Bill C-31: Royal Asset and New CRA Powers Could Come Soon

Changes are coming to the Income Tax Act and both you and your clients will all be affected with new tax risks including longer tax audits. Bill C-31, which passed second reading in the House of Commons on June 3 and is now at committee stage, contains elements of previous Federal Budgets that will expand the CRA’s compliance and enforcement powers. Here’s what you need to know and pass along to your clients:

Big changes are coming to CRA’s Voluntary Disclosures Program (VDP) this fall. The proposals on the table will see the program evolve from an opportunity for taxpayers to correct errors and omissions, to an opportunity for government to use the program to generate revenues at a modest cost.

Mid life crisis?  According to Statistics Canada, there are about 71,000 divorces in Canada each year. In fact, over 40% of marriages will end up in divorce, and it can be very expensive - before and after tax!

Recent tax changes require forethought in planning for high-income earners, and in the preparation of final returns for deceased single taxpayers.

Boomers and Millennials beware:  if you are a new sole proprietor a tax deadline looms this week. 

Inspiration is not the exclusive privilege of poets or artists generally.

Debt is the number-one financial issue in Canada today, and things are about to get more urgent for mortgage holders and business owners who have significant debt.