The CRA TSlip Saga: An Update

This tax season has been particularly challenging for both taxpayers and tax professionals. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) provides tax information slips—such as T3, T4, T5, and their variations—through secure online portals: My Account and Represent a Client (RAC). This year, there were lots of problems with these portals, and now, it appears, CRA is not being quite transparent about when the slips were actually visible to clients and that doesn’t seem fair. Here’s an update on where we stand now.

Tax professions know that not every client will file their income taxes on time, and that’s a costly mistake. Did you know that each year over three million Canadians file past the deadline? Those late filers are losing big money. First if they are due a refund, they are losing out on the money that could be accruing in a TFSA, RRSP, FHSA or another tax savings account.  But there is a second, more expensive consequence, one that will increase in the future, too. 

Canadians awoke on April 29th to another minority government. Mark Carney is the Prime Minister, but we don’t know for how long. What we do know are some of his plans for the country as he forms government, based on the Liberal election platform.  Despite picking up 8 more seats than 2021, the Liberals will still have to make deals in order to remain in power, and these provision could need tweaking as a result. Here’s an overview, which will be discussed in more detail at the May 21 CE Summit with Evelyn Jacks and guest instructors.  Register by May 15.

Canada has a new government.  The 338 new Members of Parliament (MPs) are tasked with taxing and spending Canadians’ money to achieve a myriad of goals, and they are lawmakers.  They receive handsome remuneration for doing so.   Not dissimilar to the role of professional tax and financial advisors, MPs are advocates for their constituents and stewards of their precious resources, and their roles do intersect, if they are to deliver on Job #1.  Filing their tax returns can be a challenge too, given their compensation structure.

It’s April 30 and there has rarely been more confusion about a tax filing deadline than in 2025!  Not only is CRA’s Auto-fill My Return (AFR) service unreliable, the tax filing deadlines themselves have shifted:  April 30 for most people, May 1 for trusts with capital gains, June 2 for T1s with capital gains and June 16 for T1s with small business income (proprietorships).  Even the income tax filing statistics seems off.  Have a look:

Knowledge Bureau congratulates Michael van Lierop and his whole team at NOW – New Outlook Wealth in Winnipeg for graduating with the RWM™ designation.  In this interview with Michael, who has also taken a leadership role at the Acuity Conference for Distinguished Advisors, November 23-26 in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico as a Platinum Sponsor,  we find out more about his innovative firm, his passions and how the RWM – Real Wealth Management – framework has been a game-changer.

Especially for tax planners and financial advisors:  we are transitioning to a new economy with a new government.  Gain critical insights into tax efficient retirement and estate planning to help your clients mitigate risk.  Mark your calendar to attend Canada’s most current virtual continuing educational summit from Knowledge Bureau on May 21.  Learn about the new Liberal government’s proposals for 2025 and beyond and earn a new credential, too: Knowledge Bureau’s new CE Summits – Advisory Diploma,  Register now to May 15 and save up to 50%.