Immediate Expensing Rules: Good Tax Policy?

Over the course of the last two federal budgets (April 16, 2024 and November 4, 2025), the rules for claiming Capital Cost Allowance (CCA) have been uncertain. The proposal to extend immediate expensing rules for certain acquired assets were paused for over a year and then re-introduced in a series of four complex measures which together with new rules for Scientific Research and Experimental Development have become known as the “Productivity Super-Deduction”.  A backdrop appears below. The key question: will this complexity be effective as an economic stimulator?   

The 2023 Distinguished Advisor Conference (DAC Acuity) takes place November 12 to 14 at the beautiful Banff Springs Hotel. It is going to be an outstanding industry event for several reasons: the incredible education from Canada’s top thought leaders in the tax, accounting and financial services, as well as our 20th Anniversary celebrations!  Here’s who is included on our illustrious speaker roster so far.  Sign up by June 30 for early bird tuition reductions and reserve the incredibly low hotel rates (rooms will sell out fast):

With the new CE Savvy™ Collections you’ll engage in a cool new format that allows for traditional, mobile and social learning, featuring gamification and personalized, data-driven results: keep track of your CE in your own learners dashboard. Plus, learn by collection (5 micro-courses at a time) or by annual subscription (the full professional library yours to select from any time 24/7).

Stressful, time-consuming and important.  Filing a tax return by the May 1 deadline is all of these things.  Yet it’s necessary to receive income-tested social benefits.  A recent analysis by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives discovered a dismal take-up of two of them:  the new Canada Dental Benefit and Canada Housing Benefits.  It begs the question:  is the striking CRA serving the needs for essential tax services well enough?  Perhaps it’s time to consider a new solution to ensure delivery of important income-tested social benefits.

By 2025, the federal government intends to increase the annual influx of immigrants to Canada to 500,000 people. With more people coming from afar, faster, there are great new opportunities to scale up your business and  help new immigrants with tax compliance and financial planning.  Further,  engaging with new migrants to build on their educational credentials, find good jobs and mentorship opportunities in the tax and financial services is a win-win, especially with new government job grants.  Start with conversations about filing for refundable tax benefits:

Last fall Canadians were asked to weigh in on the  “modernization” of GAAR – General Anti Avoidance Rules – after the federal government suffered a series of 24 losses in court.  The GAAR has now been introduced in the March 28, 2023 Federal Budget with a period of consultation, ending May 31, 2023.  Those with energy left after a difficult tax season will want to weigh in before the government moves ahead.  Here’s what you need to know:

The new KB Tax Tip Toolkit gives you fast answers to your tax questions and you’ll earn up to 30 CE credits using it, too! Receive three great solutions at one great price: professional tax research library, powerful tax planning calculators, and CE accreditation. Regular fee: $1,149… now until April 30 only $795.