Claiming Medical Expenses: Free Healthcare?

Free Health Care? Did you know that Canadians spend on average more than $1,000 on medical expenses each year? It’s estimated that government programs, via our taxes, cover about 72% of medical expenses, which means that we pay for the rest. Your clients may be over-paying on their taxes because they don’t know about medical expense deductions. 

On January 1, 2011, Canadians age 18 and over will have another $5000 of Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA) contribution room. Although these contributions are not tax deductible, investment income earned within a TFSA is not taxable and will not interfere with income-tested government benefits and credits. Contribution room carries forward, including the value of amounts withdrawn! Just remember ñ TFSA redemptions during one year cannot be re-contributed until the following year. For more information: http://www.fin.gc.ca/n10/10-132-eng.asp

CRA is giving you the opportunity to "self auditî with a series of audit letters targeting those in business, professions or rental property owners to review claims made in prior years and "self-declareî errors with adjustments within 30 days of receipt of the letters in the mail. Candidates are being randomly chosen from industry groupings to encourage compliance. Tax professionals should be ready to help clients pro-actively by asking about these letters and inviting clients to drop in before the busy tax filing season to deal with this invitation. It's a good way to avoid penalites and interest, too.   Additional Education Resources: Introduction to Personal Tax Preparation Services and Essential Tax Facts 2011

According to a national survey published last week by the CICA, tips on how to minimizes taxes were the number one most wanted financial literacy skill by Canadians. Evelyn Jacks, President of The Knowledge Bureau, and member of the Task Force on Financial Literacy is not surprised and in fact, added a series of tax literacy quizzes to her new edition of Essential Tax Facts, just so people could better understand what they do and don't know about their taxes. "When it comes to your taxes, do you know what you don't know? That's the question we want Canadians to consider with our challenge to "Test Your Tax IQî in this year's edition of Essential Tax Factsî, said Mrs Jacks, currently on national tour to teach the most recent tax and wealth management issues to tax professionals across Canada and provide media interview opportunities. "   If you think you know a lot, learning more about tax preparation is a good idea, but applying that knowledge to tax planning activities is important all year long for each family member, says Mrs. Jacks. "With all the new provisions available to better split income and preserve capital, the government has made it possible for Canadians to better weather recent economic and financial difficulties. But it's up to you to take advantage of these tax preferences. Know less than you thought? Then choosing the right tax advisor for your needs is critical. . .by increasing your knowledge to ask better questions of your advisor, and understand whether your advisor is up to speed. "We are spending time this week in strategic technical planning think tanks with leading tax and financial advisors across Canada. These are people who are most informed and ready, willing and able to do a top notch job for their clients.î A book launch and information session is planning in Winnipeg at the McNally Robinson Bookstore on Grant avenue January 26 at 7:00. To obtain a copy of Essential Tax Facts online immediately, visit the bookstore tab at http://www.knowledgebureau.com/ or better bookstores locally.   To enrol in the January T1 Tax Update Workshops January 11 to 20, go to the workshop tab at http://www.knowledgebureau.com/.   To book media interviews with Evelyn Jacks, please contact Debbie@knowledgbureau.com. Direct line is 204-953-4763.

Changes to the Old Age Security (OAS) and Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) abound as 2011 begins and taxpayers and their advisors will want to stay abreast of them, especially since a controversy broke out in parliament late last year about new income inclusion rules affecting the low income applicants for the GIS. Last May the federal government made a policy change that would cause RRIF lump sum payments to be included as income for GIS purposes without exception. Prior to that GIS eligibility could be calculated using current year income, thereby excluding previous year lump sum RRIF payments. This went largely unnoticed until November 23rd, when Gerry Byrne, a Newfoundland MP, stood in the House of Commons to demand why this change was made without public notice or discussion, given its significant impact on other benefits available for many Canadians. In many cases the GIS is used by seniors to put a roof over their heads and food on the table. A pensioner may have no other source of funds than his RRIF for an unexpected expense such as a funeral or appliance breakdown. A small RRIF can be quickly deplete and deny the GIS is adding insult to injury in cases such as this. Further, in several provinces, including Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, GIS eligibility is used for the threshold for other government programs for low-income seniors. In Nova Scotia, for example, a person who is eligible for the GIS does not have to pay the annual Pharmacare premium of $424 and qualifies for property tax rebates. Human Resources Minister Diane Finley has put the policy on hold pending review. GIS eligibility will be calculated using the old rules until further notice. Seniors and their advocates should keep a close eye on this and other issues that impact a valued segment of our society. ADDITIONAL EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES: EverGreen Explanatory Notes and the Knowledge Bureau certificate course: Tax Efficient Retirement Income Planning

