News Room

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?

Breaking News:  Federal Budget April 7

The Finance Department has announced that the Federal Budget will be on April 7, 2022.  Your Knowledge Bureau Special Budget Report team will provide full details.  Then join us comprehensive analysis and CE Credits with Evelyn Jacks and the Knowledge Bureau Faculty at the May 18 Virtual CE Summit for the effect of budget and economic change on Retirement and Estate Planning.   

Recycling Tax Dollars:  Increased Climate Action Incentive Payments

On March 23, 2022, the Federal Government announced the increased payments for the Climate Action Incentive (CAI) for the 2022-23 period and some Canadian households will soon receive over $1,000. But not through their tax filings, a change from last year.  It’s a recycling of federal carbon tax surtaxes.  Here’s what you need to know:

A Brief on Basic Personal Amounts

How much money can Canadians earn before they have to pay federal taxes?  The answer lies in the structure of the basic personal amount (“BPA”) -  an annual earnings amount that is anything but easy to understand; especially since all the provinces and territories have their own BPAs to add to the confusion.  Here’s how to help taxpayer – especially newcomers to Canada – wrap their heads around this:  

Hiring Family Members?  Avoid Punitive Tax on Split Income

If you are hiring family members over the age of 25 you may need to justify that the payments, you have made are reasonable in order to avoid a Tax on Split Income or TOSI.  Specifically, according to the CRA, the reasonableness of an amount paid to your family member will be evaluated based on one or more of the following criteria:

Bare Trusts and New Trust Reporting Rules

Striking a balance between upholding Canadian taxation laws and privacy concerns is challenging for policy makers and legislatures. On February 4th, 2022, the Minister of Finance released draft Income Tax Act legislation that increases reporting requirements for most Canadian resident trusts. The new trust reporting requirements will allow the Canada Revenue Agency to better combat tax evasion and increase clarity regarding beneficial ownership of assets.

Compliance Credits Available! Take Privacy Principles in Business

Privacy of confidential financial data is an important issue to your clients and no wonder: Statistics Canada says that about 57% of Canadians online reported experiencing a security incident in 2018.  Do you know how to avoid privacy risks that may arise in your business?  A new online certificate course, Privacy Principles in Business addresses many of the security issues that concern business owners these days, and now you can earn 10 compliance credits from IIROC by completing this cutting-edge course.
 
 
 
Knowledge Bureau Poll Question

On September 2, Finance Minister Champagne mandated CRA to implement a 100-day plan to “strengthen services, improve access, and reduce delays.” That’s by December 11, 2025. Do you believe this approach will help?

  • Yes
    7 votes
    26.92%
  • No
    19 votes
    73.08%