Navigating Auto Expense Deduction at Year End: What Clients Need to Know

Doubtless you’ve had clients ask whether they can write off any portion of their vehicle for work or business purposes. And your answer, as always, is: “It depends.” The rules are worth reviewing at year end as they can vary significantly depending on how the client earns their income—employee, self-employed, or incorporated – and this is a deduction that’s often audited. Here’s a practical primer to guide that conversation.

The Canadian Income Survey for 2013 was released by Statistics Canada on July 8.  While things are virtually unchanged from 2012, some interesting facts emerge about the income levels earned by Canadian families.

With real estate prices soaring in the US and the Canadian dollar falling in value against the greenback, Canadians who invested in a vacation property in the US may be tempted to sell their US cottage and purchase a Canadian cottage instead. 

The technical side of payroll, if done incorrectly, can cost the employer or the employee money, not to mention incurring penalties with the Canada Revenue Agency.

The Underground Economy (UE) is a significant global problem that causes economic erosion for all participants in the financial eco-system. However, it also presents an opportunity for professional tax and financial advisors to rise to the occasion in educating their clients on the issue.

Look for Catherine Bell under the big sombrero. The featured guest speaker at this year’s Distinguished Advisor Conference (DAC)  and author of the bestselling book, Empower Your Presence, is an expert on workplace protocol, etiquette, and professional image management, who understands the complexities of doing business in today’s competitive marketplace.

What are your plans for the rest of the year? Don’t know? Well, Knowledge Bureau has set dates for our fall and winter workshops as well as summer and fall online training dates.