Podcast: Automatic Tax Filing - Will It Work?

Last week Taxpayers' Ombudsperson François Boileau  tabled his annual report:  In Pursuit of Better Service: Taxpayers Deserve More.  once again, it was nothing short of scathing, as CRA received its highest number of complaints in the last three years.  Calling our “completely nuts” Income Tax Act a potential barrier, he is nonetheless pushing for automatic tax filing as a potential solution.  A new episode of Real Tax News with Evelyn Jacks & Friends available next week, will feature guest Gillian Petit, Ph.D. - author of a great report, Welcome News for Lower-Income Canadians, but There’s More to Do - which takes a deeper dive.  Consider the following:

Carl Gustafson, a professional engineer (P.Eng.) and a director of Norall Group Contracting Inc., was fined late in October in the Ontario Court of Justice in Thunder Bay in the amount of $84,417 for failing to report $459,174 in income. 

Fight with the neighbor? An ex-partner? There are tax reasons to make up and repair burnt bridges: tax snitching can be nasty. 

CRA issued IT 518 to overview their position with regard to the deductibility of food, beverages and entertainment. Reasonable amounts may of course be deducted, if incurred to earn income from a business or property.

Investors seeking safety and guarantees often have segregated funds in their non-registered investment portfolio. Segregated funds are mutual funds wrapped up with a life insurance policy to provide a death benefit as well as a guarantee of principal.

Avoid owing more than $3,000 at your balance due date.

Knowledge Bureau will be reporting live with highlights from the 10th Annual Distinguished Advisor Conference November 10-13. Tune in to the key nuggets our 24 distinguished speakers will impart! Follow the action on Twitter with @knowledgebureau.com and #KBDAC. Be sure to also join us for the announcement of the location and theme of next year's DAC!