Canada Needs a Financial Plan

According to a July 23 publication by the Fraser Institute, we are getting poorer here in Canada and the prospects for economic growth are looking grim.  This should be of concern to every Canadian concerned about their “real income” – that’s their purchasing power – and by extension - their ability to fund consumption now and for important family milestones in the future:  retirements, education and homeownership.  It’s grim, but there are practical suggestions for a turn around plan. Here’s a synopsis of the report.   

Did you know about 5 million people in the world have birthdays every four years on a Leap Year?  Rumor has it they also have very special powers! With February 29, 2020 just around the corner, we are pleased to share some fun facts about Leap Year with you, along with some special powers  to take advantage of our Leap Year Tuition Special, which ends (you guessed it) on February 29!

RSVP now to attend Canada’s premiere and longest running strategic conference for professionals in the tax, bookkeeping and financial services and lock in low tuition rates available to you - our very best clients - before the end of this month. But hurry, those rates will rise on March 1, and as always, you are welcome to custom-design your payment plan. 

Filing a tax return is the first (and often most important) financial transaction of the year for most Canadian families. While Canadians love their tax refunds, they won’t start flowing this year until March, as CRA won’t accept your E-filed returns until Monday, February 24 and refunds likely won’t flow until at least March this year. Reality check: tax refunds are a poor financial planning strategy.

There are 10 key tax filing milestones coming right up in February and March.  Have you discussed them with your clients? Check out the Knowledge Bureau Professional Tax Filing Matrix and nudge your clients along to book appointments in advance of what is sure to be a very busy tax season. Plus, there is still time to train new and returning staff on the changes to the 2019 tax return.

TOSI, a most controversial provision introduced on July 17, 2017 is now in its second reporting year. As many companies are  preparing T5 slips, dividends distributed from certain professional corporations must be properly reported for non-active members of the family. Tax specialists will want to discuss where the onus of proof lies for proper reporting and brush up on the complex rules and their impact using tax form T120.

The home is the most significant asset for many Canadian households. It can bolster personal net worth, and once paid off it reduces future costs of living. Before tax season starts and the RRSP season ends, it’s important to bring this conversation to the forefront for clients like Millennials and Boomers, in particular. Learn why in the first of this three-part article: