News Room

Finance Canada Drops Draft Legislation August 15

All professional tax practitioners, financial advisors should take note of an important mid-summer release of draft legislation to implement some of the proposals from the November 2024 Fall Economic Statement, the April 2024 Budget, the EIFEL rules announced on August 12, 2024, and rules relating to passive income of foreign affiliates announced in the 2022 federal budget. This draft legislation also introduces more modifications to new trust filing requirements. Brief highlights appear below; technical details will be discussed in the September 17 and November 5 CE Summits and Knowledge Bureau’s certificate course on T3 Filings.

Finance Canada Releases Ways and Means Motions

The Notice of Ways and Means Motion and Explanatory Notes for the tax provisions of the April 21, 2015 Federal Budget were tabled on May 4, and contain the detail required to set up family tax and wealth planning strategies for the 2015, 2016 and future tax years as envisioned in this document.

Underground Economy Bigger Issue Than TFSA Tax Losses

It appears that tax cheaters are having a bigger effect on economic activity than tax free savers, when the cost of raising TFSA limits are contrasted with the cost of lost tax revenues due to the Underground Economy (UE).

CRA Wins as FCA Backs Down on Crown Costs Issue

Courts generally have the power to award costs against unsuccessful parties. These cost awards can be more severe depending on the conduct of the parties, and they are, therefore, a great way to dissuade frivolous litigation.

New Twist on Owner-Manager Compensation Planning

Financial Planners and Tax Specialists, together with Owner-Managers of Canadian Controlled Private Corporations (CCPCs) will need to review the compensation and retirement planning arrangements currently in place to ensure they are not eroded by recent federal tax changes.

TFSA and RRSP: Collaborative Investing is Key

In deciding which of the two tax preferred investment vehicles should be used for various lifecycle purposes – the TFSA or the RRSP - advisors and their clients should carefully consider all the advantages of investing in and withdrawing from each vehicle.