Tax Avoidance, Financial Stress & Well Being

Earlier this month, Statistics Canada published a report titled Stretching the Loonie: a time series analysis of financial difficulty and quality of life. The report is based on a nation-wide survey and the results are concerning. They reveal a serious trend and it is possible this is contributing to the late filing trend we are seeing this tax season.

The federal budget has put an emphasis on positioning Canada for success in the innovation economy of tomorrow. However, an emerging issue for most professional advisors is what to do about the emphasis CRA has on the reporting of offshore assets and the perceived loopholes private business owners have.  Those are the two critical subjects in this month’s Distinguished Advisor Workshop tour.

Try our trivia question and get in on a chance to win a free registration to the Distinguished Advisor Conference (DAC) in the spectacular wine country of BC. Meet Canada’s top advisors and reflect with them on this year’s theme, Canada 150: Financial Advice at the Crossroads of Change.

Michelle Smith, achieving success with the DFA - Bookkeeping Services Specialist™ designation

“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.”  Thomas A. Edison

Post-tax season blues? Not sure if you claimed all the deductions and credits you were entitled to? You’re probably not alone. Many people miss lucrative provisions when filing, but you can request an adjustment to your filed return. One of the most frequently missed deductions for families is the child care expense claim.

Since February, the provincial governments across the country have been releasing their 2017 budgets. Most recently in the last week of April, Ontario, Nova Scotia and the Yukon released theirs. Over the next three Knowledge Bureau Reports, we will be presenting a brief summary of each provinces’ tax provisions, starting with the most recent: