Help & Contact: 1 866 953 4769
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.
May 2025 Poll
Does the new government’s promise, expected soon, to cut the lowest personal income tax rate by 1% to 14%, go far enough to help Canadians impacted by high costs? What are alternatives in your view?
Updated Course! Budgeting & Forecasting for Small Business
to rethink their approach for managing operations to avoid the unprecedented business closing statistics (refer to prior article this issue). However, paying increased attention to financial performance, profitability, and cash flow to meet obligations on both a personal and business level can matter greatly when embracing challenges in the areas of high interest rates, inflation, supply chain management, changes in consumer expectations, and a tight labour market. Knowledge Bureau’s newly updated Budgeting & Forecasting for Small Business course helps provide the strategic and technical insight needed and you can enrol now!
New 30-Year Amortizations for Insured Mortgages
Effective August 1, 2024, the government will allow 30-year mortgage amortizations for first-time homeowners who purchase newly built homes. For existing mortgage holders who meet specific criteria, “permanent amortization relief” will be available to extend repayment periods for as long as they need to get to the number they can afford to pay monthly. It’s an extension from the 25-year mortgage amortizations previously allowed. However, this isn’t for everyone… there is a significant risk to lifetime wealth creation and must be managed with an eye to interest rates and payment terms to reduce the non-deductible interest costs.
Loss of a Loved one: Charitable Donation Strategies
Did you know there are several options for claiming charitable donations in the year of death that can help to offset expensive tax on the terminal returns? Here is a run-down of six of them.
Poll Results: Tax & Financial Pros’ Tales of Frustration on Recovery of Pandemic Benefits
Tax and financial professionals who answered our July poll question had a majority agreement that it is fair that the CRA started to issue legal warnings beginning in July to recover the more than $9 billion of overpaid pandemic recovery benefits like CERB. The consensus is that Canadians need to pay back the money if they weren’t entitled to it. At the same time, many comments pointed to the need for CRA accountability in the roll-out and administration of these programs. Thanks to those who participated – check out the comments below:
September 18 CE Savvy Summit: Update on New Tax Provisions for 2024 & Beyond
Canadians’ relationship with the CRA’s enlarged department has changed substantially, along with the digital environment it operates under. Add to this a barrage of new tax measures and new powers bestowed on CRA, and it spells Audit Risk. Tax audit defence is now a key component of every professional’s duty to their clients, including financial professionals, who find themselves answering more tax planning questions as tax accountants focus on tax compliance. Come up to speed quickly in the comprehensive CE session at the September 18 CE Savvy Summit Virtual Event, as Canadian best-selling tax author and educator, Evelyn Jacks overviews recent new tax measures for:
