Podcast: Automatic Tax Filing - Will It Work?

Last week Taxpayers' Ombudsperson François Boileau  tabled his annual report:  In Pursuit of Better Service: Taxpayers Deserve More.  once again, it was nothing short of scathing, as CRA received its highest number of complaints in the last three years.  Calling our “completely nuts” Income Tax Act a potential barrier, he is nonetheless pushing for automatic tax filing as a potential solution.  A new episode of Real Tax News with Evelyn Jacks & Friends available next week, will feature guest Gillian Petit, Ph.D. - author of a great report, Welcome News for Lower-Income Canadians, but There’s More to Do - which takes a deeper dive.  Consider the following:

Family income splitting and increased TFSA contribution room to $10,000 are on the horizon for Canadian families, said the Prime Minister last week, as Canada heads towards a small budgetary shortfall in the 2014-2015 fiscal year, as reported on October 6.

Good news for business! Starting January 1, 2015, the new Small Business Job Credit will replace the Hiring Credit for Small Business that was lost to small businesses in 2014 and only available from 2011 to 2013.

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.