WEINBERG & GASPIRC

Tax Alerts

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 - 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...

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 ...