Phone:  780.814.7474  *  Toll free:  1.877.814.7474  *  Fax:  780.814.7409  
FEBRUARY 2016
TAX TIPS, TRAPS... and other financial facts

PARTNERSHIP NAME CHANGE

 Effective March 1, 2016, the firm will operate under the name Deverdenne Davis Cyr LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants. Also effective March 1st our new website will be www.ddcllp.ca.  Email addresses for the partners and staff at DDC will be firstname@ddcllp.ca.  We look forward to continuing to work with you and to provide the same level of service you have received in the past.

EXTENDED OFFICE HOURS  
 We will have extended office hours of 8:00 am - 5:00 pm from March 1st through April 29th.  On Monday May 2nd the office will be open 8:00 - 4:30.  Please note that we will be closed on Tuesday May 3rd with our regular hours of 8:00 - 4:30 resuming on Wednesday, May 4th.

IN OUR COMMUNITY 
The 6th Annual STARS Hangar Dance was held in January in Grande Prairie.  The firm is proud to have been a supporter since the inception of this important community fundraising event. STARS offers life-saving transport to critically ill and injured patients.

We sponsored the Big Hearts for Big Kids concert fundraiser in February for the Grande Prairie Youth Emergency Shelter. In 2010 at age 15, local musician Tenille started this event to support kids her age who were depending on the local youth shelter. Since then Big Hearts for Big Kids has raised over $750,000 to support, improve and change the lives of area youth.

Rivers of Hope Canada enables Canadians to support and assist The Rivers of Hope Orphanage in Haiti. We are pleased to support this organization.

Other local events we have sponsored include the ACFA Maple Sugar Festival and the Big Brothers Big Sisters Ultimate Escape event.

PERSONAL TAX RESOURCES
Watch your Inbox for our personal tax email which will include a tax checklist and engagement letter.  A signed T183 efile authorization form is required every year for each taxpayer.  Your T183 will be included with your completed personal tax return.  Once the T183 is signed, we will efile your personal tax return with Canada Revenue Agency.

The 2015 personal tax forms and other resources will be available on our website www.ddcllp.ca  on March 1st.   Among the resources, you will also find a detailed tax checklist and a website link to CRA - "What's new for 2015".

MYCRA MOBILE APP
MyCRA is a mobile application for individual taxpayers that let you securely access and view key portions of your tax information such as your notice of assessment, tax return status, benefit and credit information, and RRSP and TFSA contribution room.  Find out more on the CRA Mobile apps page here. 

TAX TICKLERS... some quick points to consider...
  • In 2015, over 28 million personal tax returns were filed with the CRA.
  • Canada/U.S. border tracking may impact EI, OAS and Child Tax Benefits if collecting ineligible amounts. Over the next 5 years the Government expects savings of $48 million, $21 million and $125 million to each program respectively.
  • Medical marijuana can be claimed as an eligible medical expense, provided all the standard criteria for claiming a medical expense are met.

NEW CHANGES TO INCOME TAX RATES
Federal Personal Tax Rates - commencing January 1, 2016 the following changes will take effect:
  • tax rate on incomes in excess of $200,000 will increase by 4%, from 29% to 33%,
  • tax rate on the 2nd income bracket (about $45K - $90K) will decrease by 1.5% from 22% to 20.5% (resulting in a maximum savings of about $670).

Alberta Personal Tax Rates - commencing January 1, 2016 the following changes will take effect:

Taxable Income
2015 Tax Rates  
  2016 Tax Rates
$125,000 up to $150,000
10.50%
12%
$150,000 up to $200,000
10.75%
13%
$200,000 up to $300,000
11.00%
14%
over $300,000
11.25%
15%

