WEINBERG & GASPIRC

Tax Alerts

ON - Interest Rates - 2019
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 - CRA issues supplementary 2019 payroll deduction tables for Ontario residents
The Canada Revenue Agency has issued a supplement to the payroll deduction tables to be used for residents of Ontario during the 2019 tax year. The supplement, which can be found on the CRA website a...

ON - Province launches 2019-20 Budget consultation process
The Ontario Minister of Finance has announced the start of the consultation process leading to the release of the province’s 2019-20 Budget next spring. There are several options for Ontario re...

ON - Payroll tax exemption level increased for 2019
In the recent Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review, the Ontario Minister of Finance announced that the annual payroll threshold for the province’s Employer Health (payroll) Tax (EHT) would be incr...

ON - Personal tax credit amounts for 2019
The province of Ontario will provide the following personal tax credit amounts for 2019: Basic personal amount ……………………………...

ON - Province reverses planned 2019 minimum wage increase
The Ontario government has reversed the minimum wage increase which had been scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2019. On that date, the minimum wage was scheduled to increase from $14 to $15 per h...

ON - Province announces new tax credit to help low-income individuals and families
In the 2018 Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review issued on November 15, the provincial government announced that, beginning with the 2019 tax year, low-income individuals and families will be eligible f...

ON - Province offers property tax deferral program
The province provides a program under which low-income seniors and low-income persons with disabilities can obtain a partial deferral of property tax and education tax. The tax deferral applies to the...

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 - Increases to driver licensing fees cancelled
The government of Ontario has announced that planned fee increases with respect to licensing fees for drivers in the province, which were to have taken effect on September 1, 2018, have been cancelled...

ON - Registering for online tax services for business
The Ontario government provides an online service – ONT-TAXS, through which Ontario businesses can file and amend returns, make tax payments, and track the status of such returns and payments. ...

ON - Ontario Trillium Benefit amounts for 2018-19 benefit year
The new benefit year for the Ontario Trillium Benefit (OTB) began in July 2018 and will run until June 2019. The OTB is a refundable tax credit which is claimed on the annual tax return and paid to ta...

ON - 2018 personal income tax rates
As announced in this year’s provincial Budget, Ontario has altered its personal tax rate structure. The changes announced include the elimination of the provincial surtax and the replacement of ...

ON - Provincial cap-and-trade system eliminated as of July 3
The Ontario government has announced that the existing cap-and-trade carbon tax system will be eliminated, effective as from July 3, and that provincial government programs which were funded under tha...

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 - CRA issues source deductions online calculator for Ontario
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has re-issued the payroll deductions online calculator to be used by Ontario employers in calculating employee source deductions starting July 1, 2018. The updated ver...

ON - July 1st start of 2018-19 tax credit benefit year
The province provides eligible Ontario residents with a number of refundable tax credits and benefits. Those benefits are paid on a monthly basis, and eligibility for most benefits is based, in part, ...

ON - Provincial R&D tax credit enhanced
The Ontario Research and Development Tax Credit (ORDTC) is a 3.5% non-refundable tax credit earned on eligible R&D expenditures. As announced in this year’s provincial Budget, elig...

ON - 2018-19 Budget changes affecting seniors enacted
The Ontario government recently enacted legislation to implement announcements made in this year’s provincial budget. Those announcements include two changes affecting seniors in the province, a...

ON - Increased consumer access to credit reporting information
The provincial government has announced changes that will provide Ontario residents with increased access to personal information held by credit reporting agencies. Under the new rules, certain credi...

ON - Filing a tax return to receive provincial benefits for 2018-19
The province of Ontario provides a number of tax credits to individual residents of the province, and those benefits are paid on monthly basis. The next benefit year will start in July 2018 and run un...

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 - 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 - 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...

Prescribed interest rates for leasing for January and February
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has announced the prescribed interest rates for leasing rules which will be in effect during the months of January and February 2019.The prescribed rate for January is ...

Prescribed interest rates for the first quarter of 2019
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 2019, as well as the rates that will apply for the purpo...

Canada Pension Plan changes to take effect January 1, 2019
Over the next seven years, significant changes will be made to the Canada Pension Plan. Those changes will result, overall, in an increase of about 50% in the maximum retirement benefit. The first su...

Inflation for November down to 1.7%
The most recent release of Statistics Canada’s Consumer Price Index shows that the rate of inflation for the month of November, as measured on a year-over-year basis, stood at 1.7%. The comparab...

