The CRA TSlip Saga: An Update

This tax season has been particularly challenging for both taxpayers and tax professionals. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) provides tax information slips—such as T3, T4, T5, and their variations—through secure online portals: My Account and Represent a Client (RAC). This year, there were lots of problems with these portals, and now, it appears, CRA is not being quite transparent about when the slips were actually visible to clients and that doesn’t seem fair. Here’s an update on where we stand now.

It’s a lucrative non-refundable tax credit many people miss out on, particularly those who are younger. The Disability Tax Credit has a real dollar value of about $1300 on the federal return for 2021.  The provision, however, may not be claimable, if long term care home costs over $10,000 are claimed as medical expenses.  Advocates for those who have suffered catastrophic disabilities believe neither of these tax provisions adequately reflect the economic hardship the individual and families endures in these cases. A true story from Knowledge Bureau Faculty Member Kareen Rekowski follows:

Do you have clients who want to develop a Winner’s Mindset about money to achieve financial independence on his or her own terms?  Treat them to a new Canadian bestseller, the second edition just published by Knowledge Bureau. Managing the Bull provides the secret sauce for financial decision-making in today’s uncertain times for a simple reason.  It is written by a trusted advisor with over 35 years real experience advising real people and educating thousands more:  Mr. David Christianson, BA, CFP, R.F.P., TEP, CIM

Many ultra-high net worth families have implemented a ‘family office” to focus on a collaborative and holistic approach to their wealth management.  Famous examples include the DuPont, J.P. Morgan and Rockefeller Families. Now, this concept is democratized in the new  Real Wealth Management™ Designation Program. Available this month, the new program brings required technical expertise, new conversation guides and a consistent practice management framework to formulate a strategic plan like minded professionals can work cohesively with as part of a client’s “outsourced” family office.

Knowledge Bureau Designate, Maria Cheng shares how she believes that education is a life-long activity. Confident and trusted advisors, she says, should always equip themselves with current knowledge and skills to cope with a changing dynamic world. She also mentions that using collaboration and delegation skills properly increases team spirit and strengthens the trust relationship with clients. See what she had to say about her experience with the Real Wealth Management™ program.

Knowledge Bureau has been looking closely at proposed tax and economic changes on the various party platforms, leading up to the September 20 election.  The object is to delve into tax proposals that beg more detail, to enable a thoughtful exchange with candidates.  This week:  two proposals of interest to pre-retirees, many of whom are experiencing a delayed retirement in an uncertain time. 

Are prices going up in your area?  The topic of inflation has arisen as a key concern during the current election campaign.  This, after news that inflation had risen to 3.7% in July, its highest rate in a decade.  Why do financial advisors need to be able to address this issue with investors?  Older clients who are bondholders may be especially concerned.   Here’s why, from Dr. Robert Ironside, who writes in the Knowledge Bureau’s Real Wealth Management Program.