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Tax Alerts
ON - Province increases charitable donation tax credit
In this year’s Budget, the provincial government announced that the non-refundable tax credit provided to taxpayers who make qualifying donations to charity would be increased. The credit is a ...
ON - Interest Rates - 2018
The province of Ontario charges and pays interest on underpayments and overpayments of tax at rates prescribed by statute and set at the beginning of each calendar quarter. The rates levied and paid f...
ON - Budget proposes changes to provincial personal income tax structure
The Ontario Budget for the 2018-19 fiscal year, which was brought down on March 28, included the announcement of changes to the province’s personal income tax rate structure, with such changes h...
ON - Changes to employment standards laws to take effect April 1, 2018
Previously announced changes to Ontario’s employment standards laws will take effect on April 1, 2018. The upcoming changes will, for the most part, affect temporary, part-time, and seasonal em...
ON - Province announces date for 2018-19 Budget
The provincial government has announced that Ontario’s 2018-19 Budget will be brought down by the Minister of Finance on Wednesday, March 28 at around 4 p.m. Once the Budget is announced, the B...
ON - Personal tax credit amounts for 2018
The province of Ontario will provide the following personal tax credit amounts for 2018: Basic personal amount ……………………………...
ON - Province bans unsolicited door-to-door sales of specified home products
The provincial government has announced that, effective as of March 1, 2018, unsolicited door-to-door sales of the following appliances will no longer be permitted:  air cleaners, air conditioner...
ON - Province releases third-quarter fiscal results for 2017-18
The release of Ontario’s Third Quarter Finances report indicates that the province remains on track to balance the budget for the 2017-18 fiscal year, although the amount of the projected surplu...
ON - Province to require standard form residential lease as of April 30
The provincial government has announced that, effective for leases signed on or after April 30, 2018, residential landlords in Ontario will be required to use a new standard-form, plain-language lease...
ON - Personal income tax rates and brackets for 2018
For the 2018 tax year, the province of Ontario will levy personal income tax based on the following tax rates and brackets. 05% on taxable income between $10,354 and $42,960; 15% on taxable in...
ON - Payment dates for Ontario Trillium Benefit for 2018
The province of Ontario provides a number of refundable tax credits to individual residents of the province. Several of those credits are combined and paid as a single monthly benefit — the Onta...
ON - Consultation process for 2018-19 provincial Budget announced
The government of Ontario has announced the launch of its pre-budget consultation process leading to the release of the province’s 2018-19 Budget. That budget consultation process has several c...
ON - CRA releases 2017 T1 tax return form for Ontario residents
The Canada Revenue Agency has released the 2017 T1 Individual Income Tax Return and Benefit form to be used by individuals who were residents of Ontario at the end of that year. The T1 form package (w...
ON - Interest Rates – 2018
The province of Ontario charges and pays interest on underpayments and overpayments of tax at rates prescribed by statute and set at the beginning of each calendar quarter. The rates levied and paid f...
ON - 2018 payroll deduction tables for provincial income tax released
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has issued the payroll deduction tables which Ontario employers will use to determine employee source deductions for federal and provincial income tax, Canada Pension P...
ON - 2018 Ontario TD1 Form and TD1 Worksheet released
The Canada Revenue Agency has issued the Ontario TD1 form and worksheet which will be used by taxpayers resident in the province, and their employers, to determine required provincial income tax sourc...
ON - Changes enacted to provincial employment standards
The Ontario government has enacted a number of changes to the province’s employment standards laws, and those changes include the following: the Ontario minimum wage will increase to $14 per ...
ON - Apprenticeship training tax credit eliminated
The province of Ontario provided employers who hired and trained eligible apprentices in designated construction, industrial and motive power, and certain service trades with a refundable tax credit, ...
ON - Province to reduce small business tax rate in 2018
In the 2017 Economic and Fiscal Review issued on November 14, Ontario’s Minister of Finance announced that the provincial small business tax rate would be reduced, effective as of January 1, 201...
ON - New program to support energy efficiency upgrades
The provincial government has announced a new program – the Affordability Fund – which will “support” the free installation of energy-efficiency upgrades, which can include LED...
ON - Consultation launched on application of employment standards laws
Earlier this year, a final report was issued by Ontario’s Changing Workplaces Review, which was charged with reviewing the province’s employment standards and labour relations legislation,...
ON - Province launches 2018-19 Budget consultation process
The province of Ontario has announced a consultation process with respect to funding announcements to be made as part of the province’s 2018-19 Budget. The government will provide up to $5 mill...
ON - Interest Rates - 2017
The province of Ontario charges and pays interest on underpayments and overpayments of tax at rates prescribed by statute and set at the beginning of each calendar quarter. The rates levied and paid f...
ON - Minimum wage increase effective October 1, 2017
As of October 1, 2017, Ontario’s general minimum wage was increased from $11.40 per hour to $11.60 per hour. Increases will also take effect on that date to minimum wage rates payable to student...
ON - Land transfer tax refund for first-time homebuyers
The province of Ontario imposes a tax on any transfers of land which take place in the province, but first-time homebuyers can qualify for a full or partial refund of such tax paid. To claim a refund...
ON - Changes in residential tenancy laws to provide additional tenant protection
As of September 1, 2017, changes to the law on residential tenancies will provide additional protection to Ontario tenants. Under current law, landlords are entitled to end a residential tenancy so t...
ON - First quarter results released for 2017-18 fiscal year
The Ontario government has released the province’s fiscal results for the first quarter (April 1- June 30) of the current (2017-2018) fiscal year. Those results indicate that the province is on...
