Changes to Paper Filing Disempowering

Last tax season, only 7% of all Canadian tax filers filed on paper. The CRA is pushing for zero. It continues to steer the holdouts to digitized filing by adding lots of obstacles. Most recently, it is removing almost all the schedules from the tax return package it mails. This seems unfair to people who paper file because they can’t afford a computer and internet, distrust the security of online filing and those who are neither tax or computer literate. Here’s what they are up against:

The role of the tax specialist is an essential service as families must file tax returns to qualify for important social benefits amidst a devastating and stressful global event: the COVID Pandemic.  Worse, stressed families face onerous self-assessment procedures for government programs like CERB and the various business loans and wage subsidies. To get the best after-tax results for these families, highly trained tax services specialists must understand investment, retirement, business and estate planning strategies. Only a Knowledge Bureau Education provides all of these elements in its online designation programs.

Knowledge Bureau is pleased to announce the publication of a new certificate course, Personal Pension Planning For Corporate Owner-Managers, by JP Laporte, CEO, INTEGRIS Pension Management Corp and Mark Taucar, CFA, Porfolio Manager, Accilent Capital Management Inc.  It’s a must for any advisor who is working with owner-managers or professionals in this challenging pandemic environment.

In the fray of the pandemic, tax filing deadlines have come and gone, with the most recent being the June 1 personal tax filing deadline.  Governments have been committed to keeping tax benefits flowing based on the 2018 return and will even waive late filing penalties and interest for failure to file.  But a big reckoning is coming at midnight on September 1.

The CERB auditing has begun. Unfortunately, with a bit of “gotcha” scenario. The CRA is starting to crack down on those who are “misusing” the federal Canadian Emergency Response Benefits by introducing a tip line to report fraudsters.  It’s too bad that the CRA has not given the repayment option portals the same fanfare. Tax and financial advisors can help, though.

The official extended June 1 tax filing deadline has past, but of course there is an unofficial deadline of September 1 still ahead. No late filing penalties or interest will be charged for those who file by then, so it’s not surprising that T1 tax filing season isn’t truly over yet.  In fact, 30% of all T1 returns filed last year are still missing in action.

As part of the emergency pandemic assistance programs, a new benefit was introduced for seniors – for some, but not all. Those receiving OAS will receive a $300 one-time payment, and those receiving GIS will receive an additional $200. But do those who chose to postpone their benefits qualify too?