News Room

Canadian Dental Care Plan Renewal Deadline Approaches

Know Your Client!   It’s a daily commitment and requirement, especially in the work that financial advisors do with their clients.   It’s imperative that you ask about any significant changes in their lives. Has there been a significant new event:   a move to take a new job or go to university, a marriage or divorce, a new birth, a disability or a death? And, in the case of income tested benefits such as the Canadian Dental Care Plan, (CDCP) do they qualify?  Did they file their tax return on time to get it?  Do you know the deadlines for doing so?  Do you know when coverage ends if your client now longer qualifies?

Easter Egg Hunt Planned?

Okay, we admit, it’s a stretch, but we wanted to hop into the spirit, and surprise you, our Knowledge Bureau Report readers, with a tuition treat to celebrate the long weekend!

CEWS & CERB: Audit Potential Emerges for High Ineligibility Rate

The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) program is set to end on June 15, 2021.  Has it been a success?  It depends on your perspective.  Last week, a Performance Audit on this program and the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) was completed by the Auditor General of Canada and the findings do raise eyebrows.

Cyber Attack Residue: Taxpayers Still Struggle with CRA Services

Taxpayers who are filing 2020 tax returns and need to report a move to a new address will have a new hurdle to overcome in changing their address with the CRA.  This is due to the cyber security incidents dating back to August of 2020.

Tax Filing 2021 Poll: Stick to the Deadlines

Close to 7 million people have already filed their returns and so far it looks like this tax season should be business as usual.  Right now, the average tax refund is $1,825, the average amount due is $3,196, and when it comes to meeting tax deadlines, there is no indication that tax filing deadlines will be extended. In our March opinion poll, tax and financial pros agree with this, particularly when it comes to instalment payments.  Specifically, 60% of poll respondents feel that further postponement of taxes due would not be appropriate. Here are two noteworthy comments:

Mark Your Tax Calendar: Important April Tax Milestones

April is a month full tax milestones with the pinnacle being the April 30 tax filing deadline for individuals.  Note that for businesses, the final application deadline for Canada Emergency Business Accounts (CEBA) loan ended March 31. Here’s a handy tax milestones calendar from Knowledge Bureau for the month of April, excerpted from the Knowledge Bureau Advanced Tax Update Course. 

New OAS Benefits and How They are Calculated

Old Age Security (OAS) and Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) benefits are indexed quarterly, but the formula for OAS increases is based on increases to the Consumer Price Index.  When the CPI drops, OAS payments remain constant for the subsequent quarter, as they did in the first three quarters of 2020.
 
 
 
Knowledge Bureau Poll Question

Does the new government’s promise, expected soon, to cut the lowest personal income tax rate by 1% to 14%, go far enough to help Canadians impacted by high costs? What are alternatives in your view?

  • Yes
    8 votes
    9.76%
  • No
    74 votes
    90.24%