Time’s Up: CRA’s 100 Day Mandate for Improvement

After years of frustration on the part of tax professionals and taxpayers alike, the Finance Minister ordered the Canada Revenue Agency to clean up its act in 100 days. Specifically, the improvement plan was to run from September 2 through December 11. Finance Minister and Minister of National Revenue, Francoise-Phillippe Champagne instructed CRA to fix “unacceptable wait times and service delays.” Time’s up this week and CRA has released an update on progress. What gets measured, gets done. Let’s see what CRA’s metrics show. 

This is our special wish for you throughout the holidays!  Thank you sincerely for your readership and support. . .we look forward to sharing knowledge with you in the New Year!   

Join us in Beautiful Banff November 11-14 at the spectacular Banff Springs Hotel for the Distinguished Advisor Conference (DAC).  You won’t want to miss the outstanding special guest speakers, the Snow Ball Gala celebrating our 20th Anniversary, and the opportunity to give the gift this extraordinary Educational Extravaganza to your most dedicated team members!

You can’t afford to miss this if you are a professional tax accountant, bookkeeper or financial advisor!  Your clients are counting on you for accurate tax filings, sound tax planning advice and the recommendations to the correct investments as inflation and high interest rates interrupt financial peace of mind.   Check it out and register now.

Is the Grinch in the house?  The interest rate hikes just haven’t stopped in 2022.  On December 7, the Bank of Canada (BOC) increased policy interest rate again by 50 basis points, leaving many Canadians worried about the effect on their finances in 2023. Currently, the overnight rate is 4¼%, with the Bank Rate at 4½% and the deposit rate at 4¼%.  But this translates to much higher costs on various debt transactions: operating lines, lines of credit and mortgages.  Is there a silver lining?

Why don’t more taxpayers – and charities – know more about gifting securities in kind?  It’s an expeditious way to support your favorite charities during inflationary times.  Donations for the purposes of 2022 tax credits will be accepted until December 30, but it’s important to leave settlement time for the transfer or securities.

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.