Immediate Expensing Rules: Good Tax Policy?

Over the course of the last two federal budgets (April 16, 2024 and November 4, 2025), the rules for claiming Capital Cost Allowance (CCA) have been uncertain. The proposal to extend immediate expensing rules for certain acquired assets were paused for over a year and then re-introduced in a series of four complex measures which together with new rules for Scientific Research and Experimental Development have become known as the “Productivity Super-Deduction”.  A backdrop appears below. The key question: will this complexity be effective as an economic stimulator?   

At a time when 48% of Canadians say they are $200 away from insolvency*, an important tax question arises: why are tax refunds so large? The average as of December 31, 2019 was $1740. That’s $145 a month missing from Canadians’ pockets that could help mitigate the cash crunch. Worse, those refunds won’t start flowing until after February 24, the day CRA starts accepting E-filed returns. Fortunately, there is good news: working with a tax specialist can help reduce the wait times and increase refunds, too.

The new Basic Personal Amount proposed on December 9, 2019 is very complicated. The calculations on the TD1 forms and their accompanying worksheet will challenge even those with pride in their financial literacy. What do tax and financial advisors think: is this tax change an improvement to our tax system? You may be surprised at the verdict in last month's poll.

Life insurance and Estate Planning professionals across the country were recently shocked to discover that traditional gifting of life insurance policies to charity is now considered “trafficking” by the British Columbia Financial Services Authority.

The news is big: first, we are delighted to announce the winner of a free registration to The DAC Acuity Conference in Niagara Falls this October 28-30. Next, we have  a Valentine’s Day gift  for you! And last but not least, something to make you smile: check out the DAC photo gallery of the highly successful 2019 DAC in Puerto Vallarta. Guess who had the most fun?

Did you miss the Winter CE Summits? You can purchase the CE Summit January Advanced Tax Update Journals for your team for only $395. Plus, you get the new assignments included for free. Here's why Winter attendees encourage you to get yours:

Last week at the CE Summits in Vancouver, an interesting question arose with regards to the deductibility of gifts left by a deceased taxpayer to a specific charity in his will. Would that specific bequest qualify for the donations tax credit on the final return, a trust return or both? It turns out, the answer may be neither.