ON - Minimum wage increase effective October 1, 2017
As of October 1, 2017, the minimum wage payable in the province of Ontario will increase from $11.40 to $11.60 per hour. At the same time, the student minimum wage will be raised from $10.70 to $10.9...
ON - Province releases July jobs figures
The provincial government has announced that employment in the province grew by 25,500 jobs during the month of July. Most those were full-time positions, while approximately 8,000 were part-time jobs...
ON - New consumer protection rules for condominium residents
The Ontario government has announced that new rules will be put in place this fall to provide additional protections for condominium owners. The new rules generally require that condo owners be provi...
ON - New funding requirements for defined benefit pension plans
The provincial government has announced that changes will be made to the rules governing funding of defined benefit pension plans in Ontario. New funding requirements will require employers to make a...
ON - Interest Rates - 2017
The province of Ontario charges and pays interest on underpayments and overpayments of tax at rates prescribed by statute and set at the beginning of each calendar quarter. The rates levied and paid f...
ON - Province announces rent increase cap for 2018
The Ontario government has announced that, effective for the 2018 calendar year, a cap of 1.8% will apply for purposes of rent increases on residential rental property in the province. That cap, which...
ON - Increased personal emergency leave for employees
The Ontario government has announced that, as part of its overall revision of provincial employment standards laws, the availability of personal emergency leave to employees will be expanded. Under t...
ON - Changes to wage rules for part-time and temporary workers
The Ontario government has announced that changes will be made to the province’s employment standards legislation governing casual, part-time, temporary, and seasonal employees. The planned chan...
ON - Minimum wage to increase in two stages
The province of Ontario has received the final report of its Changing Workplaces Review panel, which examined the province’s current employment standards laws. Following that review, a number of...
ON - Province to introduce seniors’ public transit tax credit
As announced in this year’s Budget, and effective for qualifying costs incurred for travel after July 1, 2017, the province will be providing Ontario seniors (aged 65 and older) with a refundabl...
ON - Ontario tax credit benefit year to start July 1
The Ontario government provides residents of the province with a number of refundable tax credits (known collectively as the Ontario Trillium Benefit), which are delivered by means of monthly payments...
ON - Changes announced to Ontario Student Assistance Program
The province of Ontario has made significant changes to the financing of post-secondary education, and those changes will be in effect during the upcoming 2017-18 academic year. Effective with the st...
ON - Province imposes tax on home purchases by foreign buyers
To address concerns with respect to recent growth in the price of homes in Southern Ontario, the province has proposed a new 15% tax on the sale of homes in that area of the province. The tax is to ap...
ON - Province expands rent control to all private rental housing
Ontario’s existing rent control legislation has been expanded, effective as of April 20, 2017, to cover all private rental housing in the province. Formerly, rent control measures, which impose...
ON - Date announced for 2017-18 Budget
The Ontario Minister of Finance has announced that the province’s 2017-18 Budget will be brought down on Thursday April 27, 2017. The Budget date announcement can be found on the Ontario Financ...
ON - Interest Rates - 2017
The province of Ontario charges and pays interest on underpayments and overpayments of tax at rates prescribed by statute and set at the beginning of each calendar quarter. The rates levied and paid f...
ON - Province announces minimum wage increase for 2017
The province of Ontario announces, before April1 of each year, the change in the minimum wage which will take effect on October 1 of that year. That change is based on increases in the province’...
ON - Province to reduce residential electricity bills
The Ontario government has announced a plan – the “Fair Hydro Plan” – in which it commits to reducing residential hydro bills by an average of 25% and to limiting increases in ...
ON - Province issues updated deficit projection
Ontario’s Ministry of Finance recently issued its report on the province’s 2016-17 Third Quarter Finances. The report indicates that Ontario is projecting a deficit of $1.9 billion for 20...
ON - Online calculator available for 2017 refundable tax credits
Ontario residents will soon be calculating their net income for 2016 in the course of preparing their 2016 income tax returns. That information can then be used to find which refundable provincial tax...
ON - Individual income tax rates and brackets for 2017
The province of Ontario will impose individual income tax at the following rates and income brackets in 2017: 05% on taxable income between $10,171 and $42,201; 15% on taxable income between $42,2...
ON - Interest Rates - 2017
The province of Ontario charges and pays interest on underpayments and overpayments of tax at rates prescribed by statute and set at the beginning of each calendar quarter. The rates levied and paid f...
ON - New consumer protection rules for travel industry to be implemented in 2017
As of January 1, 2017, the province of Ontario will require that all advertising that includes the price of travel must provide consumers with an all-in price. Specifically, any such advertising ...
ON - Province launches new student assistance calculator
Starting with the 2017-18 academic year, the province of Ontario will be providing free average tuition to students who have a family income of less than $50,000 per year. The provincial government h...
ON - Legislative changes made on expiry of reward points
New rules which became law on December 5, 2016 will prohibit the expiry of consumer loyalty rewards points in Ontario. The implementing legislation is retroactive, meaning that such points that expire...
ON - Changes made to Ontario Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit
The Ontario Minister of Finance has announced that changes will made to the province’s Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit (OIDMTC). The OIDMTC is a refundable tax credit available to qualifyin...
ON - Increased land transfer tax rebate for first-time buyers
As part of the 2016 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review released on November 14, 2016, the provincial Minister of Finance announced that first-time home buyers in Ontario will receive an increa...
ON - Province to expand consumer protection legislation
The provincial government has announced that a broad-based series of changes will be made to consumer protection laws in Ontario. Those changes will limit the maximum total cost of borrowing a payday...
ON - Increase in provincial minimum wage as of October 1
As announced earlier this year, Ontario’s minimum wage rate was increased, effective October 1, 2016. As of that date, the general minimum wage increased from $11.25 per hour to $11.40 per hour...
