Coming This Month: Changes to Business Registration Online

More changes are coming to how your clients will access Business Registration Online (BRO). Starting July 14, 2026, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) your business clients will only be able to access BRO through their CRA account. As usual, it’s the taxpayer who is responsible for on time remittances and the burden of proof in an increasingly digital relationship with CRA. Here’s what you need to know:

The RDSP (Registered Disability Savings Plan) is an excellent savings vehicle to build future pension assets for disabled people, all with generous government matching support.  An important deadline was approaching on December 31, 2023 regarding the status of Qualifying Family Members (QFMs).  Thanks to the March 2023 budget, however, this has now been extended.  Here are the details.

Investors in residential real estate – both non-residents and some Canadians - must file their first UHT return by October 31.  Beyond this, a small but important window is available to prepare individuals, trusts and private businesses for new tax eroders before the end of 2023.  For these reasons, Knowledge Bureau is presenting four important professional development days – November 1, January 17, 25 and 26, accompanied by new online micro-course collections.  Details below.

According to the 2024 Canada Salary Guide released by Robert Half, Competition is intense for skilled finance and accounting talent, and top candidates often receive multiple job offers. Some employers prefer to hold out for experienced professionals with in-demand skills, but that approach can result in overlooking high-potential candidates. To overcome staffing gaps, managers are considering people who may need technical training but have polished soft skills. Knowledge Bureau’s programs and courses leading to specialized credentials can help prepare business owners in the field with technical training their new hires need in tax and accounting.

We’re less than a month away for DAC Acuity 2023 at the Banff Springs Hotel, and the agenda features a tax planning powerhouse ready to help you prepare for tax season 2024.

 Canadians spent $34 billion on prescriptions in 2018, and it’s no surprise that statistics show that older people consume more prescription drugs than the young. In fact, drugs are the second biggest expenditure in health care after hospitals. We also spend lots on doctors. It’s an important consideration for your Baby Boomer clients who will all be aged 65 and older by 2031, especially as a national pharmacare program will not be on the horizon until at least 2027. But, for this year, progress is being made on the new Canada Dental Care Plan.  What’s important is to keep all receipts immediately. Here is an overview of what’s on the horizon:

Business owners who received the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) loan and have not yet repaid it will likely be aware of a small extension in the required repayment date.  The loan was due on December 31, 2023 in order to preserve the forgiveness of a portion of the loan. The date is now January 18 or for those who are refinancing to make the payment, March 28.  However, there is a devil in the details to pay special attention to:  the December 31, 2023 deadline still applies for some. For others a missed interest payment could throw the forgivable portions offside.