Time’s Up: CRA’s 100 Day Mandate for Improvement

After years of frustration on the part of tax professionals and taxpayers alike, the Finance Minister ordered the Canada Revenue Agency to clean up its act in 100 days. Specifically, the improvement plan was to run from September 2 through December 11. Finance Minister and Minister of National Revenue, Francoise-Phillippe Champagne instructed CRA to fix “unacceptable wait times and service delays.” Time’s up this week and CRA has released an update on progress. What gets measured, gets done. Let’s see what CRA’s metrics show. 

Got a toothache? Need more prescriptions? When you move up your medical appointments to before year-end, you may also increase your tax refund. That makes a visit to your dentist, eye doctor, or medical doctor a tax wise strategy at year-end.

I am excited about our upcoming national workshop tours with Cameron Peters, President of Trilogy Software, Larry Frostiak, FCA, and Alan Rowell, MFA, DFA-Tax Services Specialist.

With year-end tax planning now in our thoughts, one investment option to consider is the Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA). 

What happens with income earned after death? Most payments received by the deceased after death will have to be returned.

Training costs will not be deductible if they are considered to be “capital” in nature—that is, if they result in a lasting benefit to the taxpayer.

The Disability Tax Credit is lucrative—be sure to take the time to review the Disability Tax Credit Certificate (Form T2201) with your doctor.