Time’s Up: CRA’s 100 Day Mandate for Improvement

After years of frustration on the part of tax professionals and taxpayers alike, the Finance Minister ordered the Canada Revenue Agency to clean up its act in 100 days. Specifically, the improvement plan was to run from September 2 through December 11. Finance Minister and Minister of National Revenue, Francoise-Phillippe Champagne instructed CRA to fix “unacceptable wait times and service delays.” Time’s up this week and CRA has released an update on progress. What gets measured, gets done. Let’s see what CRA’s metrics show. 

The divorce rate has dropped by one third in Canada since 2016, in a surprising statistical table published by Statistics Canada this week. This is contrary to the reports by some divorce lawyers who saw a spike in inquiries during the pandemic. Was this new family harmony an anomaly or was there a pandemic blip in the numbers? 

Bill C-47, which was tabled on April 20, 2023 to enact certain provisions of the March 28, 2023 federal budget passed through the House of Commons on June 8, 2023, and is now off to the Senate.  With swift passage there, provisions such as the Grocery Rebate could be initiated for anticipated payment by July 5.  However, there are other very important provisions in the 430-page document – sign up to receive Knowledge Bureau Report in your inbox to receive our detailed budget report for more information! 

An interesting trend has emerged in giving has emerged over the pandemic years.  In a new report released by Statistics Canada on March 14, 2023 there was a 3% drop in donors claiming donation tax credits in the 2021 tax filing year.  Are Canadians less charitable these days? Or is something else going on? 

It’s hot times in the tax and financial services industries, as the upward trend in both wages and job opportunities that started last year continue to increase, according to Statistics Canada. If you’re looking for new team members to scale up your business, you might be surprised to find how much you could have to pay to secure talent, and which sectors will have the hardest time landing them.

The last couple of weeks, we’ve been featuring the details of a brand new account – the First Home Savings Account (FHSA). This week we’re focusing on transfer opportunities with the FHSA, which is especially relevant to those working with millennial clients looking to buy their first homes. What order should the FHSA, TFSA and RRSP be funded as part of a strategic savings plan? For some the choice will be evident, for others this is a great leveraging opportunity and as an advisor, this is an opportunity to be prepared with the answers.

After three years of engaging in online meetings, it remains surprisingly common to witness certain advisors who demonstrate a lack of familiarity with virtual settings. In order to avoid appearing unprofessional, it is essential to steer clear of certain faux pas that can easily be avoided.