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!

The tax and accounting profession is facing a severe crisis due to a shortage of qualified accountants, according to a report from the Association of Certified Professional Accountants, and Knowledge Bureau can help. Enrol now in comprehensive, specialized certificate courses – Graduate in time for Tax Season. Custom design your learning plan:

With a score of 2.8 out of three stars, the 2024 Acuity Conference for Distinguished Advisors officially wrapped up in Montreal this week and was met with rave reviews from our attendees! 100% of attendees said they would recommend this conference to others.  Thought leaders, newsmakers and news breakers from across Canada moved the needle in the direction of system change as delegates explored the theme, Safe Havens:  Securing Financial Freedom and Wealth Potential.  Says Evelyn Jacks, President of Knowledge Bureau, “The prevailing consensus pointed to the need to remove obstacles, including regulatory overreach, and to do so with the power of multi-disciplinary collaboration and connection.”   

Dan Kelly, President of the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses (CFIB) gave an impassioned speech on the efforts to get the federal government to release the $2.5 Billion Carbon Tax Rebate promised to small business owners back in 2019, only to learn that the government planned to tax the rebate as “government assistance” when it finally arrives.  Taxing a refund of tax makes no sense, and the finance department reversed course quickly - the rebate won’t be added to income.  But this is another one of many recent instances in which tax policy appears off base, exasperating the ability to comply with our self assessment system of taxation with certainty.  Other important points from Dan’s speech on Beating Public Policy Barriers to Small Business:

The great wealth transfer represents an unprecedented passage of assets from one generation to the next, with approximately $1T passing from baby boomers to the next generations between 2020-2030, but what does this generational wealth transfer mean for philanthropic giving? Kristin Ramlal and Evan Connell of Canada Life provided a list of reasons why there is a great opportunity for social impact in Canada, something important to think about as Giving Tuesday, December 3, a global movement advocating for community  philanthropy approaches. 

Conference for Distinguished Advisors 2025.   The theme is Happy Landings:  Discover a New Era of Risk & Reward.  To apply forward your proposal for a topic to the theme to the attention of Program Director Evelyn Jacks.

Knowledge Bureau Graduates, Designates and instructors were recognized for their stellar achievements in continuing professional development and specialization of skills at the Acuity Conference for Distinguished Advisors in Montreal.  In addition, selected organizations and individuals were bestowed special awards that recognized the tremendous impact they make in their industries. Please join us in congratulations this year’s honourees and take a peek at the photos and videos of the celebrations!