GST Holiday Ends This Week: Lost Aversion Kicks In

The GST holiday which  began in December comes to an end on February 15th and the fallout for consumers and businesses could linger for longer than the two month exemption itself.  Announced by the Prime Minister and then Finance Minister on November 21st, the end of the break will mean Canadians must once again pay more for common children’s items in particular.  Further, businesses will gain incur costs to reprogram point-of-sales and accounting systems. 

If you owe money to the CRA, but you can’t pay, what is the best course of action? For example, if you or your clients use Paypal for business and were not previously reporting this income on your tax returns, the new CRA requirements may leave you in a position where you have to pay taxes you weren’t anticipating.

Next year’s Distinguished Advisor Conference (being held in Quebec City, Nov. 11-14, 2018) will explore how the work of tax and financial advisors fits into a changing demographic landscape under the theme “The Changing Face of Community: Collaboration with Impact.” Registrations for delegates and speaker sponsors are now open, and we are asking for your input on the topics you’d like to explore more closely at the event.

November is financial literacy month, and it’s the perfect time to take advantage of educational opportunities before Knowledge Bureau’s December 15 registration deadline for Designation Programs.

The Ontario government released an economic statement on November 14 that reduces the small business tax rate, provides incentives for businesses with under 100 employees to hire 15 to 29 year olds and together with federal tax changes, significantly raises the marginal tax rates on passive income earned within a small business corporation upon distribution to individual shareholders.

In its first major tax reform in over 30 years, the United States is considering a package of tax changes that if passed into law, could significantly impact Canada’s ability to keep top talent and business ventures from moving across the border.

It’s financial literacy month and Canadians need help with debt management-badly.  Over half (52 per cent) of Canadians are only $200 away from insolvency according to a poll of 1,500 Canadians by insolvency consultancy MNP this spring.  It’s a highly valued service that tax and financial advisors can offer.