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?

On December 9,2019, the new government has introduced the legislation to implement changes to the Basic Personal Amount (BPA). This is a broad-based tax change that should put more money into employees’ pockets every payday, and help to reduce quarterly or annual instalment remittances for others. But, it’s all very complex and the changes are scheduled to begin in 2020. There is a spoiler alert, however.

The Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA) has been with us for a decade now, yet there are many misconceptions about it. For example, the 2019 contribution limit is $63,500 for those who have been eligible to contribute every year since 2009. That’s residents of Canada who are 18 or over. If you turned 18 in 2019, however, you would contribute based on the current year limit of $6000. Another big problem: when to replenish your withdrawn funds.

New data from the 2019 Canadian Financial Capability Survey* shows that Canadians are under increasing financial stress. However, only 49% seek the help they need from tax and financial advisors. Additionally, according to the pros who answered Knowledge Bureau’s poll last month, there are significant knowledge gaps that exist among Canadians when it comes to their financial literacy. The reasons are both diverse and very interesting. 

The disability tax credit is often overlooked by taxpayers and can result in big tax savings or refunds, especially if the taxpayer fails to claim it for several years. Prior filed returns can be adjusted but only back 10 years. Therefore, the deadline for claiming this credit, as well as most other deductions and credits for 2009 is December 31, 2019.

If you are a professional tax and financial advisor, it is your job to know all the personal tax nuances your clients will face as they discover a multiplicity of new tax form challenges in the tax filing season 2020. This year, register no later than January 10 for the CE Summits, which are expected to sell out in 6 cities:  Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver. But there is another important reason to come: multi-advisory business referral opportunities.

Are you tightening your belt on holiday spending. . .or will there be a lot more than a lump of coal in your Christmas stockings this year? There are few things worse than having bills come due without money in the bank to cover them. But, for far too many Canadians, it is a reality more often than we would like to admit. That’s why Advisorsavvy has put together a list of budgeting and debt management tips for us to share with you.