ON - Province announces new residential electricity rebate program
In the recent Throne Speech, the Ontario government announced that it would be providing a rebate program for residential consumers of electricity in the province. The rebate program will reduce the ...
ON - Seniors’ home renovation tax credit program ending
Ontario seniors who wish to take advantage of the Healthy Homes Renovation Tax Credit will need to do so before the end of the year. As announced in this year’s provincial Budget, that program w...
ON - Upcoming changes to provincial minimum wage
Effective as of October 1, 2016, Ontario’s minimum wage will increase from the current rate of $11.25 per hour to $11.40 per hour. The minimum wage rate payable to students under the age of 18 w...
ON - Benefit year for Ontario tax credit and benefit payments started July 1
The province of Ontario provides a number of tax credits and benefits by way of direct payment to qualifying residents of the province. The current benefit year for such credits and benefits runs from...
ON - Province sets residential rent increase guideline for 2017
The provincial government has announced the rent increase guideline which will apply to residential rental properties in the province during 2017. For that year, increases in rent levied for such pro...
ON - Province restructures post-secondary student financial assistance programs
The 2016-17 Ontario budget included an announcement of a major restructuring of the province’s financial assistance programs for students pursuing post-secondary education. As part of that rest...
Unemployment rate unchanged in March
The most recent release of Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey shows that the rate of unemployment for the month of March 2018 stood at 5.8%. The same rate was recorded for February 2018. E...
Bank of Canada leaves interest rates unchanged
In its regularly scheduled interest rate announcement made on April 18, the Bank of Canada indicated that no change was required to current interest rates. Accordingly, the Bank Rate will remain at 1....
ReFILE service for changing individual income tax returns
It is not uncommon for taxpayers to discover an error or omission in an already-filed return, and the usual means by which such error can be corrected is the filing of a T1-Adjustment form. While a co...
CRA issues reminder of taxability of income from “sharing economy”
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has issued a reminder to taxpayers who receive income from the “sharing economy” that such income is taxable and must be reported on the annual tax return. ...
Bank of Canada interest rate announcement dates for 2018
The Bank of Canada’s regularly scheduled interest rate announcement dates for the remainder of calendar year 2018 are as follows: April 18, 2018; May 30, 2018; July 11, 2018; S...
CRA issues update on home sale reporting requirements
Proceeds received from the sale of one’s principal residence are, in most circumstances, not taxable, as such sales are eligible for the principal residence exemption. However, as of the 2016 ta...
Significant increase in inflation rate for February
The most recent release of Statistics Canada’s Consumer Price Index shows a sharp increase in inflation for the month of February. That rate stood at 2.2%, while the rate for January 2018 was 1....
Prescribed interest rates for second quarter of 2018
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has announced the interest rates which will apply to amounts owed to and by the CRA for the second quarter of 2018, as well as the rates that will apply for the purpose...
CRA issues warning on tax scams
While taxpayers fall victim to tax scams year-round, such scams are more prevalent during and just following tax filing season. During that time, taxpayers  expect to hear from the tax authoritie...
CRA publication on changes to Voluntary Disclosure Program available online
In December 2017, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) announced that substantive changes would be made to the Agency’s Voluntary Disclosure Program (VDP). That program enables taxpayers who are in d...
CRA issues e-filers manual for 2017 returns
The Canada Revenue Agency has issued its Guide RC4018, Electronic Filers Manual for 2017 Income Tax and Benefit Returns. That guide is for use by certified e-filers in filing individual income tax ret...
Unemployment rate down slightly in February
The most recent release of Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey shows a small decline in the overall unemployment rate for the month of February 2018. That rate declined from 5.9% in the mont...
Increase in Consumer Price Index for January
The most recent release of Statistics Canada’s Consumer Price Index indicates that the rate of inflation for the month of January 2018 stood at 1.7%. The rate for the previous month was 1.9%. I...
Bank of Canada leaves interest rates unchanged
In its regularly scheduled interest rate announcement made on March 7, the Bank of Canada indicated that no change would be made to current interest rates. Accordingly, the bank rate remains at 1.5%. ...
Budget 2018 - Personal tax credits
Budget 2018: No personal tax credits have been repealed, and there are no new personal tax rate changes....
Budget 2018 - Foreign-born Status Indians
Budget 2018: Foreign-born Status Indians may now be eligible for child benefits, retroactive to 2005....
Budget 2018 - Service animals
Budget 2018: Eligibility of specially trained service animals will be expanded for the purposes of the medical expense tax credit....
Budget 2018 - Canada Workers Benefit
Budget 2018: Taxpayers will no longer need to apply when filing their return in order to receive the Canada Workers Benefit....
Budget 2018 - Working Income Tax Benefit amounts
Budget 2018: The Working Income Tax Benefit amounts are enhanced as of 2019, and the credit is renamed the Canada Workers Benefit...
Budget 2018 - Non-resident surplus stripping rules
Budget 2018: The non-resident surplus stripping rules are tightened to address the use of partnerships and trusts....
Budget 2018 - CRA compliance orders
Budget 2018: Where a CRA compliance order or information requirement is contested, a new rule will “stop the clock” to prevent the tax year from being statute barred....
Budget 2018 - RDTOH
Budget 2018: A corporation will have two RDTOH accounts going forward: eligible and non-eligible RDTOH....
Budget 2018 - Investment income
Budget 2018: A corporation with $100,000 of investment income will have its small business limit reduced to $250,000....
Budget 2018 - Corporations' small business limit
Budget 2018: A corporation’s small business limit will be reduced where the corporation earns investment income exceeding $50,000....
