The DTC is a non-refundable tax credit that provides tax relief for individuals (or those that support those individuals) who have a severe and prolonged impairment in physical or mental functions. To access the DTC, eligible individuals must apply for it by completing Form T2201, Disability Tax Certificate. Recently, CRA updated their services so that this application can be completed and… Read more »
In a March 30, 2023 Tax Court of Canada case, the taxpayer was assessed for failing to withhold taxes on rent paid on Canadian real estate to a non-resident. Penalties and interest were also assessed. The information known to the taxpayer was limited to an Italian telephone number on the lease document (with a Canadian number), the landlord’s email address… Read more »
In some situations, a registered charity may be asked to receive donations on behalf of another organization or cause. While this may seem like a good way to generate funds and reward donors with charitable contribution receipts, it can have serious implications for the charity. A February 1, 2023 Technical Interpretation considered a charity that would collect funds, issue receipts,… Read more »
Some quick points to consider… – CRA has produced various basic tax education and literacy tools, such as seven learning modules with videos and quizzes. – As of January 1, 2024, where more than five information returns of a particular type (such as T4s, T5s, T3s, T4As, NR4s and T5018s) are filed on paper (as… Read more »
A June 7, 2023 CryptoTaxLawyer.com article (Binance Bids Canada Bye-Bye! Canadian Tax Implications for Cryptocurrency Investors and Traders) reminded Canadians about the importance of maintaining an offline record of transactions as exchanges, such as Binance, shut down in Canada. On May 12, 2023, Binance announced that Canadian users will be required to close any open positions by September 30, 2023. Once… Read more »
The tax-free FHSA was introduced in 2023 to help first-time home buyers save up to $40,000 for a home purchase. Individuals eligible to open an FHSA must be at least 18 years of age and resident in Canada. The individual must also have not lived in a home that they or their spouse owned jointly or otherwise at any… Read more »
In 2019, the government commenced a two-part enhancement to the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), with full implementation to be completed in 2025. Phase 1 occurred from 2019-2023; phase 2 will occur from 2024-2025. Overall, the changes will require larger contributions but also will provide larger benefits. Pre-CPP enhancement CPP contributions for employees and employers under the pre-enhancement CPP model (referred to as base… Read more »
A January 11, 2023 BC Civil Resolution Tribunal case addressed a claim for wrongful dismissal. The employer filed a counterclaim in respect of a 50-hour discrepancy between the employee’s timesheets and tracking software data over a period of about a month during which the employee was working remotely. The employee argued that significant hours were spent working from hard copies; however,… Read more »
Some quick points to consider… – Most CPP retirement, disability, survivor and child benefits can only be paid retroactively for up to 11 months after applying. Make sure to apply on time to avoid losing access to benefits. – The Canada Disability Benefit Act, which received Royal Assent on June 23, 2023, is intended to provide financial security… Read more »
The Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses (CFIB) released a report on January 10, 2023, focused on succession expectations for small businesses. It included the following survey responses: 76% of small business owners (constituting $2 trillion in business value) are planning to exit their business in the next 10 years; 9% have a formal business succession plan in place; obstacles to… Read more »