October 1 - Important Changes Coming to VDP

Effective October 1, 2025, important changes will be made to the Voluntary Disclosures Program (VDP) at the CRA in order to make it easier for taxpayers to correct unintentional filing errors or omissions. The details on how the changes will affect your clients are being discussed in the CE Summit held September 17 and this course is now available for online enrolment and CE accreditation, after the virtual event. Here are some highlights of the changes.

Something’s been missing on your tax return since 2015 and that’s the non-refundable tax credit for minor children. It was canceled in favor of the enhanced Universal Child Care Benefit and the new Family Tax Cut. Both those provisions have since been canceled in favor of the new Canada Child Benefit.

Things must be gearing up for a really busy week in tax accounting offices since the CRA has only received half the returns it is expecting for the 2017 tax filing year. It’s estimated that there will be 29 million tax returns filed this year. Is a big rush still to come before the May 1 deadline? In a word, yes.

Be warned that the CRA is taking tax avoidance and tax evasion more seriously than ever. The federal budget funded increased verification activities, additional auditors and specialists focused on the underground economy. A major focus of the CRA Criminal Investigations program has also targeted sophisticated taxpayers and promoters of schemes.

How do you define great advice? What services do you need to receive from your advisor that would compel you to recommend them to your friends and associates? In the tax business, that particular sweet spot occurs when the client says thanks and “see you next year.” But what happens to the standards of professional advice when a client’s health changes? Consider the following true-to-life scenario as an example. 

In celebration of Canada’s 150th year, Knowledge Bureau is pleased to put the spotlight on Canadian Financial Authors. This week: Rick Atkinson discusses Time Management – A Critical Retirement Skill.

How’s your luck? Give it a try for a chance to win a free registration to the Distinguished Advisor Conference (DAC) in the spectacular wine country of BC.