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What are Fixed Fees and How can they Help Me?
When I am asked to help someone on a general hourly retainer, I often end up spending a great deal of time doing "non-legal" work for my clients, such as chasing information and documents from people and dealing with issues that are outside of the main issue for which they originally needed my help. Many clients like this kind of all round assistance and are willing to pay for my extra time in this regard. Others are not. They want to pay me for my legal work and for me to just file a particular application, such as a taxpayer relief request or to negotiate a payment plan. To accomodate these types of requests, I offer Fixed Fees to allow for an agreement where I agree to provide a specific service at a set cost. You get me the information I need and I write and file your application, the CRA makes a decision and the service is complete. If you later need additional help, we would set up a different retainer at a separate cost. This allows you to control the fees you pay and will provide greater savings than if I am tracking all of my work on your file by the hour.
What are the Fees?
| Notice of Objection | $2,750.00 plus HST |
| Taxpayer Relief Application | $1,750.00 plus HST |
| Voluntary Disclosure | $1,500 plus HST |
| Payment Arrangement | $875.00 plus HST |
Why do I offer Fixed Fees?
I hate tracking time on a file. I don't want to feel like every time I speak to a client I have to bill them. It is easier for me to just agree to undertake a specific task and then do it for you at a fixed fee. As these fixed fees are priced lower how long it normally takes me to complete a file on an hourly fee, you save money and I don't have to worry about tracking every minute of my day in pursuit of billable hours. It is a win win situation. That being said, not all issues that clients face are suitable for a fixed fee as they need more general help than a specific service. You need to call me so I can speak to you about your situation before I can commit to a fixed fee retainer.
What Cases are Eligible for Fixed Fees?
The more standard and predictable a case, the more likely it is I can do this for a fixed fee. If you are considering Court litigation, this can't be done on a fixed fee as so many cases settle part way through litigation. It would not be fair to charge you a fixed fee based on a full trial and then settle after two days. Some complicated Objections cannot be done through fixed fees as they span too many issues to address in one application or are waiting on the outcome of a test case, such as for charitable donations. That being said, if your situation seems straightforward, I would be happy to agree to a fixed fee to get you to the point where the CRA agent makes a final decision, even if this requires multiple submissions. You should be aware that for Objections and Taxpayer Relief Requests, the CRA can take over a year to review your case due to the workload they are currently facing. As a result, it may be some time before you know if your application is successful. Our retainer agreement would clearly set out what it is I will do and any estimated time frame so there is no confusion.
Do Fixed Fees Guarantee Results?
No. Tax law is unpredictable and for areas such as payment arrangements and taxpayer relief, the decision of the CRA is based on discretion and not on a clear legal position or precedent. As a result I do not offer services that are linked to the results achieved, commonly known as contingency fees. I always try my best to present the strongest possible case on behalf of my clients but sadly, I cannot guarantee the CRA's response will be in your favour or that your tax bill will decrease as a result.