CRA Data Breeches Put Taxpayer Information at Risk

An important deadline is coming up, around the same time that Canadians get ready to file their 2026 tax returns at the start of tax season 2027. Since 2020, more than 42,000 data breaches have occurred at the CRA. A class action lawsuit was launched in 2020 and a $8.76 million settlement was reached.  Eligible Canadians affected by these security incidents can now submit claims through the KPMG Claims Portal until February 3, 2027.  

As part of our commitment to your ongoing professional development, Knowledge Bureau has collaborated with Sun Life Financial to bring you Tax in Practice, a free online program about common tax planning issues faced by investors and business owners. The program consists of 10 CE-accredited modules covering a wide range of topics like tax strategies in the sale of a business and use of trusts in tax and estate planning, and that's just naming a few!

At year-end, planning to make investments in non-registered accounts should be peppered with tax-efficiency, especially when it comes to buying mutual funds. Here’s a primer on what you need to know if you are interested in maximizing tax, retirement and estate planning goals.

November is Financial Literacy Month, and it’s an important opportunity for advisors to help improve their clients’ financial knowledge and address some of the unique financial planning needs of specific demographics, including women. Specifically, what guidance and education do trends show Canadians need when it comes to financial literacy?

Year-end tax planning is about minimizing taxes for 2019 and setting clients up to save more tax-efficiently in 2020 and beyond. There are several big things to talk about if your client is an employee looking to save some tax dollars, and are potentially a new homeowner as well.

Last chance to register for year-end tax planning workshops, The Fall CE Summits. We’ll touch on the financial implications of this month’s election and its impact on year-end tax planning together with the important go-forward planning opportunity for corporate owner-managers and retirees.

Canadians who receive German pensions may have seen some new items on the yearly letter from Neubrandenburg.  Siegfried Merten, MFA™, has provided us with clarification on this letter and what pensioners need to do to remain in compliance. Advisors can be of great assistance here.