Late Filing Penalties: Talk About It!

While most T1 returns are in the hands of the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) by April 30, we know many are not. In fact, millions of returns were still outstanding as of mid-May. Late-filing clients they need to know about the consequences, especially if they owe. Here’s a rundown to be aware of:

Writing off interest costs in the 2024 tax year?  Consider the implications of recent jurisprudence and the New General Anti Avoidance Rules in structuring plans to ensure interest expenses are deductible, especially if it involves a family home.   What’s important is that the object, spirit and intent of the law is followed.

One week until Rookie Tax Training School focused on families, employees and investors. This half day event drills down on key tax filing tips and traps for tax season 2025 and will take a detailed look at the tax forms, including late form releases from CRA, and is ideal for anyone new to personal tax filing and especially valuable for career development in the tax preparation, public accounting or financial services industries. Register now and upskill your team for the upcoming tax season. Your tuition includes access to Canada’s Income Tax Fundamentals Course.

The DMA™ Distinguished Master Advisor is a technical specialist in one or more financial disciplines: personal tax, corporate tax, accounting, or small business management and business transition services. Register by February 15 to earn new specialized credentials that build confidence, bring new solutions and build new networks!

Especially for experienced financial services professionals as part of a comprehensive workplace training plan! Earn a new Certificate in Lifecycle Transitions Planning. Choose 15 cool new interactive mini-courses – one hour in length - from a selection of 80 modules.  There’s one important focus:  to help you engage more effectively in tax-efficient wealth management conversations during this period of significant – and potentially expensive – tax change in Canada.  Here’s what you need to know:

Tax season 2025 has started with a focus on the increased income levels some taxpayers may report due to proposed changes in capital gains tax laws.  But aside from this there are new questions to probe with clients to ensure the family’s tax returns are filed to their very best benefit, given change in their life and financial events as well.  Here are top 10 queries to add to your interview checklist:

CRA has put business owners and their representatives on notice that starting in the spring of 2025 their relationship is a digital one.  Specifically, CRA will transition to online mail as the default for business correspondence through the My Business Account portal, rather than communicating through the mail.  That could mean two things for professional tax advisors:  an increase in business from small business owners who want them to the digital relationship for them and second, extra vigilance for communication exchanges for those who Represent a Client.