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?

The April 2022 federal budget, introduced a Labour Mobility Deduction for skilled tradespeople and apprentices who need to temporarily relocate for work and it’s important to advise eligible taxpayers about this before year end so they can find receipts to back up the claims retroactively to January 1, 2022. 

Canadians, who leaving the country become emigrants, and have to file a final tax return as of the date of emigration must report income for the period of residency and also, a deemed disposition of their taxable assets. This can generate capital gains or losses, which can generate a balance due or in some cases, additional refunds if losses are applied to prior year gains.  There are some exceptions explained below.

Do you enjoy solving problems, working with numbers and helping others? If so, enrol in a new designation program that will help you kickstart your career, earn more as a highly qualified practitioner and achieve your potential as a confident leader.  Become a Distinguished Master Advisor by taking the new DMA Accounting Services Specialist Designation Program. 

The Dark Horses are coming:  little known tax facts and tips ordinary advisors never tell their clients about.  It makes a big difference in the after-tax result!  December 15 is the beginning of the Early Registration Deadlines for the Advanced T1 Tax Update, featuring three training options in 2023:

Did you know that in Canada, a third of people do not have dental insurance to get the dental care they need?  Starting on December 1, eligible Canadians were allowed to apply for the Canada Dental Benefit. This is the first-ever federal dental-care program, but it comes with fine print and potential auditing if incorrectly applied for.  Here’s what you need to know to tap into the program, which allows for dental expenditures to be claimed back to October 1, 2022. 

Working with both financial advisors and tax specialists can help clients give more to their communities through charity before year end.  But it’s critical for advisors to be proactive now, or time will run out to give more, tax efficiently. One common issue I’ve come across is with clients who have a non-registered investment portfolio, but are writing cheques to charities for their annual giving.