Davidow & Nelson Blog

CRA Education Initiative: Personal Services Business

In general, a personal services business (PSB) exists where the individual performing the work would be considered to be an employee of the payer if it were not for the existence of the individual’s corporation. These workers are often referred to as incorporated employees. Where it is determined that the income is earned from a… Read more »

Filing and Distribution Issues: T-Slips

Various changes and issues have arisen in respect of T-slips to be filed and processed for the 2023 year. Dental benefits Beginning with the 2023 year, issuers of the T4 Statement of Remuneration Paid and T4A, Statement of Pension, Retirement, Annuity, and Other Income must report whether the recipient or any of their family members… Read more »

2024 Limits Released: Automobile Deduction and Benefit Rates

Various automobile deductions and taxable benefit rates are limited to amounts prescribed by the Department of Finance annually. On December 18, 2023, the 2024 limits were announced as follows: – The limit on the deduction for non-taxable allowances paid by an employer to an employee using a personal vehicle for business purposes will increase in… Read more »

Tax Tidbits

Some quick points to consider… – The 2024 RRSP contribution limit is $31,560, requiring earned income in 2023 of at least $175,333. The 2025 limit will be $32,490 (requiring earned income in 2024 of at least $180,500). – The annual TFSA contribution limit for 2024 is $7,000. – The annual interest rate charged by CRA… Read more »

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… Read more »

Misconduct: Employment Insurance

An August 24, 2023 Federal Court of Canada case reviewed whether the taxpayer’s employment had ceased due to misconduct, which would render the taxpayer ineligible for employment insurance. The taxpayer worked at a community health care centre that required all employees to provide proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 unless they provided evidence of a… Read more »

Tax Collection: Revival of a Corporation

A June 12, 2023 Court of King’s Bench of Alberta case reviewed CRA’s application to revive a corporation dissolved in 2020. The former sole shareholder opposed the application. The corporation’s capital losses (as quantified during an audit of the 2013 and 2014 years) were used in 2017 and 2018. CRA sought to revive the corporation… Read more »

Increased CRA Disclosures: Mandatory Disclosure Rules

The requirement for taxpayers and their advisors to disclose reportable transactions to CRA has been expanded for transactions entered into after June 21, 2023. This change is part of a broader suite of changes requiring the disclosure of tax strategies considered aggressive by the government. Similar requirements exist in other countries, including the United States,… Read more »

GST/HST?: Businesses Purchasing from Non- Residents

Certain non-resident vendors are required to register for and collect GST/HST under a new simplified GST/HST registration regime that commenced July 1, 2021. While the rules are very complex under the simplified regime, GST/HST is not required to be collected on the supply of goods or services to customers registered for GST/HST. To avoid being… Read more »

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

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… Read more »