News Room

The CRA TSlip Saga: An Update

This tax season has been particularly challenging for both taxpayers and tax professionals. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) provides tax information slips—such as T3, T4, T5, and their variations—through secure online portals: My Account and Represent a Client (RAC). This year, there were lots of problems with these portals, and now, it appears, CRA is not being quite transparent about when the slips were actually visible to clients and that doesn’t seem fair. Here’s an update on where we stand now.

OAS Benefits Increase to $563.74

Employment and Social Development Canada announced today the quarterly amounts for Old Age Security (OAS) benefits for October to December 2014 will increase from $558.71 to $563.74 for each of October, November and December, bringing the total OAS benefit for the year up to $6,676.59. 

Making National Seniors Day Count

October 1 is National Seniors Day and tax and financial advisors can help in a significant way by inviting seniors to their offices to review specific provisions they may be missing on their tax returns, like the Disability Amount.

Stop Contributing to CPP?

For employees between the ages of 65 and 70 years old, the decision of whether to continue to contribute to CPP and thereby increase their CPP benefits, or to instead opt out and retain the annual premium needs to be made.

Canada’s Performance After the Financial Crisis

"Despite the fact that Canada didn’t have a 'homegrown' financial crisis, economic recovery has been painful," said Timothy Lane, Deputy Governor of the Bank of Canada last month at Carleton University. That pain may remain with us for some time yet.

80% Say “Don’t Overtax Seniors”

A Knowledge Bureau opinion poll on wealth and wealth inequality has touched a nerve.

Evelyn Jacks: Family Lifecycle Planning Leads to Tax Savings

Birth, marriage, death, separation or divorce, university entrance, sale of business, unemployment, illness, career change, self-employment, inheritances, even certain birthdays — all of these life events can have tax consequences.
 
 
 
Knowledge Bureau Poll Question

Are your clients owed money by CRA? As of March 31, 2025, the CRA holds about 10.2 million uncashed cheques totalling $1.7 billion. In your view, why is this happening?

  • Yes
    12 votes
    60%
  • No
    8 votes
    40%