Virginia Zhao Tax Law

Virginia is a tax and trust lawyer. She is fluent in Mandarin and Cantonese.

Virginia helps you with tax planning and implementation around major life events: business succession, pre- and post-separation, retirement, and estate and legacy planning. She also advises on tax-driven reorganizations and tax issues related to estate planning.

Virginia’s practice focuses on tax issues related to the acquisition or sale of a business, divorce or separation, and residential or commercial real estate. Her practice area includes federal and provincial income tax, GST/HST, PST, speculation and vacancy tax, property transfer tax, and Vancouver’s empty homes tax.

Virginia completed the CPA Canada In-Depth Tax Courses I, II, and III in 2020 as a top five winner of the Year III Project. She is in the process of obtaining her Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP) designation. Prior to starting her solo practice, she articled in an international firm and subsequently practised in a specialized tax and trust firm.

Virginia is a contributor to the Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia (CLEBC). She is a faculty member of the 2022 CLEBC Course "Advanced Conveyancing." She will also be a presenter for the Young Practitioners of the Canadian Tax Foundation in the winter of 2022.

  • Member, Law Society of British Columbia

  • Member, Canadian Tax Foundation

  • Member, Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (Associate)

Publications and Speaking Engagements

  • Contributor and Presenter, “Back to Basics – s.84.1 and Planning Opportunities”
    December 8, 2022, Canadian Tax Foundation

  • Contributor and Presenter, “Foreign Buyers Tax, Empty Homes Tax, and Speculation and Vacancy Tax”
    June 14, 2022, CLEBC, “Advanced Conveyancing”

  • Co-author, Acquisitions of Control and Effective Use of Corporate Losses
    February 5, 2019, PBLI Conference

  • Presentation, Taxation of Private Corporation and Reorganization Considerations

    May 19, 2018, Joint Presentation of Singleton Urquhart Reynolds Vogel LLP and Crowe MacKay LLP

  • Publication, Significant Changes to the Canadian Principal Residence Exemption Rules

    November 9, 2016, Richmond News

What We do

  • Tax Planning

    We review your personal and corporate situations and tailor our tax planning to your unique circumstances. We work with your current advisors and accountants to implement plans just for you.

  • Trust & Estate Planning

    We strive to give you the most suitable options for your post-mortem, healthcare, incapacity, and succession planning.

    We will not be an administrator or trustee in estate or trust administration but we will help you select a suitable administrator or trustee.

  • Corporate Reorganization

    We regularly work with your accountants to implement corporate reorganization and estate freeze.

  • Pre-Sale Planning

    Are you planning to sell your business or real estate holdings? We can assist you or your company to structure tax-efficient sales.

  • Cross-border Tax Service

    Are you becoming a non-resident of Canada? Do you have assets outside of Canada? Speak to us to consider the tax consequences of having worldwide assets.

  • Separation or Divorce Planning

    We regularly work with your family lawyer to structure tax-efficient property division or spousal support structure.