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:

What’s important in building modern financial practices?  The top-rated speaker at the recent Distinguished Advisor Conference was someone who focused on the softer side of financial advice—peak performance coach, author, and speaker Craig Dowden, PhD – and his answer to the question was simple:  empathy.

According to Statistics Canada1, 95% of Canadians age 15 years and older have some form of income. There are over 28 million tax filers and two-thirds of them pay income taxes, on average 16% of total income. Fully 70% of that income came from employees, whose earnings are subject to tax withholdings that employers make on their behalf.

“Far away there in the sunshine, are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead.” -Louisa May Alcott

We all know people who immediately capture our attention.  I’m not referring to people whose physique or loud voice is overpowering and intimidating, keeping us at a distance, but those who have that distinct magnetism that draws us closer.

In Information Circular, IC 98-1R5 Collections Policies, issued on February 3, 2013, CRA clearly outlines the consequences that will follow if you make the bad decision to ignore their requests for payment.  Tax and financial advisors have an important role to play in advising their clients to stay out of this kind of trouble, because the consequences can be swift and financially brutal.

Did you know that in Canada every individual can earn over $950 a month completely tax free?  You’ll want to pay particular attention to the “tax credits” you may be entitled to, and how to benefit from them, as you get ready to file your tax return.