Government Support Programs and Tax Planning Strategies | Grant Thornton

Tara Benham, National Tax Leader, and Dennis Tmej, Partner, Tax Services, will discuss recent changes and updates to tax rules affecting businesses that may present both challenges and opportunities with respect to tax planning, compliance and strategy, including estate freeze strategies, estate planning alternatives and loss consolidation strategies. They will also look at key government programs introduced during COVID including:

• CEWS Update
• CERS Update
• Home Office Deductions

Tara Benham, National Tax Leader

As national tax leader at Grant Thornton, my areas of focus span from complex tax analysis, planning and compliance to financial analysis, forecasting and accounting.

Since beginning in public practice in 1993, I’ve helped diversified public and private corporations in numerous industries with complex business structuring, strategic planning, project management, business management and change management. I’ve helped my clients navigate the full business cycle—from start-up and growth to turnaround situations—and have also developed extensive expertise with all financial aspects of matrimonial negotiations and settlements.

As part of my professional training, I’ve completed a range of professional programs, including tax and estate planning for owner-managers from the Canadian Tax Foundation, as well as the corporate reorganization course, advanced tax issues for owner-managed businesses and Parts I, II and III of the in-depth tax course from the Canadian Institute of Chartered Professional Accountants.

I also strongly believe in giving back to the community where I live and work. This has seen me sit on the board of directors of the Cowichan Chamber of Commerce, where I’m currently on the policy advisory committee; the Cowichan District Hospital Foundation; and the BC Chamber of Commerce. I’ve also acted as finance chair for the Queen of Angels School Council and group leader for the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Canada’s in-depth taxation course. Today, I remain a lecturer for the Institute of Chartered Accountants of British Columbia and act as director of administration for the Cowichan 2018 BC Summer Games Society.

Dennis Tmej, Partner, Tax Services

I’m a partner with Grant Thornton, providing strategic tax advice to privately held businesses. Drawing on more than 30 years of tax planning experience, I enjoy tackling complex business issues for my clients and coming up with personalized, creative solutions.

I serve as chair of Grant Thornton’s National Tax Solutions and Best Practices Committee. It’s a great way to keep us, and our clients, ahead of the tax planning curve. I’m also a regular presenter on tax planning issues to internal and external groups.

One of my key focus areas is our growing mergers and acquisitions practice. I work with both vendors and purchasers and have advised on significant pre-sale reorganization transactions for IPO and private equity transactions. This also includes significant involvement in Media & Entertainment space. I also assist with corporate reorganizations, credit-proofing assets, maximizing shareholder/owner-manager distributions, estate planning, and succession matters, among other issues.

In my spare time, I like to unwind by playing golf, reading history and biographies, or exploring art galleries and museums. I’m a proud supporter of the Regent Park School of Music in Toronto.