Tax Change: Advise Taxpayer About Short-Term Rentals

Taxpayers who own a residential property and rent it out must be aware that income reporting is required in most cases.  Further if the rental was for periods of less than 90 days, expenses to offset that income could be restricted.  These Short Term Rental (STR) rules are new for the 2024 tax year.  Here’s what you need to know based on recent directives from Finance Canada and the CRA, which includes a brief reprieve for some STR owners in 2024:

The Personal Pension Plan is the “Swiss Army Knife” of solutions for retirement planning in a new and changing economic environment. It is therefore a must know for tax and financial advisors working with pre-retirees; in particular, business owners.   

Fall is in the air which means, from a financial planning perspective, a transition to year-end tax planning activities! Tax savings are such an important hedge against inflation, but Canadians are missing out: 

The Department of Finance released draft legislation for public comment on the Tax-Free First Home Savings Account (FHSA) first announced in Budget 2022. The scheduled effective date is January 1, 2023; however, it will likely be little later in the year before firms start offering the option to clients.

CRA has just announced increases in the CPP and EI premiums – statutory deductions – that will be payable by employers and employees in 2023.  In the case of EI (Employment Insurance), the rates had been frozen for two years; but now, with both plans becoming more expensive, these taxes on labor will shrink both take home pay for workers and cash flow for employers in an inflationary winter.

Knowledge Bureau Report asked pros across the country whether the First Home Savings Account (FHSA) or the Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) is the better savings vehicle for home buyers.  The vote was close. 

Annual dinner and announcement of 2022 Designates and Graduates with Dr. Dean Smith on Sunday Oct 16 at DAC Acuity 2022, plus a session on Monday led by Dr. Smith covering tax planning and compliance with a focus on ex-pats.