NETFILE service for prior years available until January 25, 2019
Taxpayers who have not yet filed their individual income tax returns for 2017 (or the three prior years) can file those returns on NETFILE until Friday, January 25, 2019. Until that date, the Canada R...

Prescribed leasing interest rate for January 2019
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has announced the prescribed interest rate for leasing rules which will be in effect during the month of January 2019. The prescribed rate for that month will be 3.39%...

December 31, 2018 deadline for 2008 tax fairness applications
Where taxpayers fail to meet their tax filing or payment obligations, penalties and interest are usually levied for that failure. However, the Minister of National Revenue has the authority to forgive...

Unemployment rate for November at 42-year low
The most recent release of Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey shows that the unemployment rate for the month of November was the lowest recorded since 1976. The unemployment rate for the m...

Bank of Canada maintains interest rates at current level
In its regularly scheduled interest rate announcement made on December 5, the Bank of Canada indicated that, in its view, no change to current interest rates was needed. Accordingly, the Bank Rate rem...

Personal tax credit amounts for 2019
The federal government will provide the following personal tax credit amounts for 2019: Basic personal amount ……………………………&...

Inflation rate up slightly in October
The most recent release of Statistics Canada’s Consumer Price Index shows a slight increase in the rate of inflation rate for the month of October. That rate rose 2.4%, following a 2.2% increase...

Finance announces start of 2019-20 federal Budget consultation process
Finance Canada has announced details of the consultation process leading up the release of the 2019-20 Federal Budget next spring. The budget consultation process will include both in-person and digi...

New tax credits to support news organizations
In the 2018-19 Fall Economic Statement, the Minister of Finance announced that three new tax initiatives would be introduced to support both traditional and digital news organizations. Those changes ...

Federal government announces new business tax incentives
In the Fall Economic Statement issued on November 21, the Minister of Finance announced new tax measures that would: allow businesses to immediately write off the cost of machinery and equipment us...

CRA issues 2018 employer’s guide to taxable benefits
Some of the non-monetary benefits which employers provide to their employees must be included in the employee’s income and taxed as such. Each year, employers must include the amount of any such...

CRA announces enhancements to BizApp
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) provides a mobile web app for small business owners and sole proprietors which enables them to manage their business tax accounts on any browser-enabled mobile device. ...

Unemployment rate down slightly for September
The most recent release of Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey shows a small decline in unemployment during the month of September. That rate stood at 5.8%, down 0.1% from the rate posted fo...

Canada Pension Plan contribution rates for 2019
The Canada Revenue Agency has announced the contribution rates and amounts for the Canada Pension Plan which will apply during the 2019 calendar year, and that announcement can be found at https://www...

Prescribed interest rate for leasing for November
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has announced the prescribed interest rate for leasing rules which will be in effect during the month of November. The prescribed rate for that month will be 3.43%. A...

CRA announces contingency plans for postal disruption
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) (as well as other federal government departments and agencies) has issued information indicating how government payments will be handled during the current postal disru...

Inflation rate at 2.2% for September
The most recent release of Statistics Canada’s Consumer Price Index shows that the inflation rate for the month of September stood at 2.2%, as measured on a year-over-year basis. The comparable ...

Bank of Canada raises interest rates again
In its regularly scheduled interest rate announcement made on October 24, the Bank of Canada once again increased the bank rate, which now stands at 2%.In the press release announcing the increase, wh...

OAS payment rates for the fourth quarter of 2018
The federal government has announced the maximum Old Age Security (OAS) benefit amount which will be paid to eligible recipients in the last quarter — October, November, and December — of ...

CRA issues updated forms for reduced source deductions
In some circumstances, taxpayers are entitled to request a reduction in the amount of tax being deducted at source from their income. An employee can request that the amount of income tax being deduct...

CRA to hold webinar on CPP changes for the self-employed
A number of changes have been made over the past few years to the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), with those changes generally providing greater flexibility to CPP contributors. Some of those changes parti...

Slight decline in unemployment rate for September
The most recent release of Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey shows a small decrease in the overall unemployment rate for the month of September. That rate decreased from the 6% rate record...

Prescribed interest rate for leasing for October
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has announced the prescribed interest rate for leasing rules which will be in effect during the month of October. The prescribed rate for that month will be 3.33%. A ...

Prescribed interest rates for the fourth 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 fourth quarter of 2018, as well as the rates that will apply for the purp...

NETFILE still available for filing of 2017 returns
While the deadline for filing of individual income tax returns for the 2017 tax year (for both employees and the self-employed) has passed, the Canada Revenue Agency’s (CRA’s) NETFILE serv...

