The Gateway:  Maximizing the Impact of the Disability Tax Credit

In addition to reducing income tax through a non-refundable credit, the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) serves as a gateway to a wide range of additional tax benefits and government programs. Eligibility for the DTC can unlock enhanced credits, financial supplements, and long-term savings opportunities that go well beyond the tax return. Understanding how the DTC connects to these broader supports is essential for maximizing financial stability—both for individuals living with disabilities and the family members who support them.  Unfortunately, many taxpayers miss this credit and their tax and financial advisors can certainly help when this happens.

Last week, Statistics Canada released the results of the Survey of Financial Security – conducted between September and November 2012 – and the news is good: the 2012 median net worth among family units has increased 44.5 per cent since 2005 to $243,800, and almost 80 per cent from 1999 – just 13 years ago. 

Taxpayers can take comfort that the “implied undertaking rule” still protects them when dealing with the CRA in pre-trial discovery, thanks to recent jurisprudence.

Tax literacy is important. Why? Because the tax return is the most important financial document of the year for most Canadians and many changes have recently made it more probable that they will do their returns incorrectly the first time. 

Rick Tomalty achieved his MFA-Succession and Estate Planning Specialist designation in 2012, and since then he has attended Knowledge Bureau's annual Distinguished Advisor Conference. We are pleased to have Rick as one of our distinguished grads.

The recipient of taxable child or spousal support payments must report those amounts as income and pay the tax.

We have learned that Canadians are wealthier today in large part because of the equity in their homes. Will that be enough to supplement retirement needs after downsizing to a small place? Let’s put some numbers to it to find out.