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:

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.

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: