Opportunity: Canadian Dollar Stabilizes, Somewhat

Things have started to turn around for the Canadian dollar in the second quarter of 2025. It hit a 22 year low in January of 2025. Investors and property owners, who have been swooning at the high burn rate in their travel plans and property maintenance abroad, may wish to consider recent more positive trends and consider some risk mitigation opportunities now that the dollar is stabilizing somewhat.  

It is estimated that about 425,000 Canadians will retire each year by 2020.*  But for many, it will be a retirement that includes debt, according to recent reports on the proliferation of reverse mortgages**.  Are Canadians planning soon enough for the one big question most worry about: will there be enough? A new edition of the best-seller Master Your Retirement by Douglas V. Nelson will help.

The tax system is not getting any easier for Canadians to comply with and things may get worse in tax season 2020. With a complicated new 8-page T1 return on the horizon, Canadian taxpayers already dissatisfied with their tax department service levels* join ranks with KBR poll respondents: over 90% of tax, bookkeeping and financial services pros answered a resounding no when asked: “As we begin a new decade, do you feel the evolution of our tax system has been positive?” Still, there were a few happy campers.

If you live in Manitoba, you’ll be getting tax relief from a number of post-election provisions that are noteworthy from a financial planning point of view. The removal of sales taxes on income tax preparation fees, home insurance, and the preparation of estate planning documents such as wills, health care directives and Powers of Attorney make an interesting case for having important financial planning conversations as a new decade begins. Probate fees will also be eliminated in July 2020.

There are lots of tax changes you’ll need to know about as you get ready to file the new 2019 T1s. This includes a new tax credit for digital news subscriptions, the introduction of passive investment rules for corporate owner-managers, changes to the dividend tax credits, a new CPP deduction for all contributors, a new Canada Training Grant credit and lots of changes to personal amounts. We announced many of these changes as they happened in 2019 and here’s what you, our readers, were most interested in. We’ll drill down even deeper in KBR 2020, so thanks for all of your feedback!

Canadians this year will be surprised by the volume of changes to the return and all the lines in it. Professionals who can answer specific questions, interpret financial activity and file with precision present a great value-add to their clients:  the confidence that the new 8-page 2019 return is both accurate and defensible. And that’s important in a vigorous audit environment. The Winter CE Summits provide the knowledge you need – sign up by Friday January 10 for best fees.

Happy New Year!  What better way to start the new year than with a new contest for you, our readers.  We have extended the deadline for you to enter it! As we look  forward to sharing knowledge with you in 2020 and beyond, please accept our GRADitude for your loyal readership!  All Knowledge Bureau readers who have graduated from an online program as a designate in 2019 or by January 30, 2020 can enter our draw to win one free enrolment to DAC Acuity 2020 in Niagara Falls this October.