Extended hours for CRA telephone help line
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) provides a 1-800 telephone service to provide tax information to Canadian taxpayers. Such information can be general in nature, or can involve the specific tax affairs ...
CRA issues list of approved software for NETFILING of 2017 returns
The Canada Revenue Agency’s NETFILE service for filing of individual income tax returns will be available starting Monday February 26, 2018. Taxpayers do not need to obtain an access code to fi...
Unemployment rate up slightly in January
The most recent release of Statistics Canada’s Labor Force Survey shows a slight increase in the overall unemployment rate for the month of January. That rate rose by 0.1%, from 5.8% to 5.9%. T...
2018-19 Federal Budget date announced
The Federal Minister of Finance has announced that the 2018-19 federal Budget will be brought down on Tuesday, February 27, 2018. The Budget will be released at around 4 p.m. and the full Budget Pape...
Obtaining hard copy of a 2017 income tax return package
This year, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) will be providing taxpayers with hard copies of the 2017 Income Tax and Benefit package through a variety of means, and at various dates. Individuals who pa...
CRA announces NETFILE service availability dates for 2017 returns
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has announced the date on which NETFILE service for the filing of individual income tax returns for the 2017 tax year will be available. NETFILE service will be availa...
CRA to mail tax return packages to selected taxpayers
While the majority of Canadians now file their individual income tax returns electronically, there is still a significant minority of tax filers who file using a printed return. The Canada Revenue Ag...
CRA announces change to 2017 individual tax return forms
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has posted a notice on its website that an “update” has been made to individual 2017 tax forms. Those forms are to be used by individual Canadians to file t...
CRA reinstates telephone tax return filing service
For a number of years, taxpayers whose tax situation was relatively straightforward were able to file their return by telephone. That service, which was called TELEFILE, was withdrawn a few years ago....
Prescribed interest rates for first quarter of 2018
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has announced the interest rates which will apply to amounts owed to and by the Agency for the first quarter of 2018, as well as the rates that will apply for the purpo...
Bank of Canada raises interest rates
As widely expected, the Bank of Canada indicated, in its regularly scheduled interest rate announcement made on January 17, that an increase in the bank rate was required. The Bank’s announceme...
Federal Budget 2018-19 consultations to end January 26
Finance Canada has announced that the consultation process leading to the release of the 2018-19 federal Budget will conclude on Friday January 26, 2018. Canadians can provide input by submitting the...
CRA issues individual T1 Tax Return Form and Guide for 2017
The Canada Revenue Agency has released the T1 Individual Income Tax Return and Benefit form to be used by individual Canadian taxpayers in filing their return for the 2017 tax year. The T1 form is ava...
Unemployment rate for December 2017 down to 5.7%
The most recent release of Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey indicates that the unemployment rate for the month of December 2017 stood at 5.7%. The last period for which that rate was reco...
Small business tax rate reduced effective January 1
As previously announced, the federal small business tax rate is reduced to 10.0%, effective as of January 1, 2018. There is no change in the federal small business limit, which remains at $500,000. T...
Automobile deduction and benefit limits for 2018
Finance Canada has announced the limits and thresholds which will apply for purposes of determining automobile benefits and deductions during 2018. Most such deduction limits and thresholds are uncha...
CRA issues guidance on upcoming changes to small business tax rules
Planned changes to the federal income tax rules governing the taxation of small incorporated Canadian businesses are to take effect for 2018. One of those changes will include greater restrictions on ...
Changes to be made to Voluntary Disclosure Program
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) provides an administrative program under which taxpayers who have failed to file returns or pay taxes on a timely basis can bring their tax affairs into compliance, usu...
Age 71 final RRSP contribution to be made by December 31
Taxpayers who are turning age 71 during the year and who have available contribution room are entitled to make a final RRSP contribution for that year. Such contributions must be made by the end of t...
Bank of Canada leaves interest rates unchanged
In its regularly scheduled interest rate announcement made on December 6, the Bank of Canada indicated that, in its view, no change is required to current rates. Accordingly, the bank rate remains at ...
Unemployment rate down in November
The most recent release of Statistic’s Canada’s Labour Force Survey shows a slight decline in the overall unemployment for the month of November. That rate declined by 0.4%, to 5.9%. The N...
T4127 for 2018 payroll deduction amounts released
The Canada Revenue Agency has issued the 2018 version of its publication T4127(E), Payroll Deductions Formulas. The guide is intended for use by payroll software providers and by employers which manag...
CRA issues federal TD1 Form and TD1 Worksheet for 2018
The Canada Revenue Agency has issued the federal TD1 Form and Worksheet which will be used by taxpayers and their employers to determine required federal income tax source deductions for the upcoming ...
Inflation rate up by 1.4% in October
The most recent release of Statistics Canada’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) shows an inflation rate of 1.4% for the month of October, as measured on a year-over-year basis. The equivalent rate for...
Finance launches pre-budget consultations
Finance Canada has begun the consultation process leading to the release of the 2018-19 federal Budget. As part of that budget consultation process, the Minister of Finance is holding in-person publi...
CRA to provide online filing for trust tax and information returns
Effective as of January 8, 2018, administrators and representatives of qualifying Canadian trusts will be able to file trust income tax and information returns online, through the Canada Revenue Agenc...
Employment Insurance premium rates for 2018
The federal government has announced the premium rates and maximum insurable earnings amount which will be in place for the 2018 calendar year. The premium rate for the year for employees has been se...
CRA announces CPP contribution rates and amounts for 2018
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has announced the contribution rates and amounts for both employers and employees which will apply for 2018. Maximum pensionable earnings for the year will be $55,900 ...
