Podcast: Automatic Tax Filing - Will It Work?

Last week Taxpayers' Ombudsperson François Boileau  tabled his annual report:  In Pursuit of Better Service: Taxpayers Deserve More.  once again, it was nothing short of scathing, as CRA received its highest number of complaints in the last three years.  Calling our “completely nuts” Income Tax Act a potential barrier, he is nonetheless pushing for automatic tax filing as a potential solution.  A new episode of Real Tax News with Evelyn Jacks & Friends available next week, will feature guest Gillian Petit, Ph.D. - author of a great report, Welcome News for Lower-Income Canadians, but There’s More to Do - which takes a deeper dive.  Consider the following:

In the unlikely event that you have no plans for your tax refund, consider using it in a special way this year, especially if you’re a parent or a grandparent: help your kids or grandchildren with their education funding. One way to speed up the accumulations is with a contribution to the Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP).

The GST/HST Credit is a federal refundable credit payable to those 19 years of age and up. The next payment will be made on April 20 to eligible taxpayers who have filed a 2014 tax return.

Whether refugees from conflicted countries are looking to start anew for themselves and their families, or disgruntled Americans are looking to escape a government they do not agree with, immigration to Canada has never been a hotter topic.

In the past year, numerous tax advantages have been altered; if nothing else, the March 22, 2016, budget reminds us again never to look a “tax gift horse” in the mouth, especially when it comes to tax-free or tax-deferred investment opportunities.

Are you getting the most for your dollar when you work with your tax advisor? Many taxpayers would like better answers to their questions about how to save more on their tax return. If you are one of them, read on to learn more about a three-step process Tax Services Specialists are using to increase their value proposition to their clients.

A tax-efficient payroll is one that ensures employees pay only the correct amount of tax and no more with every paycheque. Bookkeepers and payroll departments that offer employees the opportunity to integrate tax efficiencies provide a valuable service that can lead not only to higher take-home pay, but higher family savings rates, too.