The maximum OAS Benefit for the first quarter of 2011 is $524.23, representing an indexing factor of .5%. The Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) is a non-taxable benefit available to low-income seniors who are eligible for Old Age Security (OAS). The dollar amounts available depend on income level but for 2011 the maximum benefits are the following: Single person $661.69 Spouse of OAS recipient $436.95 Spouse of OAS non-recipient $661.69 Spouse of Allowance Recipient $436.95 Income Security Programs Information Card is available: http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/isp/statistics/rates/janmar11.shtml All taxable income, with the exception of OAS payments and up to $3500 in employment earnings, is included in the income test and there are several maximum levels of income depending upon family composition and ages. Taxpayers and their advisors are urged to be careful with planning income withdrawals, as they will affect GIS and OAS claw backs. The Table of Rates for OAS, GIS and the Allowance allows specific rate calculations: http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/isp/oas/tabrates/tabmain.shtml ADDITIONAL EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES: EverGreen Explanatory Notes and the Knowledge Bureau certificate course: Tax Efficient Retirement Income Planning

January 1, 2011, is launch day for E.I. special benefits for those who run their own business or work for a corporation and control more than 40% of the voting shares. Independent workers who are eligible for regular E.I., including taxi drivers, hair dressers and fishers, are not eligible. Maximum coverage of 15 weeks maternity, 35 weeks parental, 15 weeks sickness and 6 weeks compassionate care benefits will be offered. Parental benefits in Quebec are already offered separately. Only Canadian citizens and permanent residents may apply. Special E.I. benefits for the self-employed can be accessed once 12 months has passed from the date of registration. If you registered before April 1, 2010 you are eligible as of January 1, 2011. In order to receive benefits you must experience at least a 40% reduction in the time devoted to your business as a result of childbirth, newborn care, your own illness or care of a gravely ill family member. At the moment the minimum amount of self-employment earnings that you would have had to have earned in the calendar year before your claim is $6000. There is a two week waiting period to receive benefits in most cases. Some people have employment and self-employment earnings. You can apply for either as long as you qualify for both. To apply for self-employment special benefits your income from both sources will be considered. When applying for regular benefits only your employment earnings will be included. The premium rate currently is $1.73 per $100 of insurable earnings everywhere but Quebec to a maximum of $747.37 (based upon maximum insurable earnings of $43,200). No matter when you register for special EI benefits for the self-employed you will have to remit deductions based on your full year's earnings! Unlike CPP premiums for the self-employed, you do not have to remit the employer's portion. Weekly special benefits are 55% of average weekly self-employment earnings for the calendar year before your claim. For benefits calculated from the 2010 tax year the maximum weekly benefit is $457. Benefits may be lower if you continue to work or your business has earnings. Self-employment earnings are defined as gross earnings minus operating expenses. For sickness or maternity benefits deductions are dollar for dollar of earned income. For parental or compassionate care benefits in excess of $200 per week you can earn 25% of your weekly benefit before your earnings are deducted dollar for dollar. The amount that you can earn per week before claw back when your weekly benefit is less than $200 per week is $50. You must file bi-weekly reports during the entire benefit period and all earnings must be declared. If you cancel your participation in the program within 60 days of registering you do not have to pay any premiums. You can leave the program after the 60 days as long as you have not collected benefits; there will be no refund of premiums and you must pay until the end of the calendar year in which you terminate participation. Your eligibility will extend to that date as well. Once you have made a claim and collected special E.I. benefits for the self-employed you will have to continue paying premiums for the duration of your self-employed career. Are E.I. Special Benefits for Self-Employed Persons for you? Every situation is unique so do your homework before you decide. Consider the nature of your business ñ do you have a key employee who can keep the income flowing in your absence? What about your own financial situation ñ is there more than one wage-earner in the household? Is there a spouse with employment income who may choose to take parental leave? Look at the risk management measures that you have in place such as life, disability, critical illness and office overhead insurance and buy/sell agreements. Does special E.I. for the self-employed fill a gap in your planning and is the cost/benefit ratio reasonable? Your financial planner, accountant or book keeper may be able to assist you with these questions. ADDITIONAL EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES: The Distinguished Advisor National Workshop Tour January 11-20 will cover these and other 2011 changes.