Email: [email protected]
• @tax.chick (IG) 
• LinkedIn
• Be a "Tax Chick VIP"

What happens when your beneficiaries live abroad, your executor resides in another country, or you own assets outside Canada?

In this episode, I explore the increasingly common world of international and non-resident estate planning. From foreign executors and overseas beneficiaries to Section 116 clearance certificates and unexpected tax residency issues, I walk through some of the key traps and planning opportunities that arise when estates cross borders.

If your family, assets, or advisors are located in more than one country, this episode is a great introduction to the issues you should be thinking about now rather than leaving for your executor to unravel later!

HERE ARE SOME OTHER WAYS TO CONNECT WITH ME:

• My website! 
• Email: [email protected]
• @tax.chick (IG) 
• LinkedIn
• Be a "Tax Chick VIP"

What happens when your family, assets, or beneficiaries are spread between Canada and the United Kingdom?

In this episode, I sit down with UK private client lawyer (and my STEP friend ;) Claire Weeks to unpack the estate planning and tax issues that arise when estates cross borders. We compare the Canadian and UK approaches to succession law, estate administration, and taxation at death, and explore some of the most common scenarios faced by families with connections to both countries.

We discuss the UK's inheritance tax regime, the recent shift from domicile-based taxation to the new long-term residency rules, and why gifts, trusts, and careful planning can have a significant impact on the ultimate tax bill.

Whether you are a Canadian with children living in the UK, a UK resident holding Canadian assets, or a professional advising cross-border families, this episode offers a practical introduction to the issues you need to consider.

MORE ABOUT MY GUEST TODAY:

• Maurice Turnor Gardner Website
• Claire - LinkedIn

HERE ARE SOME OTHER WAYS TO CONNECT WITH ME:

• My website! 
• Email: [email protected]
• @tax.chick (IG) 
• LinkedIn
• Be a "Tax Chick VIP"

Thinking about incorporating your business? You are not alone. It is one of the most common questions I get from entrepreneurs, professionals, and business owners.

In this episode, I break down the key differences between operating as a sole proprietor and running your business through a corporation. I discuss the tax concept of integration, when incorporation can create tax deferral opportunities, and some of the practical considerations that often get overlooked, including bookkeeping, banking, legal documentation, professional advisors, and the ongoing costs of maintaining a corporate structure.

Whether you're just starting a business or wondering if you have reached the point where incorporation makes sense, this episode will help you understand the questions you should be asking before taking the leap!

RELATED EPISODES:

• Season 2, Episode 7, "Should I incorporate? A candid conversation with business owner, Erin Romeo, about her journey to incorporation"
• Season 2, Episode 8, "Incorporation 101 - tackling some of the myths surrounding incorporation, with special guest Phil Guenther"
• Season 4, Episode 5, "Copyrights and Trademarks - a "tax adjacent" episode with special guest, Luanne Schlosser of Lunova Law"

HERE ARE SOME OTHER WAYS TO CONNECT WITH ME:

• My website! 
• Email: [email protected]
• @tax.chick (IG) 
• LinkedIn
• Be a "Tax Chick VIP"

I am joined by firm colleagues and future tax stars Nick Kane, Helia Soleimani, Frank Chou, and Savaria Sargsyan for a friendly battle of tax knowledge (and occasionally wild guesses). Together, we tackle trivia questions covering everything from bagel taxes and British candle taxes to cereal-box toys, beaver pelts, and tax-free jurisdictions.  Along the way, listeners will also learn what everyone wanted to be when they were 10 years old... and discover that not one of us planned on becoming a lawyer!

Want more tax trivia?  Check out last year's episode with Nick, Frank and Blake (Season 6, episode 10).

HERE ARE SOME OTHER WAYS TO CONNECT WITH ME:

• My website! 
• Email: [email protected]
• @tax.chick (IG) 
• LinkedIn
• Be a "Tax Chick VIP"

After a short break to rest and recover, I am back!  This episode is a quick catch-up on where I have been, what I have been working on, and what’s coming next on the podcast.

In early June, I was in Toronto for the STEP National Conference and Board Meetings... hands down one of the professional highlights of my year.  In this episode, I take you behind the scenes of the conference, share why STEP (the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners) has had such a profound impact on my career, and explain why the TEP designation matters (especially for clients with complex estate and cross-border considerations).

We also get into:

• How my practice has evolved toward complex, international estate planning
• Emerging issues in estates and trusts (think: electronic wills, cross-border families, surrogacy, and fraud risks)
• Highlights from the STEP conference (key sessions, incredible speakers, and the power of professional community)
• Mentorship, connection, and why building networks in this profession really matters

On the personal side, I share a bit about choosing rest over burnout, celebrating a major milestone with my articling student becoming a lawyer, and what’s ahead this summer (including travel and upcoming podcast episodes).

RESOURCES DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE:

• STEP Canada

HERE ARE SOME OTHER WAYS TO CONNECT WITH ME:

• My website! 
• Email: [email protected]
• @tax.chick (IG) 
• LinkedIn
• Be a "Tax Chick VIP"

In this episode, I sit down with tax educator and industry leader John Oakey for a refreshingly non-technical conversation about life inside the tax profession.

