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:

For many Canadians filing a tax return is the most important financial transaction of the year. Getting the best tax refund is important: not only will it put more of the money you previously earned back in your own pocket, your refund can make at least some of your cash flow and retirement worries go away. Here’s how:

Use them before you lose them! That’s the message for parents and post-secondary education students filing 2017 tax returns who are looking for provincial tuition fee rebate programs to reduce student expenses. This is especially so, since the federal education and textbook credits have been cancelled. But the tuition rebate programs are diminishing, too.

In Part 3 of this series on deductible investment expenses, we discuss costs that are not deductible – a mystery and a surprise to some taxpayers during a tax audit. Here’s more essential information to keep you out of hot water.

In the accounting and finance industry, a lot has changed since the 1950s. Today this field is of particular appeal to women, as they now make up a widening majority (58 Percent) of its workforce. Earnings for women have also doubled, making this an excellent career choice. 

Are retired Canadians turning to you for help when they’ve been subjected to Old Age Security clawbacks? If you are a professional in the tax and financial services industry, its your job to provide valuable advice to pre-retirees on this complex issue, and help them avoid the Pension Recovery Tax that could take a chunk out of their retirement income.

The clock is ticking! Do you have everything you need to file your taxes before the April 30 deadline? Rushing through the tax preparation process can cause you to miss important steps, putting you at risk of an audit. This is your guide to the basics, and Knowledge Bureau’s Tax Documentation Checklist will take you the rest of the way in preparing an audit-proof return. Be sure to contact us for your copy, or click on the link provided!