Immediate Expensing Rules: Good Tax Policy?

Over the course of the last two federal budgets (April 16, 2024 and November 4, 2025), the rules for claiming Capital Cost Allowance (CCA) have been uncertain. The proposal to extend immediate expensing rules for certain acquired assets were paused for over a year and then re-introduced in a series of four complex measures which together with new rules for Scientific Research and Experimental Development have become known as the “Productivity Super-Deduction”.  A backdrop appears below. The key question: will this complexity be effective as an economic stimulator?   

Canadian taxpayers are a compliant lot: according to CRA, in 2012–13, 92% of Canadians filed their taxes on time and 95% paid their reported taxes in full. This is a remarkable record for a tax system based on self-assessment and voluntary compliance. Yet, there is another side to the story.

Precise tax knowledge counts:  accurate tax preparation is the goal of every professional tax specialist and it is a tremendous value add for financial advisors and their staff who will field hundreds of calls from their clients this tax season.

If you are in the tax preparation business or work in bookkeeping but want to get a certificate or designation under your belt, now is a good time to dive in and take an online course from Knowledge Bureau.

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“A wise man once said nothing. . .”  (Anonymous)

It’s official now:  Finance Canada confirmed on December 30 that restricted fixed costs for certain auto expenses claimed by business owners and employed commission sales people, which haven’t changed in some time; won’t be revised for 2017 either.