Terms & Conditions

These Terms and Conditions ("Agreement") govern your engagement with Chinook Advisory ("Chinook," "we," "us," "our") for accounting, payroll, and tax advisory services. Please read this document carefully before engaging our services. If you have any questions, we welcome you to reach out before proceeding.

1. Definitions

• "Services" — payroll management, year-end tax preparation, and business structure advisory as described on our website and in any engagement letter
• "Client" / "You" — the individual or business entity engaging Chinook Advisory for services
• "Agreement" — these Terms and Conditions, together with any applicable engagement letter or service agreement
• "CRA" — the Canada Revenue Agency
• "Deliverables" — completed tax returns, payroll summaries, planning documents, and other outputs produced under an engagement
• "Confidential Information" — any financial, personal, or business information shared with Chinook Advisory in the course of an engagement

2. Acceptance of Terms

By engaging Chinook Advisory's services — whether through our contact form, email, phone, or a signed engagement letter — you confirm that:

• You are at least 18 years of age and legally capable of entering a binding agreement
• You have the authority to bind your business entity if applicable
• You have read and agree to these Terms and Conditions

If you are engaging on behalf of a corporation or partnership, you represent that you have the appropriate authorization to do so.

3. Service Description

Chinook Advisory provides professional accounting and tax services to small business owners in Ontario and across Canada. Our current service offerings include:

• Payroll Management & Compliance — recurring payroll processing for businesses with up to 25 employees, including CRA remittances and T4 preparation
• Year-End Tax Preparation & Review — T2 corporate, T1 self-employment, and HST/GST annual filings with pre-filing walkthrough
• Business Structure & Tax Optimization Advisory — annual engagement including two strategy sessions, written planning document, and ongoing email access

Services are available to clients located within Canada. The specific scope, timeline, and deliverables for each engagement are confirmed via email or written engagement letter prior to commencement. Any material changes to scope require written agreement from both parties.

4. Client Responsibilities

To allow us to serve you well, clients agree to:

• Provide accurate, complete, and timely financial records and documentation as requested
• Promptly notify us of any changes to business structure, ownership, or operating circumstances that may affect your filing or compliance position
• Review all completed returns and deliverables before submission and raise any questions during the pre-filing walkthrough
• Maintain copies of all documents submitted to Chinook Advisory and all deliverables received
• Use our services only for lawful purposes and in compliance with all applicable Canadian laws and CRA regulations
• Not engage in any conduct that misrepresents your financial position or omits material information

5. Intellectual Property

All website content, planning templates, methodology frameworks, and proprietary tools developed by Chinook Advisory remain our intellectual property. Clients receive a non-exclusive, non-transferable right to use deliverables prepared for their specific engagement for personal or business purposes only.

Clients may not reproduce, distribute, or repurpose our proprietary planning documents or templates without written consent. Client-provided financial records and data remain the property of the client at all times.

6. Payment Terms

Pricing

All fees are quoted in Canadian dollars (CAD) and are subject to applicable HST. Current pricing is as follows:

• Payroll Management & Compliance: CAD 240 / month
• Year-End Tax Preparation & Review: CAD 475 / filing
• Business Structure & Tax Optimization Advisory: CAD 920 / year

Pricing may vary based on complexity and scope. Any variation from the above will be communicated and confirmed in writing before work commences.

Payment

Invoices are due within 14 calendar days of the invoice date unless alternate terms are agreed in writing. Accepted payment methods include Interac e-Transfer and major credit cards. For recurring services, billing occurs monthly or at the cadence specified in your engagement agreement.

Late Payments

Accounts outstanding beyond 30 days may be subject to a service hold until the balance is resolved. Chinook Advisory reserves the right to suspend active engagements in cases of prolonged non-payment.

Refunds

For one-time filing engagements, refunds are available if work has not yet commenced. Once preparation work has begun, fees reflect the professional time invested and are not generally refundable. If you believe an error has occurred, we encourage you to raise it directly so we can address it at no additional charge.

7. Service-Specific Terms

Payroll Management

• Requires client to provide approved payroll inputs by agreed submission deadlines each pay period
• Late submissions may result in delayed payroll processing
• Chinook Advisory will apply current federal and Ontario provincial deduction tables; clients are responsible for notifying us of any employee changes promptly

Tax Preparation & Review

• Clients must supply all requested documents within the document collection window communicated at engagement start
• CRA filing deadlines are not extended due to late document submission by the client
• Pre-filing review sign-off from the client is required before electronic submission

Advisory Engagements

• Strategy sessions are scheduled by mutual agreement and are not transferable to third parties
• Planning documents are prepared based on information current at the time of engagement; clients should notify us of material changes throughout the year
• Ongoing email access is provided for questions related to the advisory engagement and is not a substitute for formal legal or investment advice

8. Disclaimers

Chinook Advisory's services are provided in good faith based on information you supply and our professional judgment as accounting practitioners. Please note:

• Tax laws and CRA policies change periodically; we apply the rules in effect at the time of your engagement but cannot predict future regulatory changes
• Our advisory services constitute professional accounting guidance, not legal or investment advice; we recommend consulting qualified legal or financial professionals for matters outside our scope
• We do not represent that any outcome, tax position, or business result will be achieved
• Website content is for general informational purposes and does not constitute professional advice specific to your situation

9. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by Ontario law, Chinook Advisory's liability arising from any engagement shall not exceed the fees paid by the client for the specific service that gave rise to the claim in the twelve months preceding the incident.

We shall not be liable for indirect, consequential, incidental, or special damages — including lost profits, business interruption, or penalties arising from errors in client-supplied information — even if we have been advised of the possibility of such damages.

Nothing in this clause limits liability for gross negligence or wilful misconduct.

10. Termination

Either party may end an engagement by providing 30 days written notice via email. In cases of material breach by the client — including non-payment or provision of fraudulent information — Chinook Advisory may terminate with immediate effect.

Upon termination, the client will receive all deliverables completed to the termination date. Fees for work completed to that point remain payable. Confidentiality obligations and intellectual property terms survive termination.

11. Dispute Resolution

We hope any concerns can be resolved through open conversation. If an issue arises, we ask that you first contact us at [email protected] so we can work toward an informal resolution within 15 business days.

If a dispute cannot be resolved informally, the parties agree to pursue mediation through a mutually agreed mediator before resorting to litigation. Any legal proceedings shall be governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario and the courts of Ottawa, Ontario shall have exclusive jurisdiction.

12. General Provisions

• Entire Agreement: These Terms, together with any signed engagement letter, represent the entire agreement between the parties on the subject matter
• Severability: If any provision is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions continue in full effect
• Waiver: Failure to enforce any provision does not constitute a waiver of our rights under that provision
• Assignment: You may not assign your obligations under this Agreement without our written consent
• Notices: Formal notices may be sent by email to the address on file for each party and are considered received within one business day

13. Changes to These Terms

We may revise these Terms periodically to reflect changes in our services or applicable law. We will update the "Last Updated" date and, for material changes, will notify active clients by email at least 14 days before the changes take effect. Continued use of our services after that date constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

14. Contact

For questions regarding these Terms and Conditions, please write to: