Finance Canada: No More Spring Budgets

Finance Canada announced on October 7 that Canada’s federal budgets will be brought down in the fall starting with the November 4, 2025 event; a significant departure from the spring schedule (February, March or April) that has been the cycle for several decades. This is going to affect many other events as we know them, and in the annual government spending approval cycle. There will also be a new budget process for capital vs. operational expenses. Here’s what you need to know:

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

Is it reportable or not?  Many taxpayers are confused about the various government support programs they have been entitled to in 2022 and 2023.  As a general rule, if a support payment is taxable, there will be a T4A or T4E showing the amount to be reported as income.  But if any of the amounts itemized below -  inflation support measures – were received, they won’t be reportable.