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.

If you have ever wanted to be a hero, consider the gratitude that comes from helping business owners understand how to steer clear of trouble on a tax audit or making sure seniors don’t overpay their September 15 or December 15 quarterly tax instalment.

A new report entitled Haves and Have-Nots, was released by the Broadbent Institute from customized reports prepared for it by Statistics Canada from the Survey of Financial Security. 

Resolution to seven key issues are required to make the RTPP (Registration of Tax Preparer Program) a success.

What’s a qualified tax efficient retirement income planner worth? A lot, it turns out, especially to clients who want to more effectively build net worth for retirement, but also to those who are frustrated with high taxes on their pension income and the lack of freedom that comes with eroded purchasing power on their savings.  

The sweet spot in wealth management statistically lies with the 55 plus crowd, whose net worth is the highest in Canada, but they are increasingly elusive, spending summers at the lake, and winters in the south.

People can retire at any age, but it is increasingly rare for people to simply go from earning income from employment or self-employment directly to withdrawing income from investments and other sources including pensions.