Wildfires: Apply for Taxpayer Relief Provisions

It may not be the first concern, but Canadians affected by wildfires may worry at some point about the tax consequences of lost records or missed filing deadlines – the next one on June 16 for those filing T1 returns with proprietorship income. Fortunately, the CRA offers Taxpayer Relief Provisions when there are circumstances beyond a taxpayer’s control, including natural disasters, serious illness or death in the family, or errors made by the CRA, which may trigger penalties and interest due to late or incomplete tax filings. Here’s what you need to know.

Budget 2013 included an announcement that the government would be looking into measures to improve the integrity of Canada’s tax system relating to testamentary trusts.

Bill C-60 proposes to implement certain provisions of the March 21, 2013 federal budget; among these, proposed legislative amendments that pertain to the audit process in the Income Tax Act, and provisions in the Tax Court of Canada Rules. Discussed below in the last of a four-part series are changes to the Expert Witness rules.

Last week we launched our five-part Disability Awareness series discussing tax relief for those who have become disabled and their caregivers. In this second part, we talk about income supports that are available. These articles are excerpted from Jacks on Tax, by Evelyn Jacks.

According to Statistics Canada there were 2.3 million businesses in Canada as of June 2009, with 57% of all business establishments located in Ontario and Quebec. 

Since 1988, 1,125 files have been referred to the GAAR Committee, according to recent statistics from CRA; CRA presented this and other statistics as it went through the GAAR process at the CRA & Professionals Breakfast Seminar in Toronto on June 6. 

South of the border, our American friends have proposed new legislation aimed at imposing sales tax on customers shopping at large online retail websites.