Slight increase in unemployment rate for October
The most recent release of Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey shows a very small increase in the overall unemployment rate for the month of October. That rate was up by 0.1 percentage point...
Working income tax benefit advance payment application released
The federal government provides lower-income working Canadians with a Working income tax benefit, with the amount of that benefit dependent on the taxpayer’s income for the year from all sources...
Bank of Canada leaves interest rates unchanged
In its regularly scheduled interest rate announcement made on October 25, the Bank of Canada determined that no change was needed to current rates. Accordingly, the bank rate remains at 1.25%. In the...
Inflation rate up slightly in September
The most recent release of Statistics Canada’s Consumer Price Index shows that the overall rate of inflation for the month of September, as measured on a year-over-year basis, stood at 1.6%. The...
Finance releases 2017-18 Economic and Fiscal Update
Figures announced by the Minister of Finance in this week’s 2017 Economic and Fiscal Update show an improvement in the federal government’s financial outlook for the current and upcoming f...
Changes announced to proposed new rules on small business taxation
Several months ago, the federal government proposed new rules which would significantly affect the taxation of private corporations. Those proposed rules generally sought to limit the ability of owner...
Small business tax rate to be reduced
Finance Canada has announced that the federal small business tax rate, which is currently set at 10.5%, will be reduced in two stages. The first reduction will be effective as of January 1, 2018, whe...
CRA policy on taxation of employee discounts
Employees who work in the retail sector frequently receive a discount when purchasing goods sold by their employer. Recent press reports have indicated that the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) had or woul...
No change in unemployment rate for September
The most recent release of Statistics Canada’s Labor Force Survey indicates that, for the month of September, employment across Canada was substantially unchanged. For that month, the unemploym...
Obtaining a proof of income statement
Individual Canadians are sometimes required to provide proof of their income, often as part of an application for a mortgage or other form of credit. Such proof of income can be obtained from the Cana...
Prescribed interest rates for 2017
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has announced the interest rates which will apply to amounts owed to and by the Agency for 2017, as well as the rates that will apply for the purpose of calculating emp...
Increased inflation rate in August
The most recent release of Statistics Canada’s Consumer Price Index shows an increase in the overall rate of inflation for the month of August. The inflation rate for that month stood at 1.4%, a...
Change announced in Employment Insurance premiums for 2018
The Minister of Finance has announced that a change will be made to the amount of Employment Insurance premiums to be paid, starting January 1, 2018. The Minister’s announcement, which can be f...
October 2 deadline for submissions on small business tax change consultation
In its 2017-18 Budget, the federal government announced that it would be examining changes to the tax rules governing private corporations. More specifically, those changes would eliminate some of the...
CRA issues new forms for reduction of source deductions
Taxpayers who are receiving employment income and/or Old Age Security payments are entitled to request that tax deductions being made from those payments be reduced. Such requests are made using form...
Small decline in unemployment rate for August
The most recent release of Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey shows a small decline in the overall unemployment rate for the month of August. That rate declined by 0.1%, to 6.2%, which is t...
Updated publication issued on Taxpayer Relief Program
The Minister of National Revenue is authorized to provide relief to taxpayers from the imposition of penalties or interest in relation to tax amounts owed, under the Taxpayer Relief Program. Such rel...
Bank of Canada announces interest rate increase
In its regularly scheduled interest rate announcement made on September 6, the Bank of Canada announced that it was increasing its target for the overnight rate, and that the Bank Rate now stands at 1...
Input sought for financial sector consultation process
Finance Canada has announced that it has completed the first stage of its consultation with respect to the regulation of the federal financial sector. A consultation paper incorporating the comments ...
Upcoming due date for individual income tax instalment payment
The third individual instalment payment of income taxes for 2017 is due and payable on Friday, September 15. Taxpayers who are subject to the instalment requirement will have received an Instalment Re...
Change in address for Canada Revenue Agency website
Individual and corporate taxpayers can deal with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and carry out most of their tax obligations online, through the CRA’s website. The Agency also provides a great d...
Increased inflation rate for July
The most recent release of Statistics Canada’s Consumer Price Index indicates that the overall inflation rate for the month of July stood at 1.2%, as measured on a year-over-year basis. The comp...
First tax instalment reminders issued this month
During the month of August, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) will be issuing 2017 Tax Instalment Reminders, and many taxpayers will be receiving such Reminders for the first time. Individuals who need...
CRA launches annual tax return processing review
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has begun its annual tax return processing review, which seeks to confirm or verify that amounts reported by taxpayers on their 2016 income tax return were accurate and...
Unemployment rate down slightly in July
The most recent release of Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey shows a small decline of 0.2% in the overall unemployment rate for the month of July. That rate stood at 6.3% which was, as not...
Consultation process on tax planning using private corporations
As announced in this year’s Budget, the federal government has undertaken a consultation process with respect to tax planning strategies involving private corporations. As part of that consulta...
Interest rate announcement dates for 2018
The Bank of Canada makes eight regularly scheduled interest rate announcements each year, and the Bank recently announced the dates on which those announcements will be made during 2018. Those dates a...
2017-18 federal and provincial benefit year commencing in July
The federal government and many of the provinces provide child and family benefits through a number of programs, most of which are administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). For many programs, ...
Inflation rate down slightly in June
The most recent release of Statistics Canada’s Consumer Price Index shows that the overall rate of inflation for the month of June was 1%, while the rate posted for May stood at 1.3%. Both rates...
Registering for online mail from the Canada Revenue Agency
Owing to security concerns, the Canada Revenue Agency does not transmit personal tax information by e-mail, and most CRA correspondence is therefore sent and received by regular mail.The CRA does, how...
