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:

DAC 2014 is shaping up to be the best one yet! Don’t miss the opportunity of an incomparable educational experience in the beautiful Texas Hills as you gain perspective and insight from outstanding thought leaders in the tax and wealth advisory industries.

Bill C31, an Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on February 11, 2014 and other measures, received Royal Assent on June 19.

Delivering on a promise made in the Economic Action Plan 2014, Finance Minister Joe Oliver announced that the Government of Canada secured voluntary commitments from the country’s eight largest banks to provide low-cost or no-cost bank accounts to low income Canadians by January 15, 2015.

Judges are forced to apply the law as it reads, but fortunately for taxpayers there is sometimes room for interpretation.

Should taxpayers be able to deduct travel expenses to warmer climates as medical expense tax credits (METCs) to alleviate pain and suffering?

Your refund can grow by up to $75 with this federal tax credit.