startup of a small business - GST registration -

My question is in regards to income tax exemption for a newly self-employed individual. I currently work as a contractor doing software developement which I just started about 4 months ago. To set myself up as a contrator,
I started a small business as a sole proprietor. I can't confirm this, but I had heard that the few first months of a small business, 
the income earned is exempt. Is this true? When I do my taxes for 2007, is the income I earned during the first few months or up 
to a certain amount exempt from income tax?
Having said that, in starting my small business, I used an older registered business along with it's business number and name. I
 only needed to change the address and, since my first business venture was computer related, I only had to change the nature of the business slightly. 
I made no income from the older business. It was a side business which I put to the side and didn't do much with it.
If, from my new business, my initial earnings are exempt, does it still apply to me or since I used an older registered 
business number and name? Is my 'new' small business not considered a 'new' business, but an old one?
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david ingram replies

To give out income tax help, it always helps if I know what country you are in. Most of my questions come from the US but I think yours is from Canada.

There is no 'first few months' tax exemption for a new small business in either country.

Of course, the first $10,000 or so you earn from any business is tax free because of your personal exemption and a dedcution for 1/2 of the CPP you pay out as a self-employed person and all of the CPP and EI you pay as an employee.

CPP payments are essentlially 10% of everything over $4,000.  (this is not an exact figure because I do not know the figures for 2007 yet.) -  So, as a self employed person, if you had a profit of $10,000, there would not be any income tax, but you would owe $600 for CPP (Canada Pension plan).
 
You may be confusing the start up of a small business with GST rules.  You do NOT have to charge GST if you are doing or expect to do less than $30,000 Gross.  But 'IF' you know you are going to be doing over $30,000 gross business, you have to register and charge GST to Canadian Residents.  You do NOT need to charge GST if you are developing software for US clientele but even though you do not need to charge it, you have to register.  That is actually a benefit because when you file your GST 34 return, you will find that you get a refund of all the business GST you have paid in a year.

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This is not intended to be definitive but in general I am quoting $800 to $2,800 for a dual country tax return.
 
$800 would be one T4 slip one W2 slip one or two interest slips and you lived in one country only - no self employment or rentals or capital gains - you did not move into or out of the country in this year.
 
$1,000 would be the same with one rental
 
$1,200 would be the same with one business no rental
 
$1,200 would be the minimum with a move in or out of the country. These are complicated because of the back and forth foreign tax credits. - The IRS says a foreign tax credit takes 1 hour and 53 minutes.
 
$1,500 would be the minimum with a rental or two in the country you do not live in or a rental and a business and foreign tax credits  no move in or out

$1,600 would be for two people with income from two countries

$2,800 would be all of the above and you moved in and out of the country.
 
This is just a guideline for US / Canadian returns
 
We will still prepare Canadian only (lives in Canada, no US connection period) with two or three slips and no capital gains, etc. for $150.00 up.
 
With a Rental for $350
 
A Business for $350 - Rental and business likely $450
And an American only (lives in the US with no Canadian income or filing period) with about the same things in the same range with a little bit more if there is a state return.
 
Moving in or out of the country or part year earnings in the US will ALWAYS be $800 and up.
 
TDF 90-22.1 forms are $50 for the first and $25.00 each after that when part of a tax return.
 
8891 forms are generally $50.00 to $100.00 each.
 
18 RRSPs would be $900.00 - (maybe amalgamate a couple)
 
Capital gains *sales)  are likely $50.00 for the first and $20.00 each after that.
 
Just a guideline not etched in stone. 
 
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