While John is well known for his deep technical expertise, this episode goes in a different direction.  We explore the real-world challenges tax practitioners face every day: competing demands, client expectations, time pressure, and the constant balancing act between doing great work and staying sane.  

This episode covers: 

• Why even the most seasoned tax professionals struggle with the non-technical side of the job... and how imposter syndrome lives within us
• Navigating uncertainty in tax while clients expect clear, confident answers, and the invisible weight of responsibility that comes with advising clients on high-stakes decisions
• How experience changes your perspective on workload, boundaries, and what really matters.
• There are so many different avenues and ways to practice tax.  John gives some advice for listeners on how to find out what will bring you the most joy!

Looking to get more involved in the tax community? John and I also share our favourite ways to give back to the community as tax practitioners. 

RESOURCES DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE:

• CTF Young Practitioners Groups
• CPA Canada
• Joint Committee CPA and CBA
• STEP Canada

MORE ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST:

• John Oakey - LinkedIn
• The AC Group

HERE ARE SOME OTHER WAYS TO CONNECT WITH ME:

• My website! 
• Email: [email protected]
• @tax.chick (IG) 
• LinkedIn
• Be a "Tax Chick VIP"

Being audited by the CRA can feel stressful, especially with audit activity on the rise. In this episode I walk through what a CRA audit actually looks like and what to do if you or your client receives an audit request, including: 
[2:00] How audits are triggered (including the difference between a full audit and a limited review)
[3:00] Limitation periods, and the basics of what to look for in an introduction letter
[5:10] what the CRA is entitled to ask for, and how to respond in a way that’s organized and strategic. 
[6:55] Common concerns about electronic records
[11:35] Solicitor‑client privilege
[16:05] Deadlines, and how audits typically come to an end.

This episode is for business owners, advisors, and anyone who wants to understand the audit process without panic.

RESOURCES DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE:

• Tax Lite
• CRA Info Bulletin on Audits   

HERE ARE SOME OTHER WAYS TO CONNECT WITH ME:

• My website! 
• Email: [email protected]
• @tax.chick (IG) 
• LinkedIn
• Be a "Tax Chick VIP"

Season 7 of The Tax Chick Podcast is here!

I started this podcast back in 2020 to help people understand the Canadian tax system in plain language. Six years later, I’m still here, still doing my own editing and producing, and still showing up because this podcast has a purpose.

In this short kickoff episode, I share why I make this podcast, what I discovered about my role in the tax community, and how that is shaping Season 7. This season is focused on practical tax education, real conversations with people working in tax, and continuing to make tax feel more human, accessible, and less overwhelming.

Whether you’re an advisor, a business owner, a student, or someone who’s ever thought “I just wish someone would explain this properly,” this podcast is for you.

Thanks so much for being here!

RESOURCES DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE:

• Here are some examples of people you should follow on LinkedIn to get up to date tax news:
  • Joseph Devaney
  • Caitlin Butler  
  • Hugh Neilson
  • Kenneth Keung
  • Adam Friedlan  
  • Ryan Minor
  • John Oakey  
  • Alex Klyguine

HERE ARE SOME OTHER WAYS TO CONNECT WITH ME:

• My website! 
• Email: [email protected]
• @tax.chick (IG) 
• LinkedIn
• Be a "Tax Chick VIP"

This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation with François Boileau, Canada’s Taxpayer Ombudsperson. In this episode, we continue our candid discussion about fairness in tax administration, CRA service delays, systemic challenges, and what meaningful change could look like for taxpayers and practitioners alike.

Together, we explore the realities facing taxpayers today, the pressures on the Ombudsperson’s office, and why this moment may be ripe for a broader national conversation about Canada’s tax system.  

In this episode, we discuss:

• [2:00] CRA standards of service and realistic timelines (what taxpayers can actually expect)
• [6:40] Complaint statistics and emerging trends seen by the Ombudsperson’s office
• [11:00] The Taxpayer Bill of Rights: what it is, what it isn’t, and how it’s used in practice
• [15:35] What keeps the Taxpayer Ombudsman up at night and the biggest challenges ahead
• [19:00] What gives reason for hope, including whether it’s time for a national discussion on taxation
• [23:00] Practical takeaways and advice for tax practitioners navigating today’s system

This episode is especially valuable for tax professionals, advisors, and anyone interested in how fairness, access, and accountability intersect within Canada’s tax system.

RESOURCES DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE:

• Taxpayer Bill of Rights
• Learn about Taxes (Resource) - if you are an educator looking for lesson plans, or educational support on the tax system, this website is an excellent resource!

MORE ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST:

• Meet the Ombudsperson!

HERE ARE SOME OTHER WAYS TO CONNECT WITH ME:

• My website! 
• Email: [email protected]
• @tax.chick (IG) 
• LinkedIn
• Be a "Tax Chick VIP"