Seniors Targeted? The Tax Audits Begin

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) routinely reviews or audits tax filings, including personal, trust, corporate, and HST returns. The most common types of reviews that focus on personal tax returns include, but are not limited to, Pre-Assessment Reviews, Processing Reviews, and the Matching Program. This year there is a new focus: the Multigenerational Home Renovation Tax Credit introduced to help families better care for their elders. But claiming it, like other tax benefits, comes with a tax snare. Read on to learn more.

If you have ever wanted to be a hero, consider the gratitude that comes from helping business owners understand how to steer clear of trouble on a tax audit or making sure seniors don’t overpay their September 15 or December 15 quarterly tax instalment.

A new report entitled Haves and Have-Nots, was released by the Broadbent Institute from customized reports prepared for it by Statistics Canada from the Survey of Financial Security. 

Resolution to seven key issues are required to make the RTPP (Registration of Tax Preparer Program) a success.

What’s a qualified tax efficient retirement income planner worth? A lot, it turns out, especially to clients who want to more effectively build net worth for retirement, but also to those who are frustrated with high taxes on their pension income and the lack of freedom that comes with eroded purchasing power on their savings.  

The sweet spot in wealth management statistically lies with the 55 plus crowd, whose net worth is the highest in Canada, but they are increasingly elusive, spending summers at the lake, and winters in the south.

People can retire at any age, but it is increasingly rare for people to simply go from earning income from employment or self-employment directly to withdrawing income from investments and other sources including pensions.