Mark Your Calendar: Critical Deadlines for May and June

Tax season never truly ends, it seems, as there are many more upcoming tax filing, investment planning and education milestones to discuss with your clients over the next six months. Check out our handy checklist below and then test yourself – what are the conversation openers you’ll use and with which clients? It’s your opportunity to shine with every member of the household:

Most people need to generate the future income they require to sustain their lifestyle by saving money. Saving sooner in life  is better. So is saving in tax-exempt or tax-deferred vehicles. But as wealth accumulates, preservation of value becomes an increasing concern. Two key eroders are taxes and professional fees. Also important is the cost of inflation, even at today’s relatively low rates. Here is why:

Knowledge Bureau’s elections promises chart– from a tax and financial point of view – has proven to be popular and with less than one week to go, we’ve added information on the costs associated with some of the promises made. The Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer’s (PBO) estimates of the platform promises themselves are enlightening; as are those presented with the highly-anticipated release of the Conservatives costed platform.

According to Statistics Canada*, total donations on income tax returns increased over 150% in real terms over the past 3 decades. However, despite an increase, only 13% of Canadians reported discussing charitable giving with their advisors, and they would like to have more value-based discussions. Here’s how you can have a more fulsome conversation on charitable giving with your clients:

Back in December 2016, the CRA announced that it considered the payment of fees for registered accounts from non-registered accounts as an “advantage” and would tax accordingly, starting in 2018. They have now changed their minds.

Small businesses are the backbone of the Canadian economy, accounting for *98% of businesses in the country. Accountants and bookkeepers are critical advisors to these small business owners, helping contribute to the company’s success. Managing business finances can be quite stressful for business owners, as handling the books on their own is often intimidating and quite a burden.

The purpose of year-end planning is to reveal the best ways to build, grow, and preserve income and assets. Done well, it puts a focus on avoiding wealth eroders like taxes and inflation. The object is to shore up financial resources well into the 2020s and beyond despite the uncertainties of tax, economic, and political change.