Tax Pros: Canada’s Tax System Has Taken a Big Hit

Canada’s tax and financial pros weighed in enthusiastically on last month’s two-part Knowledge Bureau Report Opinion Poll in which we asked: "Do you believe Canada’s tax system based on self-assessment, has suffered under recent changes at CRA and by Finance Canada?" 71% said yes. Part 2 was this question: "If so, what is the one wish you have for tax reform?" The responses were very interesting:

The Quebec provincial budget was delivered on February 20. The budget introduced provincial changes that match the recently-announced federal changes.

The Northwest Territories budget was delivered on February 6. The budget contained no income tax measures.

The New Brunswick provincial budget was delivered on February 4. The budget reduces the deficit but a balanced budget is not expected until 2017. The budget promised a 3% increase in social assistance rates beginning in April.

Provincial and territorial budget dates have yet to announced for Ontario (expected the first week in May), Prince Edward Island (expected soon after the legislature opens in April), and Nunavut (expected late in May),

Because of the way that dividends are taxed, both at the federal level and the provincial level, the amount of tax payable on a given dividend depends of the taxpayer’s taxable income (as well as their province of residence).

It’s crunch time when it comes to tax filing. Most taxpayers will have received all their T slips – T4s, T3s, T5s, etc. and now it’s time to actually get it done.