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?

With the hope that it will assist taxpayers in determining the legality of their transactions before incurring significant costs, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and the Income Tax Rulings Directorate (ITRD) have announced a one-year pre-ruling consultation pilot project. 

The Department of Finance is seeking the input from Canadians on how to protect consumers in all areas of the marketplace.

The 2013 Federal Budget announced the phase-out of the Federal Labour Sponsored Venture Capital Funds Tax Credit (LSFTC) which will affect claims for taxation years 2015 and 2016.

It was a pleasure to participate in a live tax chat with Canadians from coast to coast before the holidays in an event hosted by MoneySense magazine. One of the interesting questions asked concerned the length of time contributors have to recover overpaid Canada Pension Plan premiums. 

With insurance and tax regulations becoming increasingly complex, some have been arguing for years that “strict liability offences” should provide a bit of relief for those who have trusted their affairs to professionals when regulations are complex and burdensome.

The allowable claim for the regular donation credit is calculated as follows, based on your qualified gifts which can include cash, publicly traded securities and mutual funds, life insurance policies, personal use property, capital property, depreciable assets, cultural and ecological gifts.