2023 Remuneration

Higher personal income levels are taxed at higher personal rates, while lower levels are taxed at lower rates. Therefore, individuals may want to, where possible, adjust income out of high-income years and into low-income years. This is particularly useful if the taxpayer is expecting a large fluctuation in income due to, for example, an impending:  maternity/paternity leave; large bonus/dividend; or sale of a company or investment assets. In addition to increases in marginal tax rates,…

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Clothing Drive 2023

Thank you for the support for our 2023 Clothing Drive. It was a huge success! This year we supported the Anawim Houses for men and women and the Justice Van Society. We received much needed clothing and warm items. We couldn't have done this without your donations and the support of our volunteer drivers who took the items to the charities! We can't thank you enough for your generosity of time. These donations are distributed…

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Working From Home Expenses: Employment Expenses

The $2/day flat rate method available to claim expenses for employees working from home was a temporary administrative measure only available from 2020 to 2022; it is no longer available in 2023. As such, employees working from home can only use the detailed calculation when claiming expenses.  For 2023 and subsequent years, a deduction can only be claimed where one of the following criteria is met: i. the work space was the place where the…

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  • Post category:Tax Planning

Canada Dental Care Plan (CDCP): New Income-Tested Benefit

On December 11, 2023, Health Canada issued details on the Canada dental care plan that would cover a wide variety of dental services for certain Canadian residents. The plan will be rolled out from late 2023 to 2025.   To be eligible, the individual and their spouse or common-law partner (if applicable) must meet all of the following conditions: have an adjusted family net income (AFNI) of less than $90,000; be a Canadian resident for tax…

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New Trust Reporting: Unexpected Exposure

Changes requiring more trusts (and estates) to file tax returns and more information to be disclosed, first proposed in the 2018 Federal Budget, were delayed several times in the legislative process. The final rules (that are now law) first apply for 2023, with a filing deadline of April 2, 2024. As such, many trusts and estates (including many arrangements not commonly considered “trusts”) will be required to file for the first time in early 2024.…

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CEBA Repayment Deadline Extended: Some Issues

On September 14, 2023, the Department of Finance provided details on extending the deadline for Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) repayments, including the following key elements: the deadline to qualify for partial loan forgiveness (by paying the non-forgivable portion) has been extended from December 31, 2023 to January 18, 2024; if a refinancing application is made with the financial institution that provided the CEBA loan by January 18, 2024, the deadline to qualify for partial…

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Surcharge To Accept Payment Via Credit Card: GST/HST?

As of October 2022, merchants could charge an additional fee for accepting payment via creditcard. In a March 28, 2023 Technical Interpretation, CRA opined that the additional fee would be a separate exempt supply of a financial service and, therefore, not subject to GST/HST if all of the following conditions are met: the fee is charged to the cardholder solely for the acceptance of the use of the credit card as a payment method and…

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Enhanced First-Year CCA: Phase-Out After December 31, 2023

Over the past several years, several incentives permitting enhanced CCA claims in the year property first becomes available for use have been implemented. Claiming the enhanced first-year CCA provides a tax deferral by accelerating the deduction. The phase-out of these incentives will begin for assets that become available for use after December 31, 2023. Immediate expensing property (IEP)Many capital assets, other than those with particularly long lives (such as buildings), are eligible IEP. This includes…

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Enhanced GST Residential Rental Rebate: Increased Incentives

On September 14, 2023, the Department of Finance provided details on a proposal to enhance the existing GST rental rebate. In general, the existing rebate provides a 36% rebate of the GST component of the price paid by landlords to construct, or purchase newly constructed, rental property. The existing rebate begins to be phased out for properties valued at over $350,000 and is eliminated at $450,000. The proposal would increase the rebate from 36% to…

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