Pre-Budget Consultations Now Underway!

Pre-budget consultations are now underway for this fall’s Federal Budget and Canadians are invited to share their views with Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne through an online survey. Over the next several weeks, the Finance Minister and his team will meet with various stakeholder groups and review public submissions before finalizing the budget.

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.

“While taking my MFA–Succession & Estate Planning Specialist program, I created our Business Navigator Process… these courses were practical and applicable to my current wealth management practice with transitioning business owners.” David Allard, MBA, CFA, CFP, MFA, B. C.

“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.