Time’s Up: CRA’s 100 Day Mandate for Improvement

After years of frustration on the part of tax professionals and taxpayers alike, the Finance Minister ordered the Canada Revenue Agency to clean up its act in 100 days. Specifically, the improvement plan was to run from September 2 through December 11. Finance Minister and Minister of National Revenue, Francoise-Phillippe Champagne instructed CRA to fix “unacceptable wait times and service delays.” Time’s up this week and CRA has released an update on progress. What gets measured, gets done. Let’s see what CRA’s metrics show. 

Income inequality has been a topic of discussion for decades.  Now, with the pandemic as the catalyst, the advent of the CERB and future income uncertainty have brought this issue and a broader one – the right to a basic minimum income – some increased momentum.  There may be a simpler solution to help people immediately, and at the same time remove the controversy around incentives to work.

The federal government has raised the amount that can be claimed for meals under a variety of provisions in the Income Tax Act by 35%, from $17 to $23 a meal or $69 a day.  The last change occurred in 2009.  The new amount is generous, as the purchasing power of a 2009 dollar today is 83% of its value. If adjusted for inflation, the $17 meal in 2009 would cost $20.53 in 2020. More good news:  the change is retroactive to January 1, 2020.  There are three groups of taxpayers who will be cheering:

This year’s DAC Conference brings together an esteemed faculty of speakers whose thoughtful focus will be on rebuilding financial confidence for the thousands of clients the audience will serve this year.  It’s a groundbreaking and must-attend event, and the only one-of-its kind for tax, bookkeeping and financial advisors who wish to meld skills and collaborate to raise the bar in providing high value services to their clients.  Featured topics and speakers are:

Knowledge Bureau is pleased to recognize the achievements of its graduating class July 2019- June 2020 at the Virtual Distinguished Advisor Conference (DAC), October 28-30.  Be sure to find yourself and/or your colleagues and friends on the honor roll and graduating class list of Designates below. Congratulations are in order for all!

Check out our new calendar for your fall studies. Now is the time to enrol to study on your own time with online training or try and interactive Virtual Class Option. Act by September 15 to take advantage of early registration offers.

In 2019, the average Canadian family spent 42.6% of their household income on taxes according to a new study by the Frasier Institute.  Yet, they spent only 36.2% on the basic necessities of life, including housing, food and clothing. The issue for tax and financial professionals is:  what can be done to tip the scales in favor of funding basic necessities now, while preparing for a future that could include taxes, inflation, and unemployment?  Six strategies appear below.