Elbows Up: The Time for Personal-Corporate Tax Reform is Now

One can’t avoid the messaging of the economic pain to come. Our deteriorating economic relationship with our biggest trading partner will require us to “pivot and prosper” in order to emerge “stronger and more resilient” says our Prime Minister. While exactly how we will do this is still unclear, there is one clear opportunity: for both federal and provincial governments to initiate a significant personal and corporate tax reform in the upcoming fall budget.

We’ve got a spooky Halloween Special Just for You! Be sure to take advantage of this scary great deal by midnight on October 31! This is your opportunity to earn widely recognized specialized credentials as a Distinguished Master Advisor (DMA™), and save $300 when you register in any DMA™ course of your choice.

Just over a week to go until the 2024 Acuity Conference for Distinguished Advisors in Montreal, November 10 – 12,  and we would like to recognize and bring special honour to the distinguished sponsors who have helped to make this year’s conference in Montreal an event to remember! Learn more about each of the organizations partnering with us for Acuity 2024 on our Sponsor page and browse their thought leadership sessions in the detailed agenda.

Canada’s inflation target is now back to 2%, resulting in a half a point cut to the Bank of Canada’s benchmark rate t to 3.7% from 4.25% this week.  That’s good news for those managing or acquiring debt, and for spouses wishing to do some investment income splitting in the new year. This is especially important now that each individual has a $250,000 threshold for claiming capital gains at a 50% inclusion rate.   Here’s how it works:

Do you prepare and file information slips for clients? If so, make sure to include an early December 2nd closure of electronic services in your scheduling. Slips that are filed late or using the incorrect method will result in financial penalties to your business. The hard stop will be December 1st  and services will not reopen until January 13th, 2025. In addition to the earlier shut down, information returns filed after January 1, 2024, containing five or more slips must be filed electronically.

October 15 was the date that eligible Canadians receive the Canada Carbon Rebate (CCR).  Did you miss it?  There may be several reasons for this:  you didn’t meet age or residency requirements, you don’t live in an eligible province or you missed filing a tax return.  Here’s how to make sure you get what you are entitled to set up for the next payment in January:

This month the Finance Department announced changes for lenders and insurers to make mortgages available for those who want to build secondary suites on their properties.  This provides a good reason to discuss year end tax planning relating to real estate assets,  as the loans will be available on January 15, 2025.  Here’s what borrowers need to know: