CCPC and Unremitted Source Deductions

by Peggy
(Alberta, Canada)

CCPC Client Not Consistently Remitting Source Deductions

CCPC Client Not Consistently Remitting Source Deductions

I have a new client. It is a corporation with only one director/shareholder. This is the first year of operation. The year end is September 30.


I have been given 10 months worth of receipts. The owner-manager initially decided to do their own bookkeeping and payroll. Unfortunately advances were taken most months instead of payroll cheques that included source deductions. The owner-manager tried to backtrack and calculate the source deductions after the fact.

The amount of the advances were all different as well as the dates that they were taken. Only five source deductions have been remitted and I have not been provided all of the backup (yet) which would enable me to determine what is actually owed to CRA. I can't figure out how the owner-manager determined the amount of the source deductions.

This is my first time doing payroll so it's all new to me. I need some basic advice. I don't think I can say the pay periods were monthly because in some months 2 or 3 advances were taken. How do I determine the pay period frequency when the advance were so inconsistent? I'm using Simply Accounting, but none of the payroll has been posted yet.



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Hi Peggy,

Wow, this is not a great way to learn payroll. I am not familiar with Simply Accounting as I use QuickBooks ... but if this were me, I'd be tempted to do payroll manually so you can match what actually took place easily and quickly.

I'd start by using CRA's online payroll deductions calculator (PDOC). I'd input each advance into the PDOC to figure out the appropriate deductions. I wouldn't bother wasting my time trying to back into a net amount. I'd select 12 pay periods for this purpose and total all the advances made during a particular month to input into the PDOC.

Armed with this information, I'd then make a journal entry (using a payroll clearing account) to book the payroll bookkeeping entries in the applicable month. Then I'd record the advances paid (cheques issued, cash withdrawn, bank transfers made) with the offset to the payroll clearing account.

Are you with me so far? Using this method, you don't have
to try and figure out what was done. The clearing account will explain everything that happened. What's left is what is due to CRA.

I would back up the bookeeping entries with an Excel spreadsheet so you know how much to remit to CRA and what the payment owing is made up of. The amount should equal the balance in the payroll clearing if everything is done correctly.

There will likely be penalties and interest for late filing and payment; and a PIER report may also be issued ... but that can be dealt with when and if it happens.

With regards the payroll period, if there is an RC59 - Business Consent Form on file with CRA, you can call CRA (or go online if you have the proper access authorized) and ask what the payroll period is. Your remitter type is based on your AMWA. As this is the first year of operation, the remitter type assigned is probably monthly.

If this is the case, a PD7A should be completed and filed with CRA for each month, even if it is nil in any given month.

Follow the PIER link above to see how to deal with any over or under CPP payments. Remember too that owner-managers are NOT eligible for EI unless they have applied for the voluntary EI program.

For the current year, try to see if the owner-manager would be willing to take a regular, reasonable paycheque twice a month ... reasonable meaning one the company can sustain. If advances are needed, they can be tracked and deducted from the appropriate pay cheques just as you would with a regular employee.

I hope I haven't missed anything. Of course, I'm ignoring other remuneration options that may be available to owner-managers. Good luck and post back if you need further clarification on anything.




P.S. I would like to remind you there is a difference between information and advice. The general information provided in this post or on my site should not be construed as advice. You should not act or rely on this information without engaging professional advice specific to your situation prior to using this site content for any reason whatsoever.

Comments for CCPC and Unremitted Source Deductions

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Dec 14, 2011
 Source Deductions
by: Peggy

Thank you very much for your response. It helps a lot, but I have a few more questions.

What do you mean by a “payroll clearing account”? Do you mean just create a new account for this year just to sort everything out? If so, what type of account would it be; in the liability section or payroll expenses section?

When you say to file a PD7A form with CRA each month, I believe those are the pre-printed forms that are mailed to the client. Is that right? I’m not sure if the client has those forms (I’m still waiting for him to provide more documentation to me).

I was on CRA’s website and searched for PD7A and found information about the E-PD7A online form to allow the filings to be done online. However, the client’s bank is not listed as one of the banks that offers this service. Also I notice that the client would need to register for this service so I can’t do it for him. If the client does not have the PD7A forms that were sent to him each month, how do I go about filing them each month?



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Peggy,

Let's start with the PD7A. If you follow the link I provided above, I explain what to do when you don't have the PD7A ... and the form to use instead.

Also don't confuse My Payment with My Business Account. If your client isn't able to use My Payment, the payment can be done at the teller's wicket in branch, taken directly to a CRA office, mailed to CRA. Most banks have a paid service for filing and paying government reports online; which is another option.

A clearing account is just an account where you clear different sides of a transaction. The account should clear to zero if all the entries have been properly recorded. It's a type of internal control.

I setup my payroll clearing account as a bank account so I can easily reconcile it. Modify my How to Pay Employees with Cash instructions, which also uses a payroll clearing account, to your situation.
Dec 15, 2011
 Reconciling Payroll
by: Lake

Okay, I woke up today and re-read this post ...sometimes I just waaay overthink things! Sheesh.

Peggy, of course you could all of the above I suggested .... except .... use Simply Accounting's payroll module instead of PDOC eliminating the need for th Excel spreadsheet analysis. What was I thinking!!

Use 12 pay perieds and add all your advances for one month together and issue one pay cheque.

Still use the payroll clearing account to control the entries.
Dec 19, 2011
 Employee Advances
by: Anonymous

How long can employee advances be sitting on the books before they become a concern?

I accidentally left an employee advance sitting on the books since March of this year and completely forgot about it until seeing it now.

How should I remedy this?



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I'm not sure.

As much as it would be nice to clear it up before your fiscal year-end, if it is December, it might be hard on the employee.

I'd be tempted to explain the problem to the employee and work out a repayment plan (a payroll deduction) that accomodates both of you, particularly if it is a large amount.

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