Canada Needs a Financial Plan

According to a July 23 publication by the Fraser Institute, we are getting poorer here in Canada and the prospects for economic growth are looking grim.  This should be of concern to every Canadian concerned about their “real income” – that’s their purchasing power – and by extension - their ability to fund consumption now and for important family milestones in the future:  retirements, education and homeownership.  It’s grim, but there are practical suggestions for a turn around plan. Here’s a synopsis of the report.   

2022 CRA limits further enhance the tax deductions that Personal Pension Plan (PPP) clients have over Individual Pension Plan (IPP) clients. The gap of $91,194 in 2021 is now almost $12,000 larger in 2022! Those of you who like to project the extra wealth your clients will enjoy over long periods of time thanks to the power of tax-deferred compound interest should rejoice at this news, according to JP Laporte and Knowledge Bureau Partner for the first annual virtual Pension Conference for Accounting Firm Partners and their staff taking place on November 30, 2021. RSVP now - who wouldn't want an extra $100,000 in deductions over an IPP during one's career?

Due to a court injunction, the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) Promoters Restrictions Regulations, which were to have taken effective November 15, 2021 have suspended until further notice.  The regulations were to have limited fees paid for DTC applications to $100.  We will keep you updated regarding the status of the injunction, but here’s what you need to know about the new regulations:

A big new tax filing deadline is approaching and tax and financial advisors must make their clients aware: all non-resident trusts and most express trusts resident in Canada must start filing T3 returns for tax years ending on or after December 31, 2021 and the filing deadline is coming up fast:  March 31, 2022.  Here’s what’s at issue:

Tax compliance regarding T3 Trust returns is in the spotlight as new efile requirements begin for the tax filing years ending December 31, 2021 forward.  Here’s a primer on what you need to know; a preview of a newly revised professional certificate course, Filing T3 Trust Returns at Knowledge Bureau by Faculty Member and Instructor, Diane Elliott.

It was a close race with our most recent poll question, with respondents torn when it came to the question “Do you believe a potential anti-flipping capital gains tax on principal residences is a good idea?” This was a change proposed in the election and while the majority were in favour, most of the comments were in the negative, here’s what you said:

Trouble finding qualified help for tax season?  Canada’s most comprehensive and popular advanced tax update is now taking registrations for January 19 Virtual event featuring the “Tax Bible” – the popular name for the comprehensive desk top reference coveted by tax and accounting professionals from coast to coast.  This is the time to train staff in a new and improved hybrid live and online course to shake out the cobwebs and drill down on dark horses and news for filing 2021 tax returns.