Start Tax Season 2025 on Sound Footing

Filing a tax return is difficult as the playing field is one of constant change:  the tax rules are in flux, particularly in the 2024 tax filing year,  with all the uncertainty around the capital gains provisions.  But in addition, taxpayers have undergone many financial and life event changes since their last T1 filings, each of which must be identified for each family member.  Here’s a primer for new year conversations between advisors and clients that cuts through the noise:  what matters is what you keep!

to rethink their approach for managing operations to avoid the unprecedented business closing statistics (refer to prior article this issue).  However,  paying increased attention to financial performance, profitability, and cash flow to meet obligations on both a personal and business level can matter greatly when embracing challenges in the areas of high interest rates, inflation, supply chain management, changes in consumer expectations, and a tight labour market.  Knowledge Bureau’s  newly updated Budgeting & Forecasting for Small Business course helps provide the strategic and technical insight needed and you can enrol now!

Effective August 1, 2024, the government will allow 30-year mortgage amortizations for first-time homeowners who purchase newly built homes.  For existing mortgage holders who meet specific criteria, “permanent amortization relief” will be available to extend repayment periods for as long as they need to get to the number they can afford to pay monthly. It’s an extension from the 25-year mortgage amortizations previously allowed. However, this isn’t for everyone… there is a significant risk to lifetime wealth creation and must be managed with an eye to interest rates and payment terms to reduce the non-deductible interest costs.  

Did you know there are several options for claiming charitable donations in the year of death that can help to offset expensive tax on the terminal returns?  Here is a run-down of six of them.

Tax and financial professionals who answered our July poll question had a majority agreement that it is fair that the CRA started to issue legal warnings beginning in July to recover the more than $9 billion of overpaid pandemic recovery benefits like CERB. The consensus is that Canadians need to pay back the money if they weren’t entitled to it. At the same time, many comments pointed to the need for CRA accountability in the roll-out and administration of these programs. Thanks to those who participated – check out the comments below:

Canadians’ relationship with the CRA’s enlarged department has changed substantially, along with the digital environment it operates under.  Add to this a barrage of new tax measures and new powers bestowed on CRA, and it spells Audit Risk.  Tax audit defence is now a key component of every professional’s duty to their clients, including financial professionals, who find themselves answering more tax planning questions as tax accountants focus on tax compliance.  Come up to speed quickly in the comprehensive CE session at the September 18 CE Savvy Summit Virtual Event, as Canadian best-selling tax author and educator, Evelyn Jacks overviews recent new tax measures for:

Ever listened to Canadians on a beach in a far off land thinking about how they can continue to fund their expenses in Canada and abroad? Will they have to sell the home, the cottage or the condo in Mexico to make ends meet? Worse, will new capital gains taxes compound their cash flow problems if they do? These real life decisions would be made so much easier if their financial portfolios could provide a safe haven to cover such unexpected new risks. Join Douglas V. Nelson as he discusses these topics in a session sponsored by BCV Asset Management entitled Managing Retirement Fear Factors at the 2024 Acuity Conference for Distinguished Advisors November 10-12 in Montreal.