T4A Box 48 filled for a Receptionist (Not formally registered as a business or sole proprietorship)

Hi,

I’d appreciate your guidance on a T4A Box 48 reporting situation.

My client works as a receptionist at a medical clinic and was previously treated as an employee. The employer later moved her to a “contractor” arrangement (issuing a T4A) .

My client received the T4A with income reported in Box 48 (fees for services). However, the individual works as a receptionist at a medical clinic, with duties that appear consistent with an employee-type role rather than an independent contractor arrangement. She is not registered as a business and formally registered as a business or sole proprietorship.

-Shall we continue to report her income in box 48 and fill T2125B despite she is not registered as a business or sole proprietorship? if yes 2125B/P is used, would claiming any expenses (e.g., home office or vehicle) be appropriate in this case? she works 3 days from home, and 2 days from the clinic.

-OR we report her annual income (paid monthly) in T4A box 028 or (line 13000) as other income and we don’t claim any expenses?

I’d appreciate your great insights.

”I’d appreciate your guidance on a T4A Box 48 reporting situation.
My client works as a receptionist at a medical clinic and was previously treated as an employee. The employer later moved her to a “contractor” arrangement (issuing a T4A) .
My client received the T4A with income reported in Box 48 (fees for services). However, the individual works as a receptionist at a medical clinic, with duties that appear consistent with an employee-type role rather than an independent contractor arrangement. She is not registered as a business and formally registered as a business or sole proprietorship.
-Shall we continue to report her income in box 48 and fill T2125B despite she is not registered as a business or sole proprietorship? if yes 2125B/P is used, would claiming any expenses (e.g., home office or vehicle) be appropriate in this case? she works 3 days from home, and 2 days from the clinic.
-OR we report her annual income (paid monthly) in T4A box 028 or (line 13000) as other income and we don’t claim any expenses?”
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Private (especially one-sided) name-labelling does not trump tax law or employment law, so there is a problem.

No CPP/EI withheld - she may owe both portions

Since you say she was employed, and then terminated as an employee, she has a few options:

  1. She could apply for EI
    Service Canada may review status - Can trigger a ruling that she was actually an employee

  2. Request a CRA ruling - File Form CPT1 with the Canada Revenue Agency:
    CRA will officially determine employee vs contractor

  3. Employment standards complaint - Through the provincial authority (Employment Standards Branch): claim unpaid vacation pay, stat holidays, termination pay; they assess true employment status

  4. Civil action - Sue for wrongful dismissal / unpaid entitlements
    Courts often reject “contractor” labels if facts don’t support them

Before tax filing, she needs to request this (CPT1):