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Financial Issues & Answers for Everyone
A thorough analysis of today’s financial news—delivered weekly to your inbox or via social media. As part of Knowledge Bureau’s interactive network, the Report covers current issues on the tax and financial services landscape and provides a wide range of professional benefits, including access to peer-to-peer blogs, opinion polls, online lessons, and vital industry information from Canada’s only multi-disciplinary financial educator.
July 2025 Poll
Do you believe Canada’s tax system based, on self-assessment, has suffered under recent changes at CRA and by Finance Canada? If so, what is the one wish you have for tax reform?
Household Debt: Larger Than Canada’s Overall GDP
It’s almost the halfway mark in the year 2025! How prepared are Canadians for uncertainty and volatility ahead? StatsCan is reporting that our debt to income ratio worsened in the first quarter of 2025. There is an opportunity for advisors to start year end tax planning early to engage clients in solutions to pay down debt. Online certificate courses leading to the DMA (Distinguished Master Advisor) designation can help shore up knowledge on tax, accounting and budgeting as well as business forecasting and planning gaps this summer. Here’s the backdrop:
The Shifting Landscape of Philanthropy in Canada
Charitable giving has changed noticeably in recent years. As professionals who prepare tax returns or provide estate and legacy planning services, you will almost certainly have noticed a decline in the number of clients who are giving. But donors who plan strategically throughout the year may be more inclined to give more and most important, highly value the opportunity to discuss this with a training strategist. This is where the MFA-P™ designation program comes in. Consider the following as a key professional opportunity:
Acuity 2025: Top Advisors & Influencers Gather in Puerto Vallarta Nov. 23-26!
Secure Your Spot by June 30 and Save on Tuition for Canada’s Only Multi-Advisory Wealth Management Conference: the Annual Acuity Conference for Distinguished Advisors, taking place November 23–26 in spectacular Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. This year’s theme, “Happy Landings”, sets the stage for what may be the most important conference you attend in 2025. In a time of global uncertainty, this is Canada’s only multi-disciplinary gathering of top advisors and thought leaders—brought together to navigate a New Era of Risk and Reward from both a national and international lens.
The CRA TSlip Saga: An Update
This tax season has been particularly challenging for both taxpayers and tax professionals. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) provides tax information slips—such as T3, T4, T5, and their variations—through secure online portals: My Account and Represent a Client (RAC). This year, there were lots of problems with these portals, and now, it appears, CRA is not being quite transparent about when the slips were actually visible to clients and that doesn’t seem fair. Here’s an update on where we stand now.
Late Filing of T1135: What You Need to Know
The T1135 form, officially titled Foreign Income Verification Statement, is a crucial document for Canadian taxpayers who own, or hold specified foreign property with a total cost of more than CAD 100,000 at any time during the year. Its primary purpose is to allow the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to track offshore assets and ensure that Canadians are properly reporting foreign income. However, many taxpayers overlook or delay this filing, which can lead to significant penalties and consequences. This article explains the implications of late filing the T1135, including who needs to file, deadlines, penalties, and options for voluntary disclosure.