Inflation rate down slightly in August
The most recent release of Statistics Canada’s Consumer Price Index shows that the rate of inflation for the month of August 2018 stood at 2.8%, as measured on a year-over-year basis. The compar...

CRA updates fact sheet for temporary Canadian workers
Canada’s tax system is one based on residency, and individuals who are considered to be residents of Canada are subject to federal and provincial tax. The federal government has issued a fact s...

Employment insurance premium rate for 2019
The Minister of Finance has announced that the employment insurance premium rate payable by employees and the self-employed for the 2019 tax year will be reduced. The premium rate for that year will ...

CRA issues updated guide to federal and provincial child benefits
The federal government has updated and re-issued its guide to child benefits paid by the federal and several provincial governments. The updated guide (T4114), which is available on the Canada Revenu...

Slight increase in unemployment rate for August
The most recent release of Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey shows a small increase in the unemployment rate posted for the month of August. That rate rose by 0.2%, from 5.8% to 6%. Most ...

Relief available to taxpayers affected by wildfires
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) can provide interest and penalty relief to taxpayers who are unable to meet their tax filing or payment obligations due to circumstances beyond their control, including...

Bank of Canada leaves interest rates unchanged
In its scheduled interest rate announcement made on September 5, the Bank indicated that no change would be made to current interest rates. Accordingly, the Bank Rate remains at 1.75%. The Bank ackno...

CRA issues Tax Tip on benefit review process
Each year the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) sends a letter and questionnaire to approximately 350,000 taxpayers, seeking to determine whether such taxpayers are receiving the correct tax credits and ben...

Upcoming tax instalment due date for individuals
The due date for the third instalment payment of 2018 income taxes by individuals falls on September 15, 2018. As that date is a Saturday, instalment payments will be considered to be made on time if ...

Amendments to be made to rules on political activities of charities
The federal government has announced that changes will be made to the administrative rules governing the extent to which charities can engage in non-partisan political activities. The intended amendm...

Rate of inflation at 3% for July
The most recent release of Statistics Canada’s Consumer Price Survey shows a significant increase in inflation for the month of July. That rate, as measured on a year-over-year basis, stood at 3...

Unemployment rate down slightly for July
The most recent release of Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey indicates that the overall rate of unemployment was down slightly for the month of July. That rate stood at 5.8%, down by 0.2% ...

Finance announces lower payment card fees for small businesses
The Minister of Finance has announced that two major payment card networks have agreed to lower costs charged to small and medium-sized businesses. Both VISA and Mastercard have agreed to reduce dome...

CRA podcasts and webinars for small businesses
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) prepares and posts on its website a number of podcasts and webinars covering tax and tax-related issues of particular interest to small businesses. There are currently...

Bank of Canada 2019 interest rate announcement dates
The Bank of Canada has issued a listing of the dates on which it will make announcements during the 2019 calendar year with respect to current interest rates. There are eight such interest rate annou...

Upcoming changes to mortgage lending assessments for self-employed taxpayers
The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) has announced that, effective as of October 1, 2018, changes will be made to the process by which self-employed taxpayers are assessed for mortgage f...

CRA issues new direct deposit form for businesses
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has updated and re-issued its Form RC366, which allows businesses to have amounts owed to them deposited directly to a bank account. The updated form can be used to ei...

CRA issues updated guide to RESPs
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has updated and re-issued its publication RC4092(E) on Registered Education Savings Plans. The updated publication incorporates changes, originally announced as part o...

Inflation rate up by 2.5% 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, as measured on a year-over-year basis, stood at 2.5%. That cha...

Prescribed interest rates for leasing rules
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has announced the prescribed interest rates for leasing rules which will apply during the months of July and August 2018. Those prescribed rates will be 3.28% for July...

CRA issues updated guide to taxation of RRIF on death
The Canada Revenue Agency has updated and re-issued its publication outlining the tax treatment of funds held in a RRIF on the death of the RRIF annuitant. The updated publication (RC4178(E)) also re...

Slight increase in unemployment rate for June
While employment rose by 32,000 during the month of June, the unemployment rate was also up, by 0.2%, a result attributed by Statistics Canada an increase in the number of individuals seeking to enter...

Bank of Canada increases benchmark interest rate
In its regularly scheduled interest rate announcement made on July 11, the Bank of Canada indicated that it was increasing its benchmark interest rate by one-quarter of a percentage point. Accordingly...

