This Month’s Poll

Do you agree with the government’s plan to introduce the new  Canada Groceries Essentials Benefit (CGEB)?

Navigating the complexities of tax compliance is a critical part of running a business in Canada—and understanding the Goods and Services/Harmonized Sales Tax (GST/HST) is a key component. While not all provinces participate in the HST system (those who don’t remit GST only), every business owner should understand what it is, how it works, and whether they are required to register.

It’s almost the halfway mark in the year 2025! How prepared are Canadians for uncertainty and volatility ahead? StatsCan is reporting that our debt to income ratio worsened in the first quarter of 2025. There is an opportunity for advisors to start year end tax planning early to engage clients in solutions to pay down debt. Online certificate courses leading to the DMA (Distinguished Master Advisor) designation can help shore up knowledge on tax, accounting and budgeting as well as business forecasting and planning gaps this summer. Here’s the backdrop:

Charitable giving has changed noticeably in recent years. As professionals who prepare tax returns or provide estate and legacy planning services, you will almost certainly have noticed a decline in the number of clients who are giving. But donors who plan strategically throughout the year may be more inclined to give more and most important, highly value the opportunity to discuss this with a training strategist. This is where the MFA-P™ designation program comes in. Consider the following as a key professional opportunity:

Secure Your Spot by June 30 and Save on Tuition for Canada’s Only Multi-Advisory Wealth Management Conference:   the Annual Acuity Conference for Distinguished Advisors, taking place November 23–26 in spectacular Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. This year’s theme, “Happy Landings”, sets the stage for what may be the most important conference you attend in 2025. In a time of global uncertainty, this is Canada’s only multi-disciplinary gathering of top advisors and thought leaders—brought together to navigate a New Era of Risk and Reward from both a national and international lens.

This tax season has been particularly challenging for both taxpayers and tax professionals. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) provides tax information slips—such as T3, T4, T5, and their variations—through secure online portals: My Account and Represent a Client (RAC). This year, there were lots of problems with these portals, and now, it appears, CRA is not being quite transparent about when the slips were actually visible to clients and that doesn’t seem fair. Here’s an update on where we stand now.

The T1135 form, officially titled Foreign Income Verification Statement, is a crucial document for Canadian taxpayers who own, or hold specified foreign property with a total cost of more than CAD 100,000 at any time during the year. Its primary purpose is to allow the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to track offshore assets and ensure that Canadians are properly reporting foreign income. However, many taxpayers overlook or delay this filing, which can lead to significant penalties and consequences. This article explains the implications of late filing  the T1135, including who needs to file, deadlines, penalties, and options for voluntary disclosure.