Federal government consultation on tax planning strategies
Finance Canada has announced that it will be holding public consultations with respect to planned changes to the tax rules governing private corporations.The planned changes will eliminate tax plannin...
Unemployment rate down slightly in June
The most recent release of Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey shows a slight decline in the overall unemployment rate for the month of June. That rate stood at 6.5%, down by 0.1% from the p...
Bank of Canada increases benchmark interest rate
As expected, in its regularly scheduled interest rate announcement made on July 12, the Bank of Canada increased the bank rate from 0.75% to 1.0%. In the announcement of the rate increase, which can ...
Inflation rate down slightly for May
The most recent release of Statistics Canada’s Consumer Price Index shows that the overall rate of inflation slowed slightly during the month of May. The year-over-year rate for that month stood...
CRA to provide new small business services
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has announced that, following its consultation with respect to services provided by the Agency to small businesses, a number of new services will be provided. Those new...
Tax changes effective July 1 for ride-sharing services
As announced in this year’s federal Budget, effective July 1, 2017 self-employed commercial ride-sharing drivers who provide taxable supplies of ride-sharing services will be required ...
New return adjustment feature added to EFILE
The Canada Revenue Agency has introduced a new feature to its existing EFILE service, which will allow EFILE service providers to submit adjustment requests using certified software. Currently, the ne...
Public transit tax credit eliminated after June 2017
As announced in the 2017 federal Budget, the federal tax credit for public transit costs is eliminated after June 2017. Taxpayers should note that the cancellation of the credit is effective for cost...
Prescribed interest rates for first three quarters of 2017
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has announced the interest rates which will apply to amounts owed to and by the Agency for the first three quarters of 2017, as well as the rates that will apply for th...
CRA holding public consultation on changes to Voluntary Disclosure Program
Canadian taxpayers who are in default of their filing and/or tax payment obligations can voluntarily disclose that default and have any associated penalties or interest charges waived under the federa...
Unemployment rate up slightly in May
The most recent release of Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey shows that, while employment rose by 55,000 during the month of May, the overall unemployment rate increased by 0.1%. That resu...
CRA to host webinar on determining employee status
Determining whether a particular individual is an employee or a self-employed independent contractor can be difficult, and an employer’s responsibilities with respect to each are quite different...
Upcoming income tax instalment due date
The second instalment payment of individual income taxes for the 2017 tax year is due on or before Thursday June 15, 2017. Individual taxpayers who pay taxes by instalment will have received an instal...
Upcoming filing deadline for self-employed taxpayers
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has issued a reminder to all self-employed taxpayers and their spouses that their individual income tax returns for the 2016 tax year are due on or before Thursday June...
Federal government to match famine relief donations
The federal government has announced the creation of a Famine Relief Fund in response to the famine and resulting humanitarian crisis which is occurring in Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, and Yemen. A...
Bank of Canada maintains interest rates at current levels
In its regularly scheduled interest rate announcement made on May 24, the Bank of Canada indicated that, in its view, no change is need to current interest rates. Accordingly, the bank rate remains at...
Inflation rate for April unchanged
The most recent release of Statistics Canada’s Consumer Price Survey shows that there was no change in the overall inflation rate during the month of April 2017. That rate stood at 1.6%, as meas...
Changes made to procedures for online access by business representatives
Businesses can appoint someone else, often a tax professional, to deal with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) on their behalf. In order to have online access to tax information about the business, the r...
Upcoming webinar on employee taxable benefits
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) will be holding a webinar for employers on the subject of employee taxable benefits. The webinar will be held on Wednesday May 24, 2017. The webinar is free of charge,...
Tax relief available for taxpayers affected by flood disaster
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has issued a notice reminding Canadian taxpayers who have been affected by this spring’s floods of the availability of relief in relation to their tax filing and ...
Slight decrease in unemployment rate for April
The most recent release of Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey shows a slight decrease in the overall unemployment rate for the month of April 2017, which dropped from 6.7% to 6.5%. The 6.5%...
Interest charges on unpaid taxes begin May 2, 2017
Taxpayers who have unpaid tax balances for 2016 are subject to interest charges on those unpaid balances as of May 2, 2017. The current (until June 30, 2017) rate imposed on unpaid tax amounts by the...
Changing source deductions for 2017
This year’s federal Budget repealed and replaced several federal tax credits affecting caregivers of infirm and non-infirm family members. Those changes can in many cases affect the tax payable ...
Decrease in inflation rate for March 2017
The most recent release of Statistics Canada’s Consumer Price Index shows a drop in the overall inflation rate for the month of March 2017. The rate for that month stood at 1.6%, as measured on ...
Individual tax payment deadline May 1, 2017
For all individual Canadian taxpayers, the deadline for payment of tax amounts owed for the 2016 taxation year is midnight on Monday May 1, 2017. Payments which are not made in full by that deadline ...
Prescribed interest rates applicable for leasing rules purposes in April and May
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has announced the prescribed interest rates which will apply for purposes of the leasing rules during the months of April and May 2017. They are as follows. April &hel...
Payment deadline and options for 2016 tax balances owed
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has issued a reminder to taxpayers that all tax amounts owed by individuals for the 2016 tax year are due by the end of April 2017. Since April 30 falls on a Sunday thi...
Bank of Canada maintains current interest rates
In its regularly scheduled interest rate announcement made on April 12, 2017, the Bank of Canada indicated that, in its view, no change was needed to current rates. Accordingly, the bank rate remains ...
Unemployment rate up slightly for March 2017
The most recent release of Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey shows a small increase in the unemployment rate for the month of March 2017. That rate rose by 0.1%, to 6.7%. Among demographi...