NEW FEDERAL GOVERNMENT: Impact on Tax Rules
On December 7, 2015, the new Federal Liberal Government introduced a number of provisions in the Federal Liberal campaign platform including:
  • The TFSA annual contribution limit for 2016 and onwards will be returned to $5,500 from the one-time $10,000 limit in 2015.
  • The federal donation tax credit for donations in excess of $200 (made after 2015) will be increased to 33%, but only to the extent the individual has income subject to the new 33% personal tax rate (income over $200,000 for 2016). All taxpayers will still receive a 15% federal donation tax credit on the first $200 of gifts. Taxpayers who do not have earnings in the top tax bracket of 33% will receive a 29% federal donation tax credit on gifts in excess of $200, which is the same credit that was available in prior years.
    For example, consider a taxpayer that has an income of $225,000, and claims $60,000 of charitable donations. If the donations were made and claimed in 2016, the federal donation tax credit would be $18,732, whereas if the donations were claimed in 2015, the credit would be $17,372. 
  • Increase of 4% in general to the refundable tax incurred on investment income for Canadian Controlled Private Corporations. These changes will, in effect, eliminate a tax deferral opportunity which would have otherwise been created with the above 4% increase in top personal tax rates.  
Beyond the above tax related changes which have already been introduced into legislation, the Federal Liberals have also proposed a significant number of other tax related changes in their party platform including:
  • Canada Child Benefit - The Universal Child Care Tax Benefit, National Child Supplement, and Child Tax Benefit will be rolled into this new Benefit. A base amount of $6,400 per child under 6 and $5,400 per child aged 6 to 17 will be paid. The payments will be reduced based on a percentage of family income level. No reduction will occur for income below $30,000. Amounts will be non-taxable. Per the Liberal campaign materials, the break-even point compared to the previous regime is family income of $150,000. (i.e. Families under $150,000 should fare better under the Liberal platform and vice-versa.) The Benefit will be fully eroded at approximately $200,000, however, this will vary depending on the number and ages of children.
    The Federal Liberal Government announced on December 7, 2015 that this proposed program will begin July 1, 2016.
  • Family Tax Cut - The Federal Liberal Government announced on December 7, 2015 their intention to eliminate the Family Tax Cut for 2016 and subsequent tax years. The pension income split will remain.
  • CPP Benefits - Increases to benefits contemplated.
  • EI Premiums - To be reduced from $1.88 to $1.65 per $100 by 2017. Increased availability and flexibility to be introduced.
  • RRIF - The reduction to the minimum withdrawal rates to be maintained in accordance with the 2015 Budget.
  • Teacher and Early Childhood Educator School Supply Tax Credit - The Federal Liberal party platform noted this proposed refundable credit is planned to be effective for 2015. That said, there has been no announcement by the Government as of January 6, 2016 to formalize this credit for the 2015 year. The credit is to be valued at a maximum of $1,000 x 15% = $150. It is uncertain whether receipts would be required or not. 
  • Guaranteed Income Supplement - The supplement is proposed to be increased by 10% for single, low-income seniors.
  • Northern Residents' Deduction - The deduction is proposed to be increased by approximately 1/3rd and indexed annually for inflation. The amount available for those living in the Intermediate Zone will increase by the same proportion.
  • Home Buyers' Program - Flexibility to be increased for those that have experienced sudden and significant life changes (e.g. job relocation, death of a spouse, marital breakdown etc.).
  • Deduction for Stock Options - Consideration has been given to a cap on the 50% deduction, however, the first $100,000 annually would still qualify. According to the Minister of Finance, the changes will not impact stock options already in effect. 
  • Labour-Sponsored Venture Capital Corporation Tax Credit - To be reinstated. Under the Harper Government this Credit was scheduled to be phased out by 2017.
  • Education and Textbook Credits - To be cancelled in favour of increasing student grants. The Tuition Credit will remain.

NEW - HOME ACCESSIBILITY TAX CREDIT: Renovations that Pay Off!
This new non-refundable credit will provide federal tax relief of 15% on up to $10,000 of eligible expenditures per calendar year, per qualifying individual (a person 65 years of age or older at the end of the particular taxation year or a person eligible for the Disability Tax Credit). If there is more than one eligible individual in a residence, the maximum eligible expenditure for that property will be $10,000.
A qualifying renovation is a renovation or alteration that is of an enduring nature and is integral to the eligible dwelling. The renovation must:
  • allow the qualifying individual to gain access to, or to be mobile or functional within, the eligible dwelling; or
  • reduce the risk of harm to the qualifying individual within the eligible dwelling or in gaining access to the dwelling.

The credit is eligible for expenditures after 2015. This credit may be compounded with the similar provincial credits offered in BC, Ontario, and New Brunswick.


