The CRA TSlip Saga: An Update

This tax season has been particularly challenging for both taxpayers and tax professionals. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) provides tax information slips—such as T3, T4, T5, and their variations—through secure online portals: My Account and Represent a Client (RAC). This year, there were lots of problems with these portals, and now, it appears, CRA is not being quite transparent about when the slips were actually visible to clients and that doesn’t seem fair. Here’s an update on where we stand now.

Last week at the CE Summits in Vancouver, an interesting question arose with regards to the deductibility of gifts left by a deceased taxpayer to a specific charity in his will. Would that specific bequest qualify for the donations tax credit on the final return, a trust return or both? It turns out, the answer may be neither. 

A number of tax changes for employees have been implemented for the 2019 tax filing year which officially begins on February 24 when the CRA opens their electronic gates for EFILE transmissions. What should you know before the tax season begins?

The federal government is asking for your opinion in advance of the upcoming federal budget. Four priorities have been brought forward for your consideration, and you can submit your feedback electronically.  But, is much of the agenda already set?

A new maximum non-refundable tax credit of $13,750 per eligible employee is available starting in 2019 for Qualified Canadian Journalism Organizations. The 25% refundable credit will apply to qualifying labour expenditures of up to $55,000 if they are incurred in the tax year beginning on or after January 1, 2019. The trouble is that there is no line on the tax forms for the credit and the required schedules won’t be available until May. Still, the claim must be done on time. Here’s what you need to know:

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