Start Tax Season 2025 on Sound Footing

Filing a tax return is difficult as the playing field is one of constant change:  the tax rules are in flux, particularly in the 2024 tax filing year,  with all the uncertainty around the capital gains provisions.  But in addition, taxpayers have undergone many financial and life event changes since their last T1 filings, each of which must be identified for each family member.  Here’s a primer for new year conversations between advisors and clients that cuts through the noise:  what matters is what you keep!

Canada’s only multi-disciplinary conference for tax accounting and financial advisors wound up on Montreal on November 12; but the memories of an outstanding CE learning and networking event are guaranteed to linger.  Check out the photos here then take advantage of early registration offers for the next event: Acuity 2025, November 23-26, 2025 in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.  The theme is Happy Landings:   Discover a New Era of Risk and Rewards! 

Owning a home, once almost considered a right of Canadian citizenship, has become a more distant dream for millions. The high cost of housing, coupled with a desperate shortage of supply, has turned the notion of home ownership into a near impossibility for many Canadians and those who have arrived in our country more recently.  The Tax-Free First Home Savings Account (FHSA) can help but it’s important to open an account before December 31, 2024 to create and preserve the contribution room.

CRA has confirmed the indexing rate of 2.7% for 2025 on various income tested provisions and including personal amounts applied to reduce taxes payable.  This also applies to ALDAs, which provide a unique additional way to defer income from taxation in the case of healthy, affluent seniors.  Here’s what’s to know:

The federal government has confirmed its final numbers to reflect the 2.7% indexing rate to be applied to personal amounts in 2025.  Knowledge Bureau published the amounts several weeks ago, and was within a dollar on most estimations.  Here are the final numbers for year-end tax planning purposes:

Register now for the CE Savvy Summit: 2025 Advanced T1 Personal Tax Update! All the updated knowledge and resources a tax or financial professional needs, including expert instruction on 2024 T1 Completion and Tax Planning for 2025. Virtual and in-person events in select cities this January – register by January 10 early-bird deadline for tuition savings and take advantage of new team member rates to prepare your staff for the upcoming tax season.

These Distinguished Fellows are honored for their distinguished services as influential thought leaders, who have demonstrated a commitment to the noble cause of teaching and writing by engaging others in the high standards of knowledge they share. In doing so, they have also demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to shaping the future of the tax, accounting and financial services industries. Browse our newly updated FDFS™ Directory   and join us in congratulating our 2025 honourees.