CAREGIVERS FROM OVERSEAS: Child Care Expenses
In an August 14, 2015 Technical Interpretation, CRA noted that costs incurred to hire a child care worker would be eligible child care expenses. Such costs include fees to an immigration lawyer and to Service Canada to obtain a labour market opinion, advertising expenses, placement agency fees, and mandatory registration fees.

STATUTE-BARRED ASSESSMENTS: Relying on Promoters
In a December 16, 2014 Tax Court of Canada case, at issue was whether the Minister could assess the taxpayers outside of the normal reassessment period (generally three years after the notice of Assessment is issued for individuals). A taxpayer can be assessed outside the normal period if there is a misrepresentation that is attributable to neglect, carelessness, wilful default or fraud.
In 2002 the taxpayers withdrew $80,000 and $148,000 from their RRSP and transferred it into a "high performance" investment but did not report the withdrawal from the RRSP as income. The taxpayer relied on the promoter for tax filing advice. In 2009 the Minister assessed the taxpayers with income for the 2002 year based on the withdrawals.

Taxpayers lose
The Court noted that to rely mainly on promoters, their agents, and co-workers who were not experts, was not prudent behaviour. Further, there were additional red flags that should have made the taxpayers suspicious of the information provided by the promoters. Also, one of the taxpayers did not review their tax return.

As such, the Court found that the taxpayers did not exercise the required degree of diligence. The Appeal was dismissed and the Minister was permitted to assess beyond the normal period.

KEEPING CONTACT INFO CURRENT: Denied Objection Extension Request
In an August 26, 2015 Tax Court of Canada case, the taxpayer wished to object to a CRA Notice of Assessment (NoA) but missed the deadline for filing the Notice of Objection. The NoA was received by the taxpayer's wife, however, the taxpayer and his wife were going through divorce proceedings at the time of receipt and the mail was not forwarded to the taxpayer. Presumably, as the taxpayer did not see the NoA in time, he was unable to file a Notice of Objection in the proper time frame. 

Taxpayer loses
A NoA is deemed to have been received by the person to whom it was sent on the day it was mailed. Non-receipt of the NoA cannot generally be used as grounds for extension of time unless an error is made by CRA. In this case, because the client did not update his address with CRA in a timely fashion, the Appeal was dismissed and the taxpayer was not permitted the extension.

CRA PROJECT: Small Business Deduction
The accounting community across Canada has recently noted a series of correspondence from CRA requesting details of corporate businesses operations in connection with a review of the small business deduction claim for some clients. If a business is determined to be a Personal Services Business (PSB) or a Specified Investment Business (SIB), the small business deduction is denied, and additional taxes are applied. A PSB is often referred to as an "incorporated employee". Basically, it exists where an individual provides employee-like services through a closely held corporation, rather than providing them directly as an employee. Generally, a corporation earning investment income (interest, real estate rental, royalties, capital gains and dividends) is generating SIB income.

Many of these letters appear directed to corporations in the real estate sector like real estate agents and those earning rental income. It has also been noted that letters have begun to be issued in respect of other sectors as well.

CRA SELECTION FOR AUDIT: Why Me?  
CRA audits are now generally selected by CRA's Business Intelligence Units. Selection for audit usually means that CRA has already identified the taxpayer as being at higher risk of non-compliance. For example, this could mean that your business falls within a CRA target area, or, perhaps, that you are claiming a credit in which CRA has historically found high levels of non-compliance.  At a recent forum, CRA indicated that since the implementation of their focus on higher risk taxpayers, 33% of audits have discovered unreported income.

CANADAHELPS.ORG: Research/Donate to your Favorite Charity 
CanadaHelps.org is a non-profit organization that simplifies the fundraising process for registered charities across Canada. This group provides a profile of every registered charity in Canada, enabling users to directly donate to a charity by cash (accepting various forms of payment - Visa, MasterCard, Interact, Paypal etc.) or to donate publically traded securities (which many small charities would otherwise not be willing to, or have the processes to accept). The group charges a small processing fee for their services which funds their operations.

The website provides donation receipts, as well as tracks the total receipts for the year, greatly easing the document collection/retention burden for personal tax filing purposes.

Deverdenne Davis Cyr LLP

www.ddcllp.com
Join Our Mailing List


Copyright © 2016. All Rights Reserved.