Navigating Auto Expense Deduction at Year End: What Clients Need to Know

Doubtless you’ve had clients ask whether they can write off any portion of their vehicle for work or business purposes. And your answer, as always, is: “It depends.” The rules are worth reviewing at year end as they can vary significantly depending on how the client earns their income—employee, self-employed, or incorporated – and this is a deduction that’s often audited. Here’s a practical primer to guide that conversation.

Investors, be sure to claim your investment expenses on the 2016 tax return. If it’s done properly, you can save hundreds, maybe even thousands, of dollars over the years. But you have to do it correctly, or you could get into hot water.

Today’s wealth managers and financial advisors are being called upon to offer their clients a more holistic approach to retirement - one that encourages exploration and direction beyond money-related questions. That’s important.

Experts and visionaries from all sides of the financial services are now preparing their ground-breaking research for presentations at the Distinguished Advisor Conference, November 5-8 in beautiful Kelowna, British Columbia.

The demand for filing unincorporated small business returns may be a new growth area in the tax preparation industry as both an aging demographic and self-employed millennials choose to  make a living this way.

Siegfried Merten, MFA™, Ontario, is Knowledge Bureau’s noted expert on filing returns for recipients of German pensions. He says this about his experience in obtaining his MFA™ designation:

“No one’s happiness but my own is in my power to achieve or to destroy.” Ayn Rand