News Room

Knowledge Bureau Poll: Tax Cut Doesn’t Cut It!

The Notice of Ways and Means Motion was released on May 27, but the 1% tax rate cut going into effect on July 1, didn’t cut it with Knowledge Bureau Report readers who responded to our May Poll.  A decisive 90% of respondents said “No” when asked: does the new government’s promise to cut the lowest personal income tax rate by 1% to 14%, (14.5% in 2025) go far enough to help Canadians impacted by high costs?  Here were their comments and suggested alternatives based on real life experiences with the after-tax income their struggling clients are left with:

It’s Curtains for Tax Cheats

Offshore Tax Cheats: the Finance Department wants You! The CRA will be empowered to pay you a “finder’s fee” for identifying international tax cheats as a result of new provisions in the March 21, 2013 budget. Further, businesses using “zapper” software to evade taxes by hiding or “suppressing” sales income will face stiff new penalties and criminal convictions – with fines in the 7 figures.

Evelyn Jacks: Report Your Foreign Holdings

Canadians with foreign holdings at any time in 2013 (not just at the end of the year), will need to provide more information to the CRA, starting with the 2013 tax year.

Featured Tool: EverGreen Explanatory Notes

Updated with details from Budget 2013, EverGreen is your ever-current online resource for answers to tax questions about personal and corporate tax, and the GST. Be more efficient this tax season with the most current information you need just a few clicks away. View the free demo today!

Featured Event: Audit Defense & Financial Educator Training

Learn the tools you need to defend your clients professionally in an e-Tax Audit. Join us in a city near you this May!

10-8 Plans: Budget Bolsters the Law After CRA Fishing Expeditions Made More Difficult in Court

Today's federal budget proposed to change the law both in respect of 10-8 plans and information required from third parties for the purposes of tax administration or enforcement. Here's the case...

Household Debt Now 165% of Disposable Income

Household debt in relation to disposable income rose to another record last quarter, and many are now wondering whether Mark Carney, Governor of the Bank of Canada, was correct to assert that families are listening to his warnings about the risks of borrowing too much.
 
 
 
Knowledge Bureau Poll Question

Are your clients owed money by CRA? As of March 31, 2025, the CRA holds about 10.2 million uncashed cheques totalling $1.7 billion. In your view, why is this happening?

  • Yes
    6 votes
    50%
  • No
    6 votes
    50%