Wildfires: Apply for Taxpayer Relief Provisions
It may not be the first concern, but Canadians affected by wildfires may worry at some point about the tax consequences of lost records or missed filing deadlines – the next one on June 16 for those filing T1 returns with proprietorship income. Fortunately, the CRA offers Taxpayer Relief Provisions when there are circumstances beyond a taxpayer’s control, including natural disasters, serious illness or death in the family, or errors made by the CRA, which may trigger penalties and interest due to late or incomplete tax filings. Here’s what you need to know.Non-Residents in the Family: What’s the CRA’s Take?
Summertime is family time; but it is also the time of year when people prepare for big life changes taking place in the fall. Young adults make plans to work abroad, travel or go to school and empty-nesters journey to warmer climates. However, non-residency comes with tax consequences, so a visit to a tax advisor should be part of your travel preparation.
Housing Affordability: Borrowers Take a Hit from Rising Interest Rates
The hot housing market (especially in Vancouver and Toronto) has long thwarted home ownership dreams for many Canadians. In fact, RBC’s July report on housing trends and affordability reveals that the average Canadian household requires almost half its total income to cover home ownership costs.
Value-Based Education Matters to Advisors: Invest in Summer Training
According to this year’s Report Card on Banks from Investment Executive, tax and financial advisors place significant value on professional education, and have increased job satisfaction when ongoing educational opportunities are provided to them by their employers. This comes as no surprise at a time when it’s becoming more important than ever to transition from transactional processes, to holistic advice- and relationship-driven practices.
OAS and GIS Increases: Canadian Seniors Get a Small Raise
New rates for Old Age Security (OAS) and the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) programs went into effect as of July 1, 2018, and as a result, Canadian seniors are getting a small raise each month this quarter. But, the windfall is meek.
Solving the Unethical Advisor Dilemma: Higher Standards for Education Credentials Needed
The debate is on for our July poll, with respondents split down the middle on whether or not more regulation is required to protect consumers from unethical tax and financial advisors. Many commenters agree that unscrupulous practices are an issue, but what’s the answer? Some believe the solution lies in higher educational standards. Share your thoughts!
Bank of Canada Increases Interest Rate to 1.5%
Bank of Canada raised its benchmark interest rate to 1.5 percent (up from 1.25 percent) as anticipated, in an announcement from Governor Stephen Poloz this morning.
