Claiming Medical Expenses: Free Healthcare?

Free Health Care? Did you know that Canadians spend on average more than $1,000 on medical expenses each year? It’s estimated that government programs, via our taxes, cover about 72% of medical expenses, which means that we pay for the rest. Your clients may be over-paying on their taxes because they don’t know about medical expense deductions. 

The beauty of a Virtual Campus is that you can enrol and study with Knowledge Bureau any time, 24/7. However, our head office staff will be taking a well-deserved family break from noon December 24, returning bright and early on January 4.  We are grateful for their hard work and dedication and thank them sincerely for their passion in serving you – our cherished clients – all year long.

CRA released its personal tax credits return on November 27 with few surprises.

Recently a group of professional organizations, including the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), expressed their concerns about amendments to the Income Tax Act (the Act), which received Royal Assent on December 16, 2014. The provisions, related to subsection 104(13.4), the tax treatment of trusts, come into effect on January 1, 2016. The Department of Finance responded to those concerns in an open letter on November 16, 2015, a summary of which follows.

The assets controlled by today’s 34-year-olds will quintuple in coming years, but only 17% of adult children have a relationship with their parents’ advisors. Ignoring them may be one of the most significant mistakes today’s advisor may be making.

Dynamic Funds emerged a winner of the prestigious national Investor Education Award at the Morningstar Awards on November 25, in a star-studded affair at the Royal York in Toronto.  The win was especially joyous for Knowledge Bureau, who wrote and produced a certificate course for advisors as part of the winning submission.

The next quarterly tax instalment deadline is December 15.   Surprisingly, almost 30% said no to Knowledge Bureau’s November’s poll question, which asked: “Canadians who have net tax owing of more than $3,000 for 2015 and in either of 2014 or 2013 must make quarterly income tax remittances. Should this threshold be increased?”