CRA’s Callback Service for Tax Pros Pilot

Are you a tax professional with years of experience? Have you ever felt frustrated after calling the CRA, having spent hours on hold, wasting your client’s or employer’s time, only to speak to CRA agents who aren’t qualified to answer your questions? The Auditor General of Canada was equally displeased in a scathing report last fall on wait times and accuracy levels at the CRA. Now a new CRA callback service may come to the rescue this tax season. Here is my experience with the pilot project so far:

Year end education planning requires a close look at the Registered Education Saving Plan (RESP) as an option for families saving for their children’s education.  The RESP features a generous Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG) and Canada Learning Bond (CLB) which really sweetens the savings pot thanks to the federal government.

After the highly acclaimed DAC 2016 in San Diego, the location of the 14th Distinguished Advisor Conference (DAC) was announced. Following tradition, advisors will be visiting a retirement haven that their clients frequent; this time in beautiful Kelowna, B.C., November 5-8, 2017.

With the U.S. election results and the subsequent crash of the Canadian immigration site, now is likely a great time to brush up on the rules for cross-border taxation and for U.S citizens living in Canada. Knowledge Bureau covers the subject in its online Cross Border Taxation Course and will also devote a half day to the subject in the May edition of the Distinguished Advisor Workshops.

"I always like to look on the optimistic side of life, but I am realistic enough to know that life is a complex matter." Walt Disney

The Trump win in the US provides an opportunity for professional financial advisors and their clients to come together and review strategies for meeting financial goals in anticipation of global change.  Having a great Plan “A” for financial decision-making is critical anytime; but in times of great change a smart and insightful Plan “B” can make all the difference in getting the right long term results.

Are you managing your assets with tax efficiency?  This year make sure both you and your spouse review your personal net worth statements to ensure your tax advantages are taken advantage of.  Here are three tips to consider.