SMES: Carbon Tax Rebates on the Way?

July 15 was an important day for carbon-tax weary taxpayers. A Canada Carbon Rebate payment was  made to individuals who have filed their 2023 personal tax returns.  What about the long-awaited $2.5 billion Carbon Tax Rebate For Small Businesses? The delivery date and amounts to be received remain elusive, but one thing is clear: many businesses will have disqualified themselves by missing the July 15 date for filing 2023 T2 returns.  Here’s what you need to know. 

When it comes to CRA, it will almost always be very costly to challenge reassessments in court.  Two recent court cases proved an old adage:  you win some, you lose some.  In the first case, a taxpayer tried to shift the burden of proof to their accountant and in another case when hardship was given as the reason for filing GST/HST and T1135 returns late. The silver lining is that the legal costs are deductible.  Here’s what happened:

The U.S. Gift tax is one part of the American transfer tax system. It was introduced in 1932 as a backstop to the U.S. estate tax.  Without the gift tax, large estates could be reduced by simply giving everything away prior to death. The gift tax was and still is not meant to raise revenue per se. Do Canadians have to worry about having to pay this tax? Possibly.  Here’s a primer of what you need to know.

Year-end tax and investment strategies for individuals and small business owners in the context of the current environment has significantly changed. Think AMT on donations and intergenerational transfer rules that can increase tax risk in 2024. Learn more from Evelyn Jacks and special guests Alan Rowell and Carol Willes at the November 1 Virtual CE Summits.  A comprehensive full day virtual event, the CE Summit also includes access to a comprehensive new CE Savvy Collection Entitled New Issues in Year End Tax Planning and up to 15 CE Credits. Check out the agenda below and register by the October 15 early-bird deadline!

There is still time to register for DAC November 12-13 at the beautiful Banff Springs Hotel. Save Money - early registration ends September 30. The organizations and thought leaders that represent them at DAC 2023 will keep the insights rolling, and we give special thanks to Moodys Tax Law and Cadesky U.S. Tax for partnering with us.  Now, just imagine being live and in person with renowned tax specialists Kim Moody and Dr. Dean Smith who will unwind tax complexity for you.  But you’ll want to attend special ice breaker event open to all attendees for a few laughs first!  Check out the educational content and all the fun networking events:

Looking for IIROC credits before year-end? Knowledge Bureau is pleased to have 3 professional  CE options available to earn both PD and compliance credits before year end.  Check out the  RWM™ program (xx PD credits), the MFA-P™ (xxx credits) and the new Certificate Course,  Navigating Privacy Issues (10 Compliance Credits).  These outstanding programs are well reviewed (see below) and can be taken anytime, 24/7 online in the convenience of your home or office. Plus,  save an additional $75 on tuition when you register by the next session intake date: October 15.

It’s a sign of the times:  everything seems to be going up, including the billions Canadians owe to CRA. But now is a good time to catch up and stop the tax bleed.   Looking at the most recent stats from February 6, 2023 to September 18, 2023, 23% of returns filed this year had an average balance of $7556:  collectively a whopping tax debt of $54.8 Billion. These costs grow with expensive late filing penalties and interest charges.  Delinquent taxpayers can avoid incurring more costs by understanding the penalties and in hardship cases, requesting relief from penalties and interest.  But they may fear CRA repercussions and some sage counselling from their financial advisors can help to get it done. Start with a quick checklist: