The Federal Government’s 2017–18 Budget gives Canadians a taste of what they might expect over the next couple of years: attempted efficiencies, closed tax loopholes, steady deficits, and a touch of caution. Budget 2017 outlines only $200 million in net new spending, but also an increase to the deficit of more than $5 billion for 2017–18, partly due to commitments from the previous budget, reduced revenues and increased general expenses.
Costs incurred for child care expenses are among the most frequent deductions claimed by Canadian taxpayers on their annual tax returns. And, for many Canadian families, especially those with more than one child, or those who live in large urban centres, the cost of child care can consume a significant percentage of their annual budget.
For all families who incur child care expenses, the good news is that most such costs can be claimed as a deduction (as opposed to a refundable or non-refundable credit) on the annual return, meaning that those costs reduce taxable income on a dollar-for-dollar basis. The tax treatment of expenses related to child care can, however, vary, depending on the kinds of expenses incurred and their purpose.
Although individual Canadians file the same T1 Income Tax Return form each year, the rules governing the information to be provided on that return form and the tax consequences flowing from that information is in a constant state of change. And, it’s a safe bet that very few taxpayers read the annual Income Tax Guide carefully to find out what’s changed on this year’s return.
As a result, it’s easy for a situation to arise in which taxpayers to fail to report income received, or in which they miss out on newly available deductions or credits, both due to a lack of knowledge. And, it’s worth noting that while the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) will almost certainly pick up on a taxpayer’s failure to report income as required, the CRA does not (and, in fact, cannot) provide the taxpayer with deductions or tax credits to which he or she is entitled, but has failed to claim on the return.
There were a significant number of tax changes which took effect during the 2016 tax year which affected individuals, and which are reflected on the 2016 return to be filed this spring. Some of the more important of those changes are outlined below.
The indexing factor for federal tax credits and brackets for 2017 is 1.4%. The following federal tax rates and brackets will be in effect for individuals for the 2017 tax year.
The end of the month is fast approaching, which means that your information returns are coming due.
If you are the proactive type, you have likely already filed you returns and mailed the documentation to the recipient, which means you are free and clear.
However, for those of you who have not filed your information returns, you want to be sure to by February 28th, 2017, otherwise, you could be in for some hefty fines.
There’s little likelihood that the average Canadian taxpayer can fail to notice that it is, once again, registered retirement savings plan (RRSP) season, given the number of television, radio, and online RRSP-related advertisements and reminders which invariably appear at this time of year. This year taxpayers must, in order to deduct an RRSP contribution on their income tax return for 2016, make that contribution on or before Wednesday, March 1, 2017. The maximum allowable current year contribution which can be made by any individual taxpayer for 2016 is 18% of that taxpayer’s earned income for the 2015 year, to a statutory maximum of $25,370.
For most Canadians – certainly most Canadians who earn their income through employment – the payment of income tax throughout the year is an automatic and largely invisible process, requiring no particular action on the part of the employee. Federal and provincial income taxes, along with Canada Pension Plan (CPP) contributions and Employment Insurance (EI) premiums, are deducted from each employee’s income and the amount deposited to an employee’s bank account is the net amount remaining after such taxes, contributions, and premiums are deducted and remitted on the employee’s behalf to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). While no one likes having to pay taxes, having those taxes paid “off the top” in such an automatic way is, relatively speaking, painless.
As everyone knows, the Canadian tax system is a complex one, and that complexity is reflected on the annual tax return filed by individual Canadian taxpayers.
The T1 Individual Income Tax Return itself is only four pages long, but the information on those four pages is supported by 13 supplementary federal schedules, dealing with everything from the calculation of capital gains to determining required Canada Pension Plan contributions by self-employed taxpayers.
