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:

Draft legislation that describes enhancements to the Canada’s Workers Benefits, was tabled at the end of July, and the proposals contain five interesting changes which improve access and benefit availability, as outlined in the federal budget.

When it comes to the Canada Pension Plan (CPP)/Quebec Pension Plan (QPP), most Canadians want to know whether they should take it early, at age 60 or defer it. In fact, this is a great trigger question and a core part of the discussion and a core part of the discussion about a pre-retiree's financial strategy. Yet it is surprising how few advisors drill down on this complex, and often uncomfortable decision.

Is more regulation needed to protect consumers from unscrupulous tax and financial advisors? That was the subject of KBR’s July poll, and it’s clear that to industry professionals, the answer isn’t so black and white. Our readers agree it’s a problem, but the solution falls somewhere between simply answering “yes” or “no.”

Canada-US relations have been strained for a variety of reasons, but recently private business owners received what could be a very costly surprise. New guidelines outlined by the I.R.S. for the Transition/Repatriation Tax will take a toll on Canadians with U.S. or dual citizenship who have businesses incorporated in Canada: expect to owe even more tax.

A recent Fidelity Investment report points out that debt is one of the biggest issues that drives couples apart, with 36 percent saying that money is their biggest marital hurdle. But many couples also struggle to communicate about financial matters that could lead to repercussions down the road. The help of astute tax and financial advisors is critical.

Cyber-security has been the subject of daily political news on the world stage, but it hits close to home, too. In 2017, the Federal Conduct Authority (FCA) in the U.K. reported that cyber-attacks in the financial sector increased by 80 percent. Managing this critical risk is the subject of a riveting keynote at this fall’s Distinguished Advisor Conference (DAC) in Quebec City by esteemed columnist and Internet and E-Commerce Law Research Chair, Dr. Michael Geist.