When regular Canadians get a brown envelope from the Canada Revenue Agency they are happy because they know there’s probably a tax refund inside.

When I get one, it usually means I owe money. I don’t get things like tax refunds or GST rebates. Haven’t in years. That’s how it works when you are self-employed. You only pay.

My accountants do what they can to minimize the amount, but in the end, I pay. Oh how I pay.

I suppose it’s no more than any Canadian ultimately pays, but the payroll department doesn’t remit mine automatically before I get my paycheck, I do. Signing your own tax payments it is one of the many little horrors of working for yourself.

So the next time you get a brown envelope in the mail from the government be thankful there’s a GST refund in there, because the alternative can be much, much worse.