Applying for advance payment of Working Income Tax Benefit
The federal government provides a Working Income Tax Benefit for lower-income Canadians who earn a minimum amount of income from employment or self-employment. The WITB is claimed on the annual tax r...
Extended hours provided for CRA’s individual tax help line
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) provides an Individual Income Tax Enquiries Line (reachable at 1-800-959 8281) for taxpayers who need general information about taxes, or have specific questions about ...
Slight decrease in inflation rate for February
The most recent release of Statistics Canada’s Consumer Price Index indicates that the inflation rate for the month of February stood at 2%, as measured on a year-over-year basis. The comparable...
Federal Budget projects $28.5 billion deficit for 2017-18
The federal Budget brought down on March 22, 2017 by Minister of Finance Bill Morneau included projections of a $28.5 billion deficit for the federal government for the current (2017-18) fiscal year. ...
Budget 2017 - Review of Tax Planning Using Private Corporations
The Budget 2017 documents revealed that the government has been undergoing further reviews of various planning strategies relating to the use of private corporations that reduce personal income taxes ...
Budget 2017 - Taxi and Ride-Sharing Services
Effective July 1, 2017, Budget 2017 proposes to extend the GST/HST on taxi operators to ride-sharing services. Taxi operators are required to collect and remit GST/HST on their fares with no dollar ex...
Budget 2017 - Billed-Basis Accounting
Generally, taxpayers are required to include the value of their work in progress (“WIP”) in their income whether or not they have actually received payment for performing the work.  H...
Budget 2017 - Home Relocation Loans Deduction
If a taxpayer receives a loan by virtue of their employment with an interest rate below a prescribed rate, he or she is deemed to have received a taxable benefit. However, taxpayers can claim an offse...
Budget 2017 - Medical Expense Tax Credit
Budget 2017 proposes to expand the medical tax credit to include costs paid for the purpose of conceiving a child regardless of whether the medical procedures involved are not medically indicated due ...
Budget 2017 - Public Transit Tax Credit
Budget 2017 announced that the public transit tax credit will be repealed as of July 1, 2017. The non-refundable credit provided a 15% tax reduction with respect to eligible public transit passes such...
Budget 2017 - Disability Tax Credit
Budget 2017 proposes to amend the eligibility criteria for the disability tax credit. One of the conditions required for the credit is that a medical practitioner certifies on CRA Form T2201 that the ...
CRA and Service Canada online services now linked
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has announced that a link is now available between its website and that of Service Canada, for users of online services at both sites. Canadian taxpayers can carry out...
Update on CRA online service interruption
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has issued a notice indicating that its online services have been restored, and that taxpayers are once again able to file their 2016 tax returns online, make payments,...
Mineral exploration tax credit extended to 2018
Individual investors in flow-through shares can claim a 15% federal Mineral Exploration Tax Credit. That federal tax credit was scheduled to expire as of March 31, 2017, but Finance Canada has announc...
2017-18 federal Budget date announced
The Minister of Finance has announced that the 2017-18 federal Budget will be brought down on Wednesday, March 22, 2017. The announcement of the Budget date can be found on the Finance Canada website ...
Bank of Canada maintains interest rates at current levels
In its regularly scheduled interest rate announcement made on March 1, the Bank of Canada indicated that, in its view, no change was needed to current interest rates. Accordingly, the bank rate remain...
Significant increase in inflation rate for January
The most recent release of Statistics Canada’s Consumer Price Index shows a sharp increase in the rate of inflation during the month of January. That rate stood at 2.1%, as measured on a year ov...
CRA provides new T1 Adjustment service
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has announced that, effective as of February 20, 2017, EFILE service providers will be able to submit T1 adjustments for clients online, using their EFILE software. Th...
Unemployment rate down slightly in January
The most recent release of Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey indicates that the overall unemployment rate fell slightly during the month of January 2017. That rate fell by 0.1%, from 6.9% ...
NETFILE service for 2016 tax returns available February 20
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has announced that its NETFILE service for the filing of individual income tax returns for the 2016 tax year will be available for use beginning on Monday, February 20,...
CRA launches info line in response to data privacy breach
Recently, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) announced that encrypted data containing 2014 income tax information for 28,000 residents of the Yukon had been lost in transit. There is currently, according...
CRA issues 2016 Corporation Income Tax Return form
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has released the T2 Corporation Income Tax Return Form to be used by corporations for the 2016 tax year. The federal T2 is used by all federal, provincial, and territo...
Prescribed leasing interest rates for first quarter of 2017
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has announced the prescribed interest rates for leasing rules which will apply for the first quarter of 2017. Those rates are as follows: January ……&hell...
Individual income tax rates and brackets for 2017
The Canada Revenue Agency has indicated that an indexing factor of 1.4% will apply to federal individual income tax brackets for the 2017 tax year. The personal income tax brackets and rates which wil...
Bank of Canada leaves interest rates unchanged
In its scheduled interest rate decision made on January 16, the Bank of Canada (BOC) announced that, in its view, no change was needed to current rates. Accordingly, the bank rate remains at 0.75%. &...
Unemployment rate up slightly in December
The most recent release of Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey indicates that employment rose by 54,000 jobs during the month of December 2016, as the result of gains in full-time work. Des...
Upcoming CRA webinars on employer source deductions
The Canada Revenue Agency will be holding a three-part webinar series on the source deduction obligations of employers. The webinars are free of charge, but pre-registration is required.The dates and ...
2016 individual tax and benefit package available online
The Canada Revenue Agency has announced that 2016 General Income Tax and Benefit package for the 2016 taxation year will be available on its website as of Thursday, January 5.The package, once availab...
