Introducing Writeoff News 💰

Hey there, and welcome to the very first Writeoff newsletter post!

Thanks for letting yet another newsletter into your inbox. This is one I hope you’ll look back on a few months from now and say, “Wow, this actually made a difference.” My goal is simple: every week, I’ll drop some ideas and insights that might start small, but could grow into big wins for you and your finances. Stick with me, and we’ll make it happen.

A Little About Me

Why should you listen to me? Honestly, you shouldn’t. I’m not a financial advisor (or any kind of advisor really), and nothing here should be taken as professional advice. If you want to test something out, you’d better call me first!

Now that the disclaimer’s out of the way, let me share a bit about why I’m here. I started my career in accounting back in 2017, working with BDO and later KPMG. Over five years, I gained experience across tax returns, audits, bookkeeping, special projects, and everything else the industry throws at you.

But along the way, I realized something: the traditional accounting world wasn’t for me. The grind, the processes, and even the culture left me feeling disconnected from the craft I once loved. I knew there had to be a better way. So, after earning my designation, I decided to pivot. I joined a tech startup, learned as much as I could, and ultimately brought that knowledge here to create Writeoff—a fresh, modern take on accounting.

Why Writeoff Exists

Reason #1: The accounting and tax industry is broken.

Let’s be honest—interactions with accountants are rarely positive. Chances are, you’ve experienced at least one of the following:

• Terrible service and zero relationship—just transactional, not personal.

• Work done by juniors or outsourced offshore, but billed at partner-level price.

• Surprise fees, or a massive one-time charge on top of your taxes owed (thanks for the added stress).

• No proactive help throughout the year—you’re on your own until tax season.

Sound familiar? That’s what I’m here to fix.

Reason #2: Canada’s tax system is squeezing us dry.

Canada is a beautiful country, but between soaring housing costs, sky-high taxes, and inflation, it’s clear: we’re getting f*cked.

According to The Fraser Institute, the average Canadian family spends 43% of their household income on taxes—that’s $46,988 out of $109,235 annually on average as of the end of 2023 (pre capital gains rise!). Compare that to the United States, where the figure is closer to 27%. Since 1961, taxes in Canada have skyrocketed by 2,006%, while food costs rose 901%, and clothing only 478%. These are insane numbers, and they should piss you off!

In Canada, there’s a million different types of tax: income taxes, capital gains taxes, payroll/health taxes, sales taxes, property taxes, carbon taxes, liquor/tobacco taxes... you name it. It’s the single greatest threat to all of our financial freedom. Not being prepared simply isn’t an option anymore in Canada’s increasingly dangerous tax landscape.

The Mission

Taxes are unavoidable—but being unprepared doesn’t have to be. Whether it’s supercharging your savings, claiming every write-off, or hacking your taxes, I’m here to make sure you’re equipped to win wherever possible.

Thanks for sticking with me so far! In the next few days, we’ll dive into what’s new for the 2024 tax year. You don’t want to miss it.

P.S. Got a burning question? Reply to this email, and I’ll answer in the next issue. Let’s make this newsletter your go-to for navigating the financial chaos.