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:

Just in time for the holidays, Jacks on Tax is available to purchase for the “do-it-yourselfers” in your life. This easy-to-read guide will help you save both time and money by understanding the tax return and will show you how to take better control of your family’s financial affairs. This best-selling tax guide has been updated to the new tax filing rules. Get your copy today!

With the hope that it will assist taxpayers in determining the legality of their transactions before incurring significant costs, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and the Income Tax Rulings Directorate (ITRD) have announced a one-year pre-ruling consultation pilot project. 

The Department of Finance is seeking the input from Canadians on how to protect consumers in all areas of the marketplace.

The 2013 Federal Budget announced the phase-out of the Federal Labour Sponsored Venture Capital Funds Tax Credit (LSFTC) which will affect claims for taxation years 2015 and 2016.

It was a pleasure to participate in a live tax chat with Canadians from coast to coast before the holidays in an event hosted by MoneySense magazine. One of the interesting questions asked concerned the length of time contributors have to recover overpaid Canada Pension Plan premiums. 

With insurance and tax regulations becoming increasingly complex, some have been arguing for years that “strict liability offences” should provide a bit of relief for those who have trusted their affairs to professionals when regulations are complex and burdensome.