Many of us understand the value of the Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP): almost six million Canadians make RRSP contributions every year.1 Most of us also know about the tax benefits of RRSP contributions and that it’s an extremely versatile and effective retirement planning tool.
As you begin to get ready to prepare your 2023 tax return, we want to ensure you’re aware of important upcoming dates and deadlines so you have everything you need to file your return with minimal hassle.
As we wave goodbye to 2023, we can also expect to bid adieu to some of the key events of the year that made it especially challenging for the markets. The central bank interest rate rises, which brought about a mini banking collapse early in the year, appear to have come to an end, while inflation is moving toward target levels.
Most people think of life insurance as a necessary expense. It’s something that you almost begrudgingly pay for, in the hope that you’ll never need it, but with the expectation that it will protect your family’s finances, should the worst happen.
If you die without leaving a will, it could become a major headache for your family members and loved ones. With no will, the government will decide on who gets your money and assets, and every province and territory have their own distinct intestate rules regarding who will benefit from your estate.
And are you one of the 32,000 Canadians who’ll have to pay it? Many Canadians haven’t heard of the alternative minimum tax (AMT), which isn’t surprising when you discover that only a small percentage of Canadians typically pay AMT annually. The AMT came into the news recently when the federal government announced significant changes to it in the 2023 budget (which will come into effect in 2024). Let’s take a look at what the alternative minimum tax is, how it works, who it might affect and the impact of those changes.
Selling a business is a significant decision, often marking the culmination of years, if not decades, of hard work, perseverance, and dedication. The process can be complex and emotionally charged, and being well-prepared is key to ensuring a smooth transition and achieving the best possible outcome. This article will provide a detailed checklist to help guide medium-sized business owners through the necessary steps in preparing for the sale of their business.
What is longevity risk? And is your retirement portfolio built to handle it? Longevity risk is the possibility of living so long after retirement that you go through your savings too soon. A couple of generations ago, longevity risk wasn’t much of an issue for Canadian retirees. Back in 1970, Canadians had an average lifespan of around 72, so their retirement savings only had to last for around seven years, on average.
If you owned a residential property in Canada on December 31, 2022, you might have to pay an Underused Housing Tax (UHT) if it was vacant or underused. Even if you’re not subject to tax, you may be required to file an Underused Housing Tax return to claim an exemption.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, employers have embraced an environment where employees work from home. With the opportunity to work from home, some Canadians are taking the opportunity to work from anywhere. For some that means working from the cottage or working from a foreign location. Before you switch from working from home to a location of your choice, there are a few things that you should consider.
With an increasingly aging population, issues around providing services, including financial advice to seniors, are becoming more important. While attention is often focused on funding retirement and wealth transfer to the next generation, susceptibility to fraud often goes unnoticed.
When most of us think of year-end tax planning, we typically consider our personal situation. Yet, there are many tax-opportunities for business owners to explore as we near the end of another calendar year. The following tips assume your business is unincorporated or your corporation has a December 31st year-end, although some tips may also apply to corporations with an off-calendar year-end.