Fall Federal Budget: Will Spending Be Cut?

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?

We asked tax and financial professionals whether they believe Canadians have trust in their tax department, and surprisingly over 75% said no. Do you agree? Check out some of the many interesting comments we received.  

There is a lot to consider this upcoming tax season when it comes to filing personal returns and increased risk for investors and owner managers. Are you prepared to help? Take a duo of CE Summits with Knowledge Bureau this November and January and get the tools you need to help a variety of client profiles. Plus, you save on tuition with a Duo CE Summit Event Pass!

Don’t miss the opportunity to mingle with members of our DAC 2023 bronze partner organizations in Banff this November 12-14. We’re pleased to welcome back Fraser and Partners, Manulife Bank, The Institute, and Investment Executive and Advisors’ Edge as our exclusive media sponsor for our 20th anniversary extravaganza! Final registration deadline for tuition savings: October 30.

It seems like a long time ago. On November 21, 2018, the federal government introduced an Accelerated Investment Incentive (AII) to enhance first-year Capital Cost Allowance (CCA) claims and allow for businesses to fully expense new asset acquisitions, certain machinery and equipment, including clean energy equipment.  Some of these tax incentives will start phasing out after 2023, making this year end an important one for new investments.  Here’s an overview. Be sure to book time to have these important discussions with your business owner clients soon.

When it comes to CRA, it will almost always be very costly to challenge reassessments in court.  Two recent court cases proved an old adage:  you win some, you lose some.  In the first case, a taxpayer tried to shift the burden of proof to their accountant and in another case when hardship was given as the reason for filing GST/HST and T1135 returns late. The silver lining is that the legal costs are deductible.  Here’s what happened:

The U.S. Gift tax is one part of the American transfer tax system. It was introduced in 1932 as a backstop to the U.S. estate tax.  Without the gift tax, large estates could be reduced by simply giving everything away prior to death. The gift tax was and still is not meant to raise revenue per se. Do Canadians have to worry about having to pay this tax? Possibly.  Here’s a primer of what you need to know.