CRA issues Tax Tip on return review process
Each year, the Canada Revenue Agency reviews approximately 3 million returns which have already been filed and assessed. Generally, such reviews are carried out to confirm income amounts reported, and...

Old Age Security benefits to increase by 1.2% in third quarter
Old Age Security (“OAS”) benefits received by Canadians are indexed to changes in the overall Consumer Price Index, and are adjusted each quarter to reflect increases in that Index.The fed...

No change to inflation rate for May
The most recent release of Statistics Canada’s Consumer Price Index indicates the rate of inflation for the month of May stood at 2.2%. The same rate was recorded for the month of April, and bot...

CRA issues updated source deductions online calculator
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has re-issued the payroll deductions online calculator to be used by employers in calculating employee source deductions as of July 1, 2018. The updated version of tha...

Prescribed interest rate for leasing for July
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has announced the prescribed interest rate for leasing rules which will be in effect during the month of July. The prescribed rate for that month will be 3.28%. A cha...

Prescribed interest rates for the third 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 third quarter of 2018, as well as the rates that will apply for the purpo...

CRA updates and re-issues Notice of Objection form
The Canada Revenue Agency has updated and re-issued its standard form for filing an objection to a Notice of Assessment or Reassessment. The 2018 T-400A E, Notice of Objection, can be found on the CRA...

No change in unemployment rate for May
The most recent release of Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey shows little change in unemployment during the month of May. For the fourth consecutive month, that rate stood at 5.8%. There ...

June 15 filing deadline for self-employed taxpayers
The filing deadline for individual income tax returns for the 2017 year for self-employed individuals and their spouses is midnight Friday June 15, 2018. Returns can be filed using the Canada Revenue...

Individual income tax instalment payment due June 15
For Canadians who make quarterly instalment payments of personal income tax, the next due date for such payment is Friday June 15, 2018. The Canada Revenue Agency has posted a notice on its website i...

Taxpayer relief available for Canadians affected by spring floods
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has issued a reminder to taxpayers who have been affected by this spring’s floods of the availability of administrative tax relief. Under the federal government&...

Bank of Canada maintains interest rates at current level
In its regularly scheduled interest rate announcement made on May 30, the Bank of Canada indicated that, in its view, no change was needed to current interest rates. Accordingly, the Bank Rate remains...

CRA issues updated payroll deduction formulas for July 1, 2018
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has issued updated payroll deduction formulas for use by employers for payroll periods beginning after July 1, 2018. The updated formulas reflect changes in provincial ...

Inflation rate for April at 2.2%
The most recent release of Statistics Canada’s Consumer Price Index shows that the overall rate of inflation for the month of April stood at 2.2%, as measured on a year-over-year basis. The rate...

Changes to distribution of GST/HST reporting/remittance forms for small businesses
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) will be making changes to its distribution method for GST/HST reporting and remittance forms for small businesses, with those changes generally directed toward reducing...

Unemployment rate unchanged in April
The most recent release of Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey indicates that there was no change during the month of April to either employment figures or the overall unemployment rate. Th...

CRA tax topic podcasts available for download
The Canada Revenue Agency prepares and posts podcasts on a number of different tax topics, both individual and corporate. Those podcasts are available for download from the CRA website. The current s...

Prescribed interest rates for May and June
The Canada Revenue Agency has announced the prescribed interest rates for leasing rules which will be in effect during the months of May and June 2018. Those prescribed rates will be 3.22% during the...

Getting information about your tax refund
Taxpayers who have filed their return for the 2017 tax year and are expecting to receive a refund can track the status of that refund payment through a toll-free telephone line. That line, the CRA&rsq...

CRA issues warning on filing season tax scams
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has issued a warning to taxpayers of the need to be particularly vigilant with respect to fraudulent text, telephone, and e-mail communications, which increase during t...

Inflation rate for March reaches 2.3%
The most recent release of Statistics Canada’s Consumer Price Index indicates that the rate of inflation stood at 2.3% during the month of March 2018, as measured on a year-over-year basis. The ...

April 30 due date for all 2017 individual taxes owed
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has issued a reminder that all individual income tax balances owed for the 2017 tax year must be paid on or before Monday April 30, 2018. April 30 is also the deadline...

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...

NETFILE service for 2016 returns available until January 19
Taxpayers who have not yet filed their return for the 2016 tax year will have until January 19, 2018 to file that return using NETFILE. Until that date, returns for the 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016 tax ...

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 ...