Podcast: Automatic Tax Filing - Will It Work?

Last week Taxpayers' Ombudsperson François Boileau  tabled his annual report:  In Pursuit of Better Service: Taxpayers Deserve More.  once again, it was nothing short of scathing, as CRA received its highest number of complaints in the last three years.  Calling our “completely nuts” Income Tax Act a potential barrier, he is nonetheless pushing for automatic tax filing as a potential solution.  A new episode of Real Tax News with Evelyn Jacks & Friends available next week, will feature guest Gillian Petit, Ph.D. - author of a great report, Welcome News for Lower-Income Canadians, but There’s More to Do - which takes a deeper dive.  Consider the following:

Claiming medical expenses can be painful for most taxpayers: there are so many receipts and tiny numbers involved. But it can be worthwhile, especially if you schedule your dental and medical treatments in a tax-savvy manner before year-end.

The financial services industry has traditionally been male dominated, but a shift has started to occur, with more emphasis placed upon supporting female growth in this field. Also important, is a new Statistics Canada Report which notes that women-owned service industry businesses are experiencing higher growth rates than those owned by men, which bodes well for female leaders in the tax and financial services.

Members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) received $85 Million in extra tax relief in the 2017 tax year, but some may have missed the opportunity when filing. As part of year-end tax planning communications, professionals working with CAF clients may wish to revisit any recent claims for the deductions available to police and Canadian Forces personnel.

Unfortunately, Senator McCallum has informed us she is unable to attend the Distinguished Advisor Conference this year. Instead we will hear from Dan Collison who will speak to this important topic: YOUR NEW IDEAL CLIENT: How Constructive Listening Helps Engage Culturally Diverse Clients. Check it out and register by October 31!

The tax preparation industry is undergoing massive change: from jobs that required data entry skills to professional advice that focuses on the best after-tax results for the client and his or her family. That requires a new educational solution for those who want to build a career in this rewarding industry.

Troy Harrison of Winnipeg, shares why investing in education as an advisor, isn’t just about career advancement. Education also helps advisors forge trust with clients.  His focus now is to cultivate and nurture his client relationships and inspire other advisors to do the same.