Tax Shock Adds to Family Heartbreak

Last month the sad story of an Ontario family who suddenly lost both parents in 2024 was shared in Burlington Today.  The tax outcomes were just as shocking as the two deaths from unrelated causes.  There was a cottage, a large RRSP and a big tax bill.   Some of the outcomes could have been mitigated with some planning.   I sat down with CTV’s Pat Foran to discuss the outcomes – with a message important to family planning.  

Should you be buying a business asset before year end? There are some great tax incentives available if you’re in the market for new office furniture or a new car. The Accelerated Investment Incentive introduced last fall triples the capital cost allowance claims for assets purchased after November 20, 2018. That means your expenditures for all assets purchased in 2019 will qualify. Eco-friendly cars also qualify for an extra saving. Here are the details:

Last week, we covered *Divorce: Minimizing Set-Back Through Tax Efficiency. However, there is another piece to the financial puzzle that divorce introduces: division of assets. This article will explore the division of common assets upon divorce; a process legal, tax and financial advisors will want to be up-to-speed.

The Canadian wealth management industry is experiencing unprecedented change, as major shifts in client demographics and expectations present new demands. Wealth managers face significant opportunities to acquire new clients, while current clients need to understand the value they are receiving. How should wealth managers prepare to grow through this period of rapid change?

Debt-to-disposable income levels in Canada is very high, according to Statistics Canada. The figure recently edged down to 177.1% from 177.5% but it still means that Canadians owe $1.77 for every $1.00 in disposable income. It’s a big topic for discussion at year end planning meetings with clients, covered at the November CE Summits national tour November 2-6, by new sponsor, Home Trust.

September is back to school month, and Knowledge Bureau is making it a little easier for you to invest in your education. Until September 30th, Knowledge Bureau is waiving instalment fees on all designation and diploma programs purchased on the EZ-Pay instalment plan.

It’s quarterly tax instalment remittance time again! But do you really need to make the payment on September 15? You should be concerned if you earn income from self-employment, pensions, rental income, or receive taxable alimony. A DFA-Tax Services Specialist™ can help. Here is what you need to know.