Tax & Accounting Glossary

Browse 161 Tax & Accounting Terms

Clear, CRA-accurate definitions to help you understand your taxes and finances.

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Terms starting with a

Accounts PayableAccounts ReceivableAccrual AccountingAccrued LiabilitiesAccumulated DepreciationAdjusted Cost Base (ACB)Adjusting EntryAllowance for Doubtful AccountsAmortizationAngel InvestorArticles of IncorporationAssetAttribution Rules

Terms starting with b

Bad DebtBalance SheetBasic Personal AmountBeneficial OwnerBookkeepingBreak-Even PointBurn RateBusiness Number (BN)

Terms starting with c

Canada Pension Plan (CPP)Canadian-Controlled Private Corporation (CCPC)Capital Cost Allowance (CCA)Capital Dividend Account (CDA)Capital Expenditure (CapEx)Capital GainCapital LossCash FlowChart of AccountsClearance CertificateCollateralContra AccountCorporate BylawsCorporate TaxCost of Goods Sold (COGS)CRA AuditCredit NoteCurrent Ratio

Terms starting with d

Debt-to-Equity RatioDeemed DispositionDeferred RevenueDeferred TaxDeparture TaxDepreciationDirectorDividendDividend Tax CreditDouble-Entry Bookkeeping

Terms starting with e

EBITDAEligible DividendEmployer Health Tax (EHT)Employment Insurance (EI)EquityEstate FreezeExempt SupplyExpense

Terms starting with f

Fair Market Value (FMV)Financial StatementsFiscal YearFixed AssetFixed CostForeign Tax Credit

Terms starting with g

General LedgerGoodwillGross MarginGross PayGross-UpGST/HST

Terms starting with h

Holding Company

Terms starting with i

Income StatementIncorporationInput Tax Credit (ITC)InstalmentInventoryInvoice

Terms starting with j

Journal Entry

Terms starting with l

LiabilityLifetime Capital Gains Exemption (LCGE)Line of CreditLiquidity

Terms starting with m

Marginal Tax RateMedical Expense Tax CreditMinute Book

Terms starting with n

Net Book ValueNet IncomeNet PayNon-Capital LossNon-Eligible DividendNotice of Assessment (NOA)Notice of ObjectionNotice to Reader (NTR)

Terms starting with o

Operating Expense (OpEx)OverheadOwner's Draw

Terms starting with p

Paid-Up CapitalPassive IncomePayrollPersonal Services Business (PSB)Petty CashPlace of SupplyPrepaid ExpensePrescribed-Rate LoanPrincipal Residence ExemptionProvincial Sales Tax (PST)

Terms starting with q

Quick MethodQuick Ratio

Terms starting with r

ReassessmentRecaptureReconciliationRecord of Employment (ROE)Refundable Dividend Tax on Hand (RDTOH)Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP)Related PartyRemittanceRetained EarningsReturn on Investment (ROI)RevenueRRSPRunway

Terms starting with s

SalaryShare CapitalShareholder AgreementShareholder LoanSmall Business CorporationSmall Business Deduction (SBD)Sole ProprietorshipSolvencySource DeductionsStatement of Cash FlowsStatutory Holiday PayStraight-Line DepreciationSuperficial Loss

Terms starting with t

T1 ReturnT2 ReturnT2125 StatementT3 SlipT3 Trust ReturnT4 SlipT4A SlipT5 SlipT5013 Partnership ReturnTax on Split Income (TOSI)Taxable BenefitTaxable IncomeTaxable SupplyTerm LoanTerminal LossTFSATrial Balance

Terms starting with u

Undepreciated Capital Cost (UCC)

Terms starting with v

Vacation PayVariable CostVenture CapitalVoluntary Disclosures Program (VDP)

Terms starting with w

Withholding TaxWork in Progress (WIP)Workers' Compensation (WSIB)Working CapitalWrite-Off

Terms starting with z

Zero-Rated Supply
Udit Gupta, founder of Tax Filings Canada

Reviewed and fact-checked by Udit Gupta

Ex Big 4 — Ernst & Young, Deloitte · International & cross-border tax specialist · CPA Canada (In-Depth Tax Program) · Chartered accountant, ICAI & MIA

Udit Gupta has over 15 years of experience helping corporations and business owners with corporate structuring, corporate tax filing, bookkeeping, payroll, GST/HST, cross-border tax and CRA representation. Big 4 trained at Ernst & Young and Deloitte, and qualified as a chartered accountant in India and again in Malaysia, he founded his accounting practice in 2014 to serve entrepreneurs, startups and non-resident business owners across Canada. View full member bio.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India — member 521458 · Malaysian Institute of Accountants — member CA 44667 · Ex Big 4: Ernst & Young, Deloitte · CPA Canada (In-Depth Tax Program), completed 19 Dec 2023 · In-Depth GST/HST Part I, 12 Jul 2022 · Part II, 5 Jul 2023

Editorial policy. Every page is researched against primary sources — the Income Tax Act, CRA publications and CPA Canada guidance — and every rate or threshold is stated with the tax year it applies to.

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