Coming This Month: Changes to Business Registration Online

More changes are coming to how your clients will access Business Registration Online (BRO). Starting July 14, 2026, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) your business clients will only be able to access BRO through their CRA account. As usual, it’s the taxpayer who is responsible for on time remittances and the burden of proof in an increasingly digital relationship with CRA. Here’s what you need to know:

In a lengthy Throne Speech, the Governor General highlighted the extensive and potentially expensive plans the federal government envisions for economic recovery to “Build Back Better”, all in the midst an unprecedented global pandemic. Further fiscal details and cost projections are promised to be delivered in an Economic Response Plan later this fall. What’s especially interesting is a glimpse at big changes in practice management ahead for the tax preparation industry. Highlights follow.

As part of the September 23, 2020 Speech from the Throne, the government committed to several goals concerning zero-emission vehicles. The intention is to improve affordability and encourage manufacturing of these products by cutting the corporate tax rate for those making zero-emission products by a proposed 50%.

During yesterday’s Throne Speech, the federal government promised to move forward with enhancements to the First-Time Home Buyer Incentive, including in Canada’s largest cities, so more families can afford to buy their first home. No further definition was provided with regard to what this expansion means, or how further assistance will be provided to Canadians living in the pricier parts of the country. However, promises made by the Liberal government heading into the last election may provide some clues.

The Speech from the Throne indicates that the government will be following through on several promises made in the last election. Promises for seniors include enhancements to Old Age Security (OAS) and the Canada Pension Plan Survivor’s Benefit. For the disabled, a new Canadian Disability Benefit will be introduced, along with an employment strategy and improved processes to determine program and benefit eligibility. Here are the details:

The 2019 Federal Budget proposed an annual cap of $200,000 on stock options granted to employees by "large, long-established, mature firms."  This cap is on the value of the shares at the time the options are granted. More details were set to be delivered in the 2020 Federal Budget, including information from the consultations with Canadians. It's information we're still waiting for, however, the government did recommit to its implementation during yesterday's Throne Speech. Here’s what we know now:

When the new Canada Recovery Benefits become available later this month, it will come with a cost.  If the recipient’s net income for the year from other sources exceeds $38,000, they will be required to repay 50% of the lesser of the CRB received and their net income in excess of $38,000.