Changes for tax preparers and professionals for 2017 filing season
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has issued a listing of the administrative improvements and changes which will be in place for the upcoming 2017 filing season.Some of the changes include the following...
Prescribed interest rates for first quarter of 2017
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has announced the interest rates which will apply to amounts owed to and by the Agency for the first quarter of 2017, as well as the rates that will apply for the purpo...
CRA issues individual tax instalment calculation forms for 2017
Many Canadians who do not have income tax deducted from their paycheques at source pay such tax by quarterly instalments, on the 15th day of March, June, September, and December. Individuals who make...
CRA launches GST/HST compliance letter campaign
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has announced that it will be conducting a GST/HST compliance letter campaign pilot project over the next 9 months. As part of that project, the Agency will send 250 l...
Bank of Canada leaves interest rates unchanged
As expected, the Bank of Canada made no change to current interest rates in its announcement made on December 7. Consequently, the bank rate remains at 0.75%. In its announcement, which can be found ...
Unemployment rate down slightly in November
The most recent release of Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey shows that the overall unemployment rate declined slightly during November, dropping from 7% to 6.8%. During November, employm...
CRA webinar on payroll deductions for businesses
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) regularly holds webinars for businesses on how to fulfill their payroll reporting and remittance obligations. The last in the current series of such webinars, which wi...
Upcoming deadline for submissions to consultation process on charities
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has been conducting an online consultation process with respect to the rules governing the political activities of charities. Those rules impose limits on the kinds of ...
Small increase in inflation rate for October
The most recent release of Statistics Canada’s Consumer Price Index shows that the rate of inflation stood at 1.5% for the month of October, as measured on a year-over-year basis. The year-over-...
Payroll deductions formulas for 2017 released
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has issued the 2017 version of its publication T4127, which outlines and summarizes the payroll deductions formulas for computer programs which will be used beginning J...
Changes made to business tax assessment notices
As of October 2016, changes were made to standard correspondence sent to business owners by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). Specifically, the CRA will be providing businesses with two new, simplified...
Employment Insurance premium rates for 2017
The federal government has announced the Employment Insurance premium rates which will apply for the 2017 calendar year. Total insurable earnings for the year have been set at $51,300. Employee premi...
Canada Pension Plan contribution rates for 2017 announced
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has announced the contribution rates and amounts which will apply for the 2017 calendar year. Maximum pensionable earnings for that year have been set at $55,300, and t...
No change in unemployment rate in October
The most recent release of Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey shows that, while employment during the month of October increased by 44,000 jobs, the unemployment rate was unchanged at 7%. ...
Bank of Canada leaves interest rates unchanged
In its most recent announcement, the Bank of Canada indicated that in its view, no change was required to current interest rates. Accordingly, the bank rate remains at 0.75%. In the press release ann...
Inflation rate of 1.3% recorded for September
The most recent release of Statistics Canada’s Consumer Price Index shows an inflation rate of 1.3% for the month of September, as measured on a year-over-year basis. Prices for the month were ...
Date announced for Fall Economic and Fiscal Update
The federal Minister of Finance has announced that the 2016 Fall Economic and Fiscal Update will be released on Tuesday November 1, 2016. The Fiscal Update papers will be posted on the Finance Canada...
CRA to hold consultations on political activities of charities
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has announced the launch of public consultations on the rules regarding the involvement of registered charities in political activities. To that end, a consultation pan...
CRA launches consultations with small and medium sized businesses
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has announced that it will be holding consultations with small and medium sized businesses, starting this fall, on the delivery of services by the CRA. Those consultati...
CRA launches mobile app for individual tax benefits
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has launched a new mobile app — My Benefits CRA — which will enable Canadians to view personalized benefit and credit information on mobile devices. With t...
Finance Minister begins consultation process for 2017-18 federal Budget
The Minister of Finance has announced the start of the consultation process for the 2017-18 federal Budget. Interested stakeholders can take part in that consultation process in a number of ways, inc...
Responding to a CRA benefits entitlement information request
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has issued a reminder to Canadians that those who are receiving benefits and credits (like the Canada Child Benefit or the Harmonized Sales Tax Credit) may be asked by ...
Employment insurance premiums to be reduced in 2017
The federal government has announced that employment insurance premiums paid by employers and employees will be reduced for 2017. The change in premiums follows a report by the Office of the Superinte...
New school supply tax credit claimable by educators
Beginning in 2016, teachers and early childhood educators who purchase school supplies for use in their classrooms will be able to claim a 15% refundable federal tax credit on up to $1,000 worth of su...
Federal government launches financial sector consultation process
The federal Department of Finance has announced the launch of the first stage of a consultation process to be carried out with respect to the governance of the federal financial sector. Individuals o...
Finance posts first quarter fiscal results
The Department of Finance has issued the August release of The Fiscal Monitor, which outlines the revenue and expense figures for the federal government for the first quarter of fiscal 2016-17. Durin...
Obtaining a proof of income statement from the Canada Revenue Agency
Canadian taxpayers who are required to provide proof of their income can obtain a proof of income statement from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), either online or by telephone. Taxpayers who have reg...
Applying for the Canada Child Benefit
As of July 2016, the former Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB) and the Child Tax Benefit (CTB) were replaced by the new Canada Child Benefit (CCB), a non-taxable, means-tested benefit paid to Canadia...
Changeover to Canada Child Benefit effective July 20
Canadian families that have children under the age of 18 will notice a difference in their federal government child benefit starting in July. As of this month, the existing Canada Child Tax Benefit (C...
Bank of Canada maintains interest rates at current levels
In its regularly scheduled interest rate announcement made on January 20, the Bank of Canada indicated that no change would be made to current interest rates. Consequently, the bank rate remains at 0....

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