Salary: Paying a salary allows business owners to make contributions to the Canada Pension Plan and access Employment Insurance benefits. Salaries are deductible as a business expense, reducing the corporation's taxable income. However, they are subject to income tax withholding and payroll taxes.
Dividends: Dividends represent a share of the corporation's profits distributed to shareholders. Unlike salaries, dividends are not considered a business expense and do not reduce taxable income, however, they benefit from the dividend tax credit resulting in a lower effective tax rate for individuals receiving them, especially advantageous for those in lower income brackets.
Management fees: These fees are paid for specific services provided to the corporation be individuals or related companies. Management fees are deductible for the corporation, similar to salaries, but they must be reasonable and reflect the fair market value of the services provided. Recipients must report these fees as income.