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Financial Issues & Answers for Everyone
A thorough analysis of today’s financial news—delivered weekly to your inbox or via social media. As part of Knowledge Bureau’s interactive network, the Report covers current issues on the tax and financial services landscape and provides a wide range of professional benefits, including access to peer-to-peer blogs, opinion polls, online lessons, and vital industry information from Canada’s only multi-disciplinary financial educator.
July 2025 Poll
Do you believe Canada’s tax system based, on self-assessment, has suffered under recent changes at CRA and by Finance Canada? If so, what is the one wish you have for tax reform?
No New Insight on Changes to Stock Options
The 2019 Federal Budget proposed an annual cap of $200,000 on stock options granted to employees by "large, long-established, mature firms." This cap is on the value of the shares at the time the options are granted. More details were set to be delivered in the 2020 Federal Budget, including information from the consultations with Canadians. It's information we're still waiting for, however, the government did recommit to its implementation during yesterday's Throne Speech. Here’s what we know now:
Updated Income Tax Estimator Deals with Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB) Clawback
When the new Canada Recovery Benefits become available later this month, it will come with a cost. If the recipient’s net income for the year from other sources exceeds $38,000, they will be required to repay 50% of the lesser of the CRB received and their net income in excess of $38,000.
Financial and insurance advisors, lawyers, accountants, bookkeepers, tax practitioners and gift planners…
Financial and insurance advisors, lawyers, accountants, bookkeepers, tax practitioners and gift planners…
Good News: Canadians’ Debt Ratio Drops and Savings Rates Increase
According to a September 11 report from Stats Canada, households increased holdings of financial assets and reduced non-mortgage and consumer debt during the second quarter this year. The household debt service ratio, which is the total obligated payments of principal and interest on credit market debt over household disposable income, had the largest decline on record. It dropped from 14.54% to 12.40%. Incredibly, there was only $1.58% of credit market debt for every dollar of household disposable income. But, is the good news temporary?
The End of 2019 Tax Filing is in Sight; So Are Tax Liabilities
The extended September 30 filing deadline hasn’t arrived yet. But, according to the most recent processing statistics from the CRA, there are still 2019 returns outstanding. And, with this unusual tax season soon to be behind us, top-of-class tax and financial advisors must start immediately to help Canadians manage tax debts, maximize remaining social benefit payments and plan to reduce taxes payable in 2020. It’s a tall order.
