May 2025 Poll

Does the Liberal promise expected soon to cut the lowest personal income tax rate by 1% to 14%,  go far enough to help Canadians impacted by high costs?

It’s always a good idea to re-evaluate the requirement to make the December 15 quarterly tax instalment payment (December 31 in the case of farmers) but this year end it’s even more important because the introduction of the Family Tax Credit for 2014, which has the potential to reduce family taxes by up to $2000. Who has to pay taxes by instalment?  Those taxpayers whose net taxes owing is more than $3000 in 2014 and in either 2013 or 2012.  Net taxes owing include personal income taxes plus CPP and EI premiums owing on self employment. What’s different this year is that couples with children at home (under age 18) where one spouse is in a higher tax bracket than the other are likely to benefit from the Family Tax Cut of up to $2,000.  The credit will be calculated on new form Schedule 1-A. However, the new form will not be available until after the instalment payment is due so how can you figure out if that December instalment must be paid or not?  The Knowledge Bureau is here to help.  We’ve just updated our Income Tax Estimator to calculate the Family Tax Cut.  If you already have a subscription to the Income Tax Estimator, you can estimate the Family Tax Cut for clients immediately.   Sign up for a free trial today if you are not a subscriber to see if taxpayers in your circle of influence will benefit.  Questions to consider: How many of your clients could be eligible to decrease or eliminate their December tax instalment? Can any withholding taxes be reduced before year end on bonuses or other lump sums as a result of the Tax Cuts? Can tax withholdings on bonuses or lump sums be annualized instead of taken in one pay period? This type of planning at year end can spring loose new funds for RESP, RRSP, or TFSA investments, or something lovely like a nice family trip in 2015.  Wouldn’t that be a happy conversation?

Effective January 1, 2015, the Universal Child Care Benefit will be increased from $100 per month to $160 per month for each child under the age of 6.

The Distinguished Advisor Conference wrapped up last week in Horseshoe Bay, Texas.  Despite suffering a cold front,  on the inside the sweet spots in wealth management were big, real and plentiful as close to 200 influential advisors and leaders in the tax and financial services gathered to Think Big about their opportunities to raise the bar in assisting their clients in 2015 and beyond. This unique education conference checks out  retirement havens  Canadians aspire to from a wealth management perspective, providing on-the-ground perspective for a multi-disciplinary audience of wealth advisors who share insights with industry leaders. According to delegates, this was the most outstanding speaker line-up in the conference’s 11 year history.  Knowledge Bureau is excited to announce that it will make video clips of the key messages provided by each speaker available next week when it introduces its new Knowledge Bureau Network (KBN)  Stay tuned for some outstanding educational insights and “Eight Minutes Educators™” coming your way soon. There was a resounding groundswell of enthusiasm for the opportunity that abounds for advisors and clients at this year’s DAC.  Delegates were advised to step carefully but forcefully into the good fortune the current environment holds for accumulation and growth opportunities, particularly with emerging new market segments. Challenged to “Think Big” about the current issues in the tax and financial services, delegates were treated to “Gold  Medal Thinking”  kicked off by the marvelous Olympian Jennifer Jones, who encouraged more focused advice to a broader cause – to engage clients not just in the transactional goals of the day, but to long term strategic planning in their financial activities. Delegates learned that despite the lifting haze of the recent financial crisis,  current geo-political risks, aggressive tax and industry compliance efforts and changing needs of modern family will continue to drive uncertainty into planning activities.  That requires new Big Ideas for investment, retirement, business succession and estate planning – themes discussed with technical rigor and much humor and comradery throughout the outstanding three day event. The bottom line:  the investment in cutting edge thought leadership today will pay off handsomely as we embrace the changes in wealth management demanded by new generations of clients in the years to come. These conclusions bridge well into the theme of DAC 2015: Multi-Generation Planning for New Growth and Relationships in a Digital World.   Knowledge Bureau is now sourcing speakers, sponsors and top advisors from across Canada to build out the educational program.  Be sure to visit our website often to review the agenda and reserve your spot for next year in Puerto Vallarta – already 50% sold out.

A significant tax reform for families in Canada was presented by Prime Minister Harper last week on October 30.

This new federal non-refundable credit will provide up to a maximum of $2,000 in tax relief to benefit one-earner or two-earner couples where one spouse’s income is taxed at a higher rate.

On October 9, 2014, the federal government announced that the maximum amount of expenses that can be claimed under the Children’s Fitness Tax Credit (CFTC) will be increased from $500 to $1,000, and proposes to make it a refundable tax credit in 2015 and subsequent tax years.