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?

It pays to file outstanding tax returns as soon as possible and certainly before May 1, this year’s tax filing deadline.  Here are 12 reasons why:

Did you know 2023 is an extremely important Milestone Year for CE/CPD Credits in the financial services industry? Knowledge Bureau designates need 15 CE Credits by June 30 to relicense; IIROC Cycle 9 ends on December 31, 2023 and Insurance Council licensing CE credits are due at various times throughout the year.  That’s why Knowledge Bureau is offering 5 new and exciting CE options to meet your professional development needs in 2023:

The price of lettuce in Canada – up over 35% in a year – is still an eyebrow raiser, despite the easing of the inflation rate in January to 5.9%, according to Statistics Canada.  What does that have to do with Asset Management?  Simply that 2023 is proving to be a tough financial year and advisors need to up their game to manage the concerns of anxious taxpayers and investors who are tapping into portfolios to pay for inflation and recent interest rate hikes, and coming up soon – their tax bills.

It’s been a fantastic two months here at Knowledge Bureau celebrating the big 2-0...our 20th anniversary! With so much on the horizon this year you will want to get involved! 

Did you know that employed commissioned salespeople can write off more tax deductions than other employees?  In fact, expense deductibility differs only slightly from that of the self employed. Yet, to get past a tax auditor, there are special nuances:  employers must be prepared to verify unreimbursed, out-of-pocket costs were required and there are some specific restrictions. Details follow.

Last year, those who owed the CRA owed a lot – over $7,000. Soon, the prescribed interest rates charged by CRA are going up and that could really increase the cost of carrying debt. Tax debtors can save more money by paying up before April 1. Here’s why