Bill C-31: Royal Asset and New CRA Powers Could Come Soon

Changes are coming to the Income Tax Act and both you and your clients will all be affected with new tax risks including longer tax audits. Bill C-31, which passed second reading in the House of Commons on June 3 and is now at committee stage, contains elements of previous Federal Budgets that will expand the CRA’s compliance and enforcement powers. Here’s what you need to know and pass along to your clients:

The 2013 Federal Budget announced that, beginning in 2014, the gross-up of small business dividends will be reduced from 25% to 18% and that the federal dividend tax credit will be adjusted as well. The net result is a slight increase in the taxation of other than eligible dividends at the federal level.

Great news! Students who win awards to go to school now qualify for full tax exemptions, if they qualify for the full-time education amount.

Stand up with professionalism to potential legal challenges from CRA or other family stakeholders. Register by May 15 for early bird rates.

Starting July 1, 2014, Canada and U.S. border authorities will now scan your passport when you enter and exit their country to determine how long a person has actually been out of their country of residence in a given year.

The February 11, 2014 federal budget has proposed to eliminate tax benefits of many estates and trusts; one of which is the immigration trust.

Morton v. The Queen (2014) TCC 72. The Tax Court of Canada recently released reasons for judgment in a case regarding the imposition of penalties following the expiration of the normal reassessment periods.