News Room

Fall Federal Budget: Will Spending Be Cut?

Canada has historically presented an annual budget since Confederation in 1867, even through periods like World Wars and the Great Depression, but we have recently experienced the longest period without a full federal budget in our history. By the time the next one is brought down, expected in October 2025, it will have been 18 months since the controversial April 2024 budget which introduced the doomed capital gains inclusion rate hikes. What can we expect?

Need Answers to Tax Question?  Expand Your Toolkit

No time to wait for hours on hold with the CRA?  Expand your tax season toolkit with Knowledge Bureau’s suite of immediately implementable tools including EverGreen Explanatory Notes and the Knowledge Bureau Tax Planning Calculators.  These tools are designed to provide you with answers to trigger questions your clients have about tax efficiency and the important financial decisions they need to make.

Basic Rules on Interest Deductibility

With recent interest rate hikes in the news, taxpayers will have more questions about the deductibility of interest costs.  Exactly when is interest fully deductible as a carrying cost or a business deduction? When does it form part of the capital cost of the property? Finally, when do new legislative proposals recently released by Finance Canada begin to restrict interest cost deductibility and for whom?  Here’s what you need to know to have more confident conversations between advisors and taxpayers:

Over-Contributions and Excess Contributions to an RRSP

RRSP season ended on March 1, so any contributions to be deducted on the taxpayer’s 2021 return must have already been made. These contributions cannot exceed the maximum RRSP contribution for 2021 which appeared on the 2020 Notice of Assessment. So long as the contributions made are less than the maximum allowed, the taxpayer can deduct as much or as little of the contributions made on their 2021 return. Complications arise, though, when the amount contributed exceeds the maximum.

New Canada Digital Adoption Program for Small Businesses

On March 3, 2022, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, announced that the Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP) is now fully active and ready for qualifying businesses to apply for funding. The purpose of the CDAP is to assist small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) “grow their online presence and upgrade or adopt digital technologies.” Here are the details:

Resources You Need for a Busy Tax Season

Tax season is now in full swing, according to the most recent 2022 season filing statistics from the CRA. As of March 7 almost 2.5 million returns had been filed, with over 95% through electronic filing methods E=File and Netfile. As we approach the height of the season, does you team have the necessary resources to deal with the demands?

Tax Tip: The Home Accessibility Tax Credit

Did you know the federal government intends to double the Home Accessibility Tax Credit for tax year 2022?  This week’s tax tip is relevant to caregivers and those age 65 or older.  You may even be eligible to make a claim this year.  Here’s what you need to know:
 
 
 
Knowledge Bureau Poll Question

On September 2, Finance Minister Champagne mandated CRA to implement a 100-day plan to “strengthen services, improve access, and reduce delays.” That’s by December 11, 2025. Do you believe this approach will help?

  • Yes
    7 votes
    26.92%
  • No
    19 votes
    73.08%