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user97074
New Member

Borrowed money for legal and accounting advise to start two companies. What can I personally claim?

In the spring of 2014 I borrowed $3,000 and paid $2,000 to a lawyer and $1,000 to an accountant to set up 2 numbered companies and a family trust. (Numbers for demonstration purposes only). Neither company or family trust paid me anything, and are sitting idle. Am I able to claim the $3,000 as an expense on my personal tax? If so, where? What about the interest that I've paid on the money borrowed?

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Accepted Solutions

Borrowed money for legal and accounting advise to start two companies. What can I personally claim?

You cannot claim these expenses on your personal tax.  These are shareholder loans to your companies, and are outstanding debts of your companies.  Keep in mind that the companies must file corporation income tax each year as well as annual reports or they may be dissolved.  The interest paid also gets added to the shareholder loans which should be apportioned to each corporation. The costs of incorporation are added to the schedule 10s in the T2s and are depreciated rather than written off.

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2 Replies

Borrowed money for legal and accounting advise to start two companies. What can I personally claim?

You cannot claim these expenses on your personal tax.  These are shareholder loans to your companies, and are outstanding debts of your companies.  Keep in mind that the companies must file corporation income tax each year as well as annual reports or they may be dissolved.  The interest paid also gets added to the shareholder loans which should be apportioned to each corporation. The costs of incorporation are added to the schedule 10s in the T2s and are depreciated rather than written off.

user97074
New Member

Borrowed money for legal and accounting advise to start two companies. What can I personally claim?

Excellent answer. Thank you.