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:

How will the continued weakening of the Canadian Dollar affect personal and family net worth? It’s an important question, especially for families who have recently purchased US property and are forced to pay soft costs with a diminishing currency.  Planning is required.

CRA will proactively adjust the due date for all federal business and other returns filed in Alberta that were due during the flooding. A federal business return filed by August 2, 2013, will be considered as filed on time.

If you’ve lived in a prescribed northern or intermediate zone for a period of at least six consecutive months beginning or ending in the tax year, you may be able to claim the Northern Residents Deduction on Line 255.  Not sure if you qualify? 

Alan Rowell, MFA, DFA-Tax Services Specialist, shines a light on a new communications issue at CRA...how would you advise a client with this problem?

Our Disability Awareness series concludes this week with a look at non-refundable tax credits that can be claimed on the tax return. These articles are excerpted from Jacks on Tax, by Evelyn Jacks.

The disabled who incur expenses of an attendant or other disability supports purchased in order to earn employment or self-employment income or to pursue education, can claim the costs of Disability Supports on Line 215 so long as the expenses were not reimbursed.