Tax News

Receipts, records at tax time

We’re about to enter tax season. Not only will clients be calling with tax return preparation questions, but now is also a good time to get a head start on your own tax return by gathering documentation, slips and other records needed to substantiate your own business expenses. A recent tax case (St-Onge v The […]

By Jamie Golombek |February 8, 2011

4 min read

Tax News

Estate planning for blended families

Blended families are increasingly common and as an advisor you’ll likely have clients with children from one or more prior relationships. In most blended family situations, each partner wants to ensure that when they die, their children, as well as their new love, will be treated fairly and will receive as much financial support as possible.

By Floyd Gradley |February 4, 2011

9 min read

Tax News

The case for spousal RRSPs

It’s RRSP season. Inevitably, clients who have waited until this final month to make 2010 contributions will ask lots of questions. Beyond “Should I make a contribution at all?” and “What should I invest in?” there is, “Should I contribute to a spousal RRSP?”

By Gena Katz |February 2, 2011

3 min read

Industry

TFSAs: Who has them and why

Recent RBC survey data shows how many Canadians have TFSAs, and what they’re doing with them. Looking at the Canadian public as a whole, an overwhelming majority—77%—have heard about TFSAs, but less than half of this group has actually opened one. About 20% have withdrawn money from their TFSAs—most often to cover an emergency. Younger […]

By Staff |February 1, 2011

1 min read

Beware those missing tax slips

Tax slips — whether T4s for employment income, T3s for trust distributions or T5s for investment income — are the CRA’s way of ensuring taxpayers don’t forget to report all their income under Canada’s self-assessment tax system.

3 min read

Knowledge still weak on TFSA

Here’s the deal, you can stash away up to $5,000 per year, invest in any of the most popular and accessible vehicles and your returns are tax free. Sounds good, right? But more than half of Canadians have not taken advantage of the TFSA, according to a survey commissioned by ING DIRECT. Even among those […]

By Steven Lamb |January 5, 2011

2 min read

Tackling tax-efficient investing

While tax-advantaged vehicles such as RRSPs and tax-free savings accounts are a sure bet for most investors, they are limited by the investor’s contribution room. Once that has been exhausted, investing in taxable accounts is the next step. However, at that point, the tax impact of making such a move must be investigated.

7 min read

Pension splitting discrimination

There are many parts of the Income Tax Act (ITA) where relevant distinctions are made as to income sources and taxpayer circumstances. Then there are the pension income splitting rules, which suffer from irrelevant source distinctions and in turn lead to discriminatory treatment of many taxpayers.

January 1, 2011

3 min read

Tax News

Receipts, records at tax time

Estate planning for blended families

The case for spousal RRSPs

TFSAs: Who has them and why

Beware those missing tax slips

Retiring allowance: Getting ahead of ourselves

Knowledge still weak on TFSA

Tackling tax-efficient investing

Pension splitting discrimination

Taming the retirement tax bite