The Importance of Provincial Budgets: Elbows Up and No Bracket Creep!

Some of the right things are happening in Nova Scotia, from the perspective of improving standards of living in that province.  And that’s important news because according to the Fraser Institute, Canadians have suffered the worst five-year decline in their standard of living over the 2020-to-2024 period since the Great Depression.  It notes, our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per person decreased by 2.0% (0.4% annually) ; this despite aggregate GDP growth of 1.5% over the period.  Further, all ten provinces are experiencing stagnation, which is unique in our history.  So what’s the good news in Nova Scotia, at this critical juncture?

The CRA has introduced several new rules for filing employment expenses in 2020 which in reality, have complicated rather than simplified, employment deduction claims. Four employment filing profiles have emerged, as well as a new little-known calculation for home office space common area use. Details and a tip sheet follow.

Tax is a trigger for affluent families, especially now, when higher taxes may loom in the future. Tax and financial advisors ultimately need to be able to expertly calculate capital gains and losses on the disposition of assets and properly report income transactions along the way. But, it is in the planning for tax efficiency that differentiates a “great” advisor from the rest. This newly updated course is here to provide help during these turbulent times.

Our Valentine’s Day Special is a seasonal tax training package, at a price you’ll love. Take any 3 suggested courses for $1,995 - save 25%. This is a great opportunity for business owners looking to increase revenues this tax season, or for people looking to earn extra income. Visit the Virtual Registrar to enrol by the February 28 deadline, and check out our suggested training options for individuals and firms.

According to a recent survey, more than 56% of Canadians do not plan to contribute to an RRSP this year and an additional 12% are unsure if they will.  That potentially means that more than two thirds of Canadians could be at risk of overpaying their taxes or worse, having important social benefits clawed back in this second year of the pandemic. Tax and financial advisors can help by preparing “what if scenarios” before the March 1 contribution deadline.

Tired of long hours on hold with CRA? There’s good news, CRA has extended call center hours and call back services.  While CRA is advising people to go to their website before calling, they’ve also contracted with a third party to help with general questions about pandemic supports. Will these changes help improve service standards for tax season?

The next three months of 2021 are chocked full of important tax filing milestones.  Be sure you help your clients mark their tax calendars and schedule a virtual or phone meeting with you.  Here’s a handy tax milestones calendar from Knowledge Bureau.