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:

After decades of calm, the issue of competitiveness is front and centre for Canada. To address the best interests of your clients, your deeper knowledge about the emerging North American tax and trade reforms will serve you well, and there is no better person to help you interpret the changes than DAC Keynote speaker, celebrated tax expert and economist Dr. Jack Mintz.

The most professional tax practitioners are those who have excellent investigative skills in conducting the most exhaustive client interviews, and the best research skills in knowing when and where to look for help. Would you like to hone your skills and become one of them?

Accredited CGA and CPA David Booth recently took Intermediate Personal Tax Preparation and had the following to say about his experience:

After holding interest rates at 1.25 percent since January, the Bank of Canada appears ready for raise the rate in its next announcement, July 11, when many economists expect it to increase to 1.5 percent. This small jump could affect millions of Canadians and is an opportunity for advisors and clients to lean in and plan for change.

The TFSA filing deadline is coming up on July 2 (the standard June 30 deadline falls on a weekend). It doesn’t apply to all TFSA investors, but for those who do have to comply, abiding by the guidelines is essential to avoid penalties.

In May, we asked Knowledge Bureau Report readers whether Canada’s current tax deadlines make sense – and the general consensus was that the existing system needs to change. Some of the suggestions from professionals in the tax and financial services industry might surprise you.