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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.
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?
Knowledge Bureau Network: Raising the CPP Survivor’s Benefit
The Liberal government has proposed that the CPP survivors’ benefit be raised by 25%. It’s an important step in the right direction, but it may not be enough to fairly represent the lost contributions from a lifetime of mandatory contributions by a deceased spouse. This requires review and here’s why:
Tax-Efficient Retirement Plans Post-Pandemic
According to a recent ISPOS survey on behalf of the Institute of Actuaries, 23% of working Canadians say that the pandemic will change the timeline of their planned retirement. They feel they’ll need to work longer to earn enough to retirement, and yet, still only 52% of working Canadians think they’ll be able to live comfortably once they do retire. What needs to be considered in retirement planning to address the new demands of the pandemic, along the increasing life expectancy in Canada, and the increase in workers age 65+ in the workforce?
CRA Interest Rates to Remain at Record Low until July
Although the government has yet to announce the prescribed interest rates for the second quarter, the rate will not change.
Transacting in Cryptocurrency? Beware the Taxman
Transacting with cryptocurrency can have tax implications. Did you keep track of those transactions and the fair market value of the money when you did? It’s an issue that will become important, and potentially messy, as you get ready to file your return this year. You may also have to correct prior year’s returns.
Another Disconnect between CRA and Taxpayers
It is no secret that CRA service levels have been under stress during the Pandemic. Many tax practitioners can confirm that a phone call that would normally have to wait for three to five minutes to be answered. At the peak of tax season could take one hour or more, not even including the dozens of dropped calls. Lately, response times have slowly decreased; however, it is still at unacceptable levels. As CRA shifts most of its services online through My Account, My Business Accounts, and Represent a Client one could think that there is less demand for phone calls. These services have also been compromised.
