Fall Federal Budget: Will Spending Be Cut?

Canada has historically presented an annual budget since Confederation in 1867, even through periods like World Wars and the Great Depression, but we have recently experienced the longest period without a full federal budget in our history. By the time the next one is brought down, expected in October 2025, it will have been 18 months since the controversial April 2024 budget which introduced the doomed capital gains inclusion rate hikes. What can we expect?

Tax season may be over but you may have forgotten to claim a lucrative tax deduction or credit, like medical expenses, moving expenses or the disability amount.  First tip:  don’t file a new return; simply adjust your prior filed return.  But, what’s the deadline for making adjustments?

Canadian taxfilers are saving the planet! Of the total returns received to April 25 for the 2015 tax filing year, 87% were filed electronically, according to CRA’s tax filing statistics. The average refund so far is slightly lower than last year: $1653.

Tax filing season is officially over and that means it’s officially tax audit season. And that can be very expensive. For example, you may have heard the story of the $250,000 owing in back taxes by a campground in Ontario.

The tax filing deadline of midnight May 2 has come and gone. Now what? It’s important to file as soon as possible if you owe money to CRA. That’s true even if you’re a proprietor and qualify to file by midnight June 15.

Boomers are moving towards retirement, but many are not getting the planning services they need to manage their retirement income on a tax-efficient basis.

Application forms for the 2016 DAC Young Advisors Award are now being accepted from young advisors, their clients, employers or mentors and can be found on the Knowledge Bureau website at the Conference tab at www.knowledgebureau.com. The application process will close on May 31 and selection will be announced on June 15, 2016.