Auto Logs: The Cornerstone of Vehicle Expense Claims

Auto logs are essential for claiming vehicle expenses and travel allowances under CRA rules. Employees, shareholders, and self-employed individuals must follow distinct guidelines, and travel allowances are permitted for specific deductions like moving expenses, medical travel, and northern travel deductions. Trouble is most people have trouble keeping them and can fall into tax audit traps. Here’s a primer on the rules, to know as part of year-end tax planning activities. 

The Bank of Canada has reduced its target for the overnight rate by 25 basis points to 2.5%, with the Bank Rate at 2.75% and the deposit rate at 2.45%.  This is the first interest rate cut by the Bank since March.  It comes in the wake of higher unemployment, a reduction of 1.5% in Canada’s GDP in the second quarter and indicators that global economic growth is slowing.  With lower inflation risk, the cut was deemed appropriate to “better balance the risks.”  From a planning point of view, this may indicate an emerging income splitting opportunity.

On September 25 at 11 a.m. CT, financial professionals and thought leaders will come together for a powerful Meeting of the Minds session: “ROI or ROL: Redefining What Real Wealth Means to You.” This event will explore a transformative shift in wealth management: moving beyond ROI (Return on Investment) to ROL (Return on Life) — aligning financial strategies with clients’ life purpose and helping them achieve true peace of mind. This 1-hr complimentary virtual event will feature a panel that will tackle 5 key questions, outlined below.

In Canada, pursuing post-secondary education can be expensive, but there are valuable tax relief measures to help ease the financial burden. One of the most important is the Tuition Tax Credit, which remains available even though education and textbook amounts were eliminated for tax years after 2016. For students of all ages, this credit can make education more affordable and help reduce income tax owing.

At Acuity 2025, Tony Mahabir, MBA, CMC, CIM, RRC, RWM, CFP, FDFS™, CEO and Private Wealth Manager, will lead a session titled “Heralding and Embracing Change.” A repeat motivational speaker, Mahabir at the annual conference for Distinguished Advisors, focuses on how financial planning can transform lives—especially in times of uncertainty.

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?

It’s no surprise to you that the Canada Revenue Agency is far from peak efficiency. Difficulty reaching an agent, long delays in getting information, and inconsistent service have finally caught the attention of the minister responsible for the agency that collects our taxes. Over the past 50 years, Canada’s Income Tax Act has grown increasingly complex, making it harder for average taxpayers to file their own returns. When you add CRA’s service shortcomings to the mix, the result is clear: your expertise has never been more essential.