BC - New notices issued on transition to PetrinexAs previously announced, the province will be joining Petrinex, effective as of November 5, 2018. The purpose of the change is to improve how information about the oil and gas industry is recorded and...
BC - Interest Rates - 2018The province of British Columbia levies and pays interest at prescribed rates on underpayments and overpayments of tax with respect to corporation capital tax, logging tax, and insurance premium tax. ...
BC - New caregiver tax credit available for 2018The province announced, in this year’s Budget, that the existing B.C. Infirm Dependant and In-Home Care of Relative Tax Credits would be replaced by a new B.C. Caregiver Tax Credit. The new cred...
BC - Minimum wage increase effective June 1Effective as of June 1, the general minimum wage payable in the province of British Columbia increased to $12.65 per hour. The change is part of a planned series of increases which will result in a $1...
BC - Deferring 2018 property taxesQualifying homeowners in the province can take advantage of a program which allows them to defer payment of their property taxes, through a low-interest loan from the province.
There are two componen...
BC - Province creates Small Business Task ForceThe provincial government has announced the creation of a Small Business Tax Force, which will be holding consultation sessions throughout the province for interested stakeholders. An online consultat...
BC - Interest Rates - 2018The province of British Columbia levies and pays interest at prescribed rates on underpayments and overpayments of tax with respect to corporation capital tax, logging tax, and insurance premium tax. ...
BC - Budget introduces real estate speculation taxIn its 2018-19 Budget, the provincial government introduced a new real estate speculation tax, which will be effective for the 2018 and subsequent tax years.
The new tax will target foreign and domes...
BC - Medical services plan premiums reduced by 50%As announced in the 2017 Budget Update, the province has reduced Medical Service Premiums (MSP) by one half, effective as of January 1, 2018.
As well, the income threshold for full exemption from MSP...
BC - Interest Rates – 2018The province of British Columbia levies and pays interest at prescribed rates on underpayments and overpayments of tax with respect to corporation capital tax, logging tax and insurance premium tax. T...
BC - 2018 BC TD1 Form and TD1Worksheet releasedThe Canada Revenue Agency has issued the British Columbia TD1 Form and Worksheet which will be used by taxpayers resident in the province, and their employers, to determine required provincial income ...
Slight increase in unemployment rate for AugustThe 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 ...
Bank of Canada leaves interest rates unchangedIn 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 processEach 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 individualsThe 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 ...
Rate of inflation at 3% for JulyThe 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 JulyThe 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% ...
CRA podcasts and webinars for small businessesThe 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...
CRA issues new direct deposit form for businessesThe 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 RESPsThe 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 JuneThe 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 rulesThe 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...
Slight increase in unemployment rate for JuneWhile 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 rateIn 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 processEach 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...
No change to inflation rate for MayThe 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...
Prescribed interest rate for leasing for JulyThe 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...
CRA updates and re-issues Notice of Objection formThe 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 MayThe 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 ...
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...
Unemployment rate unchanged in AprilThe 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 downloadThe 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 JuneThe 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 refundTaxpayers 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 scamsThe 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 ...
Unemployment rate unchanged in MarchThe 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 unchangedIn 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....
CRA issues warning on tax scamsWhile 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 issues e-filers manual for 2017 returnsThe 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 FebruaryThe 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 JanuaryThe 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 unchangedIn 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 - Service animalsBudget 2018: Eligibility of specially trained service animals will be expanded for the purposes of the medical expense tax credit....
Budget 2018 - CRA compliance ordersBudget 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 - RDTOHBudget 2018: A corporation will have two RDTOH accounts going forward: eligible and non-eligible RDTOH....
Extended hours for CRA telephone help lineThe 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 ...
Unemployment rate up slightly in JanuaryThe 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 announcedThe 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...
CRA reinstates telephone tax return filing serviceFor 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....
Bank of Canada raises interest ratesAs 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...
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...
Automobile deduction and benefit limits for 2018Finance 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...
Changes to be made to Voluntary Disclosure ProgramThe 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...
Bank of Canada leaves interest rates unchangedIn 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 NovemberThe 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 releasedThe 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...
Inflation rate up by 1.4% in OctoberThe 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 consultationsFinance 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...
Employment Insurance premium rates for 2018The 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...
