Changes to Paper Filing Disempowering

Last tax season, only 7% of all Canadian tax filers filed on paper. The CRA is pushing for zero. It continues to steer the holdouts to digitized filing by adding lots of obstacles. Most recently, it is removing almost all the schedules from the tax return package it mails. This seems unfair to people who paper file because they can’t afford a computer and internet, distrust the security of online filing and those who are neither tax or computer literate. Here’s what they are up against:

Assistants to wealth managers will gather for the first ever Assistants’ Conference in Toronto on December 5.  Knowledge Bureau President, Evelyn Jacks, will be a guest speaker, presenting on How to Ramp Up Your Communications Skills. She will also introduce a new online diploma program designed especially for wealth advisors’ assistants: the Professional Financial Assistant Diploma Program™.

The theme of DAC 2017 is Canada 150: Financial Advice at the Crossroads of Change.  Plan on enjoying the wisdoms of some of Canada’s most prolific educators, financial leaders, writers and motivational speakers.

"Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory." George S. Patton

According to a recently released study by Statistics Canada, people who are socially isolated are more likely to experience a poor quality of life, morbidity and mortality. Loss of hearing has a big part to play in creating that feeling of isolation, particularly for women. Tax and financial advisors can directly help address the issues with some year-end tax planning.

Executors will want to review donations strategies carefully before year end if managing the final affairs of someone who passed away in 2016.  There are a series of new rules to be aware of.

If making an RESP contribution is part of your year-end tax planning discussions, be sure to understand the expensive tax consequences of an excess contribution. A subscriber who contributes more than the limits allow will face a penalty tax of 1% per month on the excess amount, imposed under the Income Tax Act S. 204.91(1).