Chapter 2 notes Flashcards
what are the types of business organizations
- sole proprietorships 2. partnerships - LLP 3. Trusts - income and royalty trusts 4. corporations
what are the different types of trusts
- income trusts 2. royalty trusts
what is the nature of the business for a sole proprietorship?
- a business owned and operated by one person - legally inseparable form the person who owns and operate the business - reports income , both gross and net, on personal income tax returns - net business income is taxed at the person’s marginal tax rate
how does a sole proprietorship get financing
- limited to the resources of the individual owning and operating the business and their personal capacity to borrow
how is a sole proprietorship set up /; operated
- business records must be maintained for reporting to CRA - owners may wish or, depending on the type of the business and jurisdiction, be required to register with the provincial gov - if employing persons, the owner must obtain an employer number, deduct and remit income taxes as well as make employer contributions to CPP and EI
what are the advantages to sole proprietorship
- easy to start 2. little formality, but business records must be maintained
what are the disadvantages to a sole proprietorship
- unlimited legal liability! 2. net income is taxed at the personal marginal tax rate 3. financing is limited to the resources of the owner 4. the life of the enterprise is limited to the working life of the sole proprietor
What is the nature of the business for a partnership
- involves two or more partners 2. must have at least one general partner, who has unlimited legal liability for the activities of the business, 3. while all other partners are referred to as limited partners and have LIMITED LEAGAL LIABILITY
how does a partnership get financing
- a function of the combined resources of the partners - can attract additional resources through limited partner contributions
what is the formality for a partnership
- must be registered under provincial partnership legislation 2. should be formalized through a partnership agreement outlining partner responsibilities, how partners invest and divest of the business, and the division of net business income
explain limited liability partnerships
a new form of organization for professional firms, commonly used by Canadian legal and accounting firms, that limits the liability of partners - the income of partners is included as ordinary income and filed using an individual tax return
what is important about partnerships and used for tax purposes
limited partners are often able to use unused non-cash deductions such as depreciation and /or business loses to offset personal tax liabilities
What is a general partner
- there must be one general partner, which is responsible for operating the business and has unlimited legal liability - often the general partner is a corporation
what is the limited partner
- passive (or silent) investor - contribute money to the business; share in the profits
what are the advantages to a partnership
- harnesses the combined talents and energies of all the partners 2. potential for grater combined financial resources of the partners 3. spreads liability across the partners (jointly and severally)
what are the disadvantages of a partnership
- income is taxed at the individual’s marginal rate 2. governed by provincial partnership legislation and often requires a formal partnership agreement 3. unlimited legal liability 4. non-partnership business arrangements can be deemed partnerships under Canadian law 5. it can be legally challenging to disassociate oneself form and /or dissolve a partnership arrangement
What is the nature of the business for Trusts?
- trusts are used to separate ownership from control - controlled by a trustee in accordance with trust documents for the benefit of the named beneficiary(Ies)
what are some examples of trusts
- inter vivos and testamentary trusts for estate and tax planning 2. open-ended mutual funds organized as unit trusts 3. many corporations have restricted themselves as income and royalty trusts
what is the formality for trusts
- established through a formal trust agreement naming trustee and beneficiary(ies)
What is the nature of the business for trusts
- invest in both the debt and shares of one company in order to function as a pass-through entity - net cash flows form the business operations of the company pass through the trust without taxation
what is the purpose and structure of trusts
- to minimize the income tax payable on the cash flows generated by the underlying business so that more cash flow passes to the trust’s unit holders than through a traditional common stock investment
what are the advantages to trusts
- funds flowing through the trust are not subject to income tax 2. separates ownership and control
what are the disadvantages of trusts
- governance structure may only be appropriate for well established firms with little further needs for capital investments
What is the nature of business for a corporation
- a separate legal entity (person) under the law that can be incorporated under provincial or federal legislation 2. governed by BOD elected by shareholders, managed by professional managers, and owned by shareholders
how does a corporation get financing
highly flexible and long-term including issuing stocks and bonds and other hybrid securities to raise capital
What is the formality for corporations
articles of incorporation, and corporate bylaws and practices are governed by corporate and securities law
what are the advantages to a corporation
- no limit to how long an enterprise can operate, so it can issue securities with very long terms to maturity 2. potential to attract large amount of financing by expanding its base of shareholders 3. potential to attract well qualified people to its BOD and to sue their expertise to advance the firm’s interests 4. has the potential to hire professional managers to build value
What are the disadvantages of the corporation
- formality and structure may slow the speed of organizational response 2. Canadian tax law double-taxes dividends: paid to shareholders are taxed first as income of the corporation and then again as personal income of shareholders
what is the corporate governance
- shareholders, as owners of the corporation have residual claims to profits and assets and voting rights 2. shareholders vote to: - elect the BOD - adopt finaical statements - approve the auditors for the coming year 3. the BOD and management are responsible for the-day-to-day operation of the corporation in accordance with standards set out in Canada business corporations act