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.

Starting in May 2013, CRA will again begin its Processing Review Program, which initiates requests for supporting documentation for claims made on tax returns.

Expenses for the care of dependent children who are under the age of 16 (at any time of the year) or who are physically or mentally infirm may be claimed on your tax return.

Investment Advisors: Here's a great client gift for April – buy 3 books, get 1 free! Jacks on Tax will help your clients save time and money by understanding their returns and taking better control of their financial affairs. It’s a book for everyone because its premise is simple: a more informed taxpayer, working with a collaborative professional community, will get more out of the tax system now and in the future.

Working with Small Business Owners? Introduce them to the Basic Bookkeeping for Business course. Most family businesses involve the spouse or children in bookkeeping activities. Now they can increase confidence and understanding by enrolling family members in a certificate bookkeeping course. It helps the pros to use their billing time more effectively as well! Free trial available!

In a controversial budget, Manitoba raised its Provincial Sales Taxes by 1% to 8% effective July 1, 2013 over a “temporary” 10 year period, waiving the requirement to hold a referendum, citing reasons of financial urgency due to potential flooding.

Knowledge Bureau's Evelyn Jacks and Alan Rowell, and David Caron and Sean Nazarian of Thomson Reuters will be leading you in this May's Distinguished Advisor Workshop: Audit Defence Bootcamp.