Time’s Up: CRA’s 100 Day Mandate for Improvement

After years of frustration on the part of tax professionals and taxpayers alike, the Finance Minister ordered the Canada Revenue Agency to clean up its act in 100 days. Specifically, the improvement plan was to run from September 2 through December 11. Finance Minister and Minister of National Revenue, Francoise-Phillippe Champagne instructed CRA to fix “unacceptable wait times and service delays.” Time’s up this week and CRA has released an update on progress. What gets measured, gets done. Let’s see what CRA’s metrics show. 

The maximum insurable earnings for 2015 will increase from $48,600 to $49,500.

Starting in 2017 the annual EI premium rate will set at a seven year break-even rate.

Year end tax planning has a new bright spot for Ontario farmers, but its real dollar benefit will depend on whether or not the farming enterprise is incorporated.

Income splitting and higher limits to TFSAs could make a big difference in Real Wealth Management™ for Canadians families, reducing tax on income both today and in the future when retirement income is drawn completely tax free. 

Fall is the perfect time to focus on professional development. Take advantage of a number of upcoming live events and earn valuable CE credits with Knowledge Bureau.

Employment and Social Development Canada announced today the quarterly amounts for Old Age Security (OAS) benefits for October to December 2014 will increase from $558.71 to $563.74 for each of October, November and December, bringing the total OAS benefit for the year up to $6,676.59.