Capital Gains Chaos: Extensions & Unprecedented Delays to Tax Season 2025

Stop! Don’t file a T1 or T3 tax return yet, says a March 11, 2025, news release from the CRA, if you have been impacted by the chaos of the proposed capital gains inclusion rate increase.

Things are changing quickly in the tax world and attendees at the September 20 Virtual CE Summit raved about the educational content they received to stay sharp.  If you missed it, we have a great way to  stay on top the critical changes to tax planning and new burdens of proof, online,  with the new CE Savvy™ Collection – Tax Audit Defence Strategies.  You can earn 5, 15, or 30 CE Credits before year end, too. Here’s why professional advisors cannot miss this opportunity to come up to speed with the complex rules from the March 28, 2023 budget and the August 4, 2023 Draft Legislation:  you could be subject to big penalties, too.

Advisors of the future need to focus on three things, at least if you ask three of our gold partners who will be speaking at DAC Acuity 2023.  The keys to success are building transformative teams, finding the secrets to simplicity in complex planning, all the while understanding and balancing your lifeload. Sound like a lofty goal? Join us to hear from the thought leaders who will help break down these strategies November 12-14 in Banff. Early-bird registration ends September 30.

The early bird deadline is September 30.  So there is plenty of time to register for The Distinguished Advisor Conference and save on tuition fees.  But there is more great news!  We’ve been able to negotiate another block of rooms at the Beautiful Banff Springs Hotel at the KB conference rate – you really can’t afford to miss that!  And we’ve lined up some incredibly fun networking opportunities to complement the seriously great educational agenda.   Check out all the activities and sign up soon through the DAC Interactive Agenda, as spaces are limited! Secure your place at the futurescape: the 20th Anniversary DAC conference!

CRA is sharpening its audit focus on Canadian real estate owner and it’s worth billions. Up to 5 different tax returns can be reviewed: the T1, T2, T3, the GST/HST return, and the new Underused Housing Tax.  Recent real estate audit activities in two provinces, BC and Ontario, have been particularly fruitful with  over $1 billion in tax reassessments that have resulted in each province along with over 3,000 gross negligence penalties amounting to close to $300 million more in the period April 2015 to March 2022.   We’ll discuss the 7 big audit errors every professional advisor needs to know about at the CE Summit on September 20 and invite you to register by September 15 for an early bird offer.  Here’s a brief synopsis:

Spread the word!  It’s new for 2023 and subsequent taxation years, and up to $50,000 in construction expenditures may qualify for each qualifying renovated property. This is the Multigenerational Home Renovation Tax Credit (MGHRTC) and it’s quite lucrative. A $7,500 refundable personal tax credit is possible for eligible renovations or the construction of a secondary unit to enable an eligible family member to live with you. Who are these eligible people and renos?  Let’s check it out, based on the great guidance in Evergreen Explanatory Notes, Knowledge Bureau’s tax research library, included with every professional certificate course.

As the third quarter of 2023 begins, many taxpayers will be sitting down with their advisors to discuss tax planning and specifically, what can be done before year end to reduce or at least defer cash flow required to settle tax debts triggered by 2023 transactions. In addition, thanks to proposed legislative amendments released August 4, 2023, there may be opportunities to recoup prior year tax dollars regarding transactions that triggered tax; specifically for the deferral of capital gains that would otherwise be realized.