Knowledge Bureau Poll: Tax Cut Doesn’t Cut It!

The Notice of Ways and Means Motion was released on May 27, but the 1% tax rate cut going into effect on July 1, didn’t cut it with Knowledge Bureau Report readers who responded to our May Poll.  A decisive 90% of respondents said “No” when asked: does the new government’s promise to cut the lowest personal income tax rate by 1% to 14%, (14.5% in 2025) go far enough to help Canadians impacted by high costs?  Here were their comments and suggested alternatives based on real life experiences with the after-tax income their struggling clients are left with:

New Year’s Resolutions often involve the purging of winter weight, weighty closets or weights on the mind, including the guilt of understating income or overstating expenses or credits on the tax return. 

Canadian taxpayers are a compliant lot: according to CRA, in 2012–13, 92% of Canadians filed their taxes on time and 95% paid their reported taxes in full. This is a remarkable record for a tax system based on self-assessment and voluntary compliance. Yet, there is another side to the story.

Precise tax knowledge counts:  accurate tax preparation is the goal of every professional tax specialist and it is a tremendous value add for financial advisors and their staff who will field hundreds of calls from their clients this tax season.

If you are in the tax preparation business or work in bookkeeping but want to get a certificate or designation under your belt, now is a good time to dive in and take an online course from Knowledge Bureau.

“While taking my MFA–Succession & Estate Planning Specialist program, I created our Business Navigator Process… these courses were practical and applicable to my current wealth management practice with transitioning business owners.” David Allard, MBA, CFA, CFP, MFA, B. C.

“A wise man once said nothing. . .”  (Anonymous)