Tax Pros: Canada’s Tax System Has Taken a Big Hit

Canada’s tax and financial pros weighed in enthusiastically on last month’s two-part Knowledge Bureau Report Opinion Poll in which we asked: "Do you believe Canada’s tax system based on self-assessment, has suffered under recent changes at CRA and by Finance Canada?" 71% said yes. Part 2 was this question: "If so, what is the one wish you have for tax reform?" The responses were very interesting:

Is the next recession just around the corner? This week, as G7 leaders grappled* with both jittery stock markets and potential recessionary winds, the talented speakers at the 16th annual Distinguished Advisor Conference (DAC) are preparing to challenge financial advisors to consider how resilient their clients’ financial affairs will be in this time of political and economic uncertainty.

Michelle Crouse, Wealth Advisor and regular attendee of the Distinguished Advisor Conference (DAC) shares some of the highlights and provides insight on how learning from the DAC speakers has helped her in her practice.

We are pleased to offer our current and prospective students a new way to pay for their tuition fees with Knowledge Bureau, and avoid expensive credit card fees.  E-Transfer is now an available payment option for online studies or in-class add-ons. It’s a convenient option to help you keep credit card balances down, too.

What is the best way for all Canadians to maximize their “economic opportunity” to build wealth? It’s a topic that is increasingly receiving attention both here and in the United States. Good jobs and a minimum income is an important solution, but it’s not the only one. Access to education is critical, too.

The ideals of a top-notch tax system include fairness, equity, simplicity, compliance and ultimately affordability. Are Canadians – across all provinces – experiencing these ideals? It’s a question that is often contemplated by university graduates in deciding where they want to build their careers, as well as executives, business owners and retirees, who consider moving to lower taxed jurisdictions as part of their year end tax planning. Advisors may be called upon to help make those decisions.

A Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) is a tax-assisted savings plan set up for the purposes of funding a beneficiary’s future education costs. It also serves as a way to split income earned in the plan with the beneficiary, who will be taxed at a lower rate than the contributor, as a general rule, when earnings are withdrawn.