Finance Canada: No More Spring Budgets

Finance Canada announced on October 7 that Canada’s federal budgets will be brought down in the fall starting with the November 4, 2025 event; a significant departure from the spring schedule (February, March or April) that has been the cycle for several decades. This is going to affect many other events as we know them, and in the annual government spending approval cycle. There will also be a new budget process for capital vs. operational expenses. Here’s what you need to know:

Executors will want to review donations strategies carefully before year end if managing the final affairs of someone who passed away in 2016.  There are a series of new rules to be aware of.

If making an RESP contribution is part of your year-end tax planning discussions, be sure to understand the expensive tax consequences of an excess contribution. A subscriber who contributes more than the limits allow will face a penalty tax of 1% per month on the excess amount, imposed under the Income Tax Act S. 204.91(1).

Knowledge is power. That phrase reflects not only one of the messages in CRA’s financial literacy tips, but also the reality behind one of the recently announced changes to its national processing operations. The changes reflect a reality for many “old economy” workplaces: the new digital economy is changing workforces and the way end users prefer to transact with a hybrid of digital and human services.

Income earned by the estate during a tax year must be reported as a T3 return. Now, professionals can learn how to do so with confidence and competence, with Knowledge Bureau’s newest certificate course,  T3 Basic Tax Preparation.

Mark your calendar for Knowledge Bureau’s annual, comprehensive personal tax update, being delivered in our Distinguished Advisor Workshop (DAW) series, January 17-25, 2017. The DAW winter session will take place in six cities, including new events in Edmonton and Ottawa. This day-long certificate workshop will “shake out the cobwebs” for new and returning tax practitioners in tax, bookkeeping, accounting and financial services offices.

Take a moment to witness the inhaling of the fragrance of wood, the passionate dimensions of gratitude and the history of finding one’s voice . . . in Leonard Cohen’s own words. So much to learn from a grand poet: https://youtu.be/VIR5ps8usuo. R.I.P., Leonard.