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Should I Do My Own Taxes or Hire a Tax Professional?

Online tax software is budget-friendly and time-efficient, but depending on the complexity of your situation, hiring a tax professional may be preferable.

The official deadline to file your Canadian personal income tax return for 2020 and pay any taxes owed to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is April 30, 2021.  

For Quebecers only: You can file your return up to May 30, 2021 and you will not be penalized. You can read more about this here.

Tax season is here, yet again. If you’re a tax filing veteran, you’re likely comfortable filing your tax return yourself, without any help. There’s satisfaction in doing it yourself and as it turns out, you might even enjoy it.

Canadians still love their tax refunds, but with an increasing number of people missing refunds due to costly mistakes, you might be torn over whether you should go the do-it-yourself route or if now is the time to employ the services of a tax expert.

An error on your tax return can lead to a penalty, interest charges or even an audit by the CRA. Perhaps most importantly, however, you may miss out on valuable tax deductions or credits.

Continue reading to learn how to decide whether tax software will do the job, or you require professional help.

When To Do Your Taxes Yourself

Preparing your own tax return should be easy if your financial situation is simple. We’ll call these people Tax DIYers, where DIY stands for “Do-It-Yourself!”

TurboTax and other off-the-shelf tax preparation software options will walk you through a series of questions about your finances and alert you to any credits and deductions you may qualify for. They don’t require any math calculations or in-depth knowledge of the tax code.

But how do you determine if your position is simple?

  1. If preparing your taxes just requires you to pull information from a handful of documents prepared by others, such as the T4, you’ll find basic tax software suitable.
  2. If your tax situation hasn’t changed over the last year, you work for an employer, are single with no kids, etc., your tax return would be very straightforward.
  3. If nothing is going on in your life that can complicate your tax situation, it might not be worth paying a professional.

When to Hire a Professional

You might be better off hiring an accountant than trying to do your tax return yourself in some situations.

Tax preparers stay up to date on tax codes as well as provincial and federal tax laws.

An accountant can recommend what deductions and exemptions you qualify for and help you plan for future growth by informing you about any tax requirements changes.

Hire a tax expert in case of:

1. Major Life Changes

If you recently got married (congratulations), you might need a professional to guide you on the tax filing status to use. While most couples prefer filing jointly, there are some situations where it makes more sense to file separately.

It’s not just marriage. Other life milestones like expanding your family and having a child, losing or getting a new job, graduating from college and relocating could all impact your tax return and your potential total refund.

An accountant can help you learn about any new benefits or tactics to minimize your tax liability. This way, you will be able to take advantage of every tax break available to you.

A tax professional can also help you learn to navigate your tax return this year, so you feel confident doing it yourself in the future. You can always revert to doing your own taxes if you don’t experience any other major life changes the next year.

2. Failing to Pay in the Past

If you failed to file necessary tax returns in the past years, reach out to a tax expert.

They know about the programs offered by the CRA for individuals in this situation. A tax accountant can help you file years’ worth of returns, something that might take you a long time to master, especially as the April 30 tax filing deadline approaches.

This gives you confidence that your tax return is filed correctly and the peace of mind that you’re in good standing with the CRA.

3. Owning a Business

If you are a business owner, you should probably consider hiring an accountant to prepare your tax return.

Almost every financial transaction comes with some kind of tax consequence. Your accountant will prevent you from making any costly mistakes, help you report tax items accurately, and maximize deductions.

You should also use a tax preparer if you purchased rental property during the year.

4. Simply Not Having the Time

Tax preparation involves gathering documents, reviewing the procedures, and filling out tax forms. It is a notoriously slow and boring process, which is why so many of us dread it and postpone it until the last minute.

While doing this might seem like a simple weekend project for some Canadians, for others, not so much. Maybe you feel that the time you’d spend doing your taxes would be better spent elsewhere.

Consider hiring a tax expert if you lack the time or patience to prepare your own return.

In Conclusion

There is no universally correct answer when it comes to filing your taxes with software versus hiring an accountant or tax professional. Ultimately, the choice comes down to the complexity of your tax situation.

If your tax situation is fairly straightforward and you have some confidence in your ability to work step-by-step through tax software, it’s relatively cheaper to do your own taxes this way.

If your tax situation is more complicated, hiring a tax preparer can be worth the expense.

Just ensure the preparer has the right credentials and stellar testimonials to avoid being a victim of tax scams.

Over to You…

Irrespective of whether you file your own tax return or hire someone else to do it, have your return in by April 30.

10 tax deductions and credits you may be eligible for

Tax season can be stressful, but it can also be an exciting time for your wallet.

The official deadline to file your Canadian personal income tax return for 2020 and pay any taxes owed to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is April 30, 2021.  

For Quebecers only: You can file your return up to May 30, 2021 and you will not be penalized. You can read more about this here.

There are a string of tax deductions and credits you may qualify for that when applied can reduce or eliminate the amount of tax you owe. This means less money going to the taxman and more money in your pocket.

You may also end up being one of the millions of people receiving a tax refund, that is, a direct payout from the government, with the average amount per return reported at $1,858.

A tax professional will know which deductions and credits you are eligible for. In the case you’ve decided to forego any help altogether and brave the tax system yourself, continue reading to find out the most common tax deductions and credits you or your family may be eligible for.

Note that unlike the basic personal amount, which is automatically applied when you file online, you will most likely have to manually enter the amounts to receive the deductions and credits listed.

On that note, let’s dig in…

1. [NEW] Home Office Expenses for Employees

Type: Deduction

The form required for this is Form T2200 or T2200s. Quebec residents require a TP-64.3-V.

Did you work from home during 2020 due to COVID-19? Chances are, yes. If so, you may be able to claim certain out-of-pocket expenses related to your job on your tax return, provided you have not been reimbursed already by your employer. You can calculate your home office expenses by using the CRA’s online calculator.

The CRA also offers a temporary flat rate method as an alternative to simplify your claim. But the maximum amount you can claim with this method is $400, which may not cover all your expenses. More information on this flat rate can be found here on the CRA website.

2. Age Amount

Type: non-refundable tax credit

You may be entitled to the age amount tax credit if you are 65 years of age or older at the end of the taxation year. If your income is less than $38,508, you are eligible to receive the full age amount deduction of $7,637.

The higher your income, the less you will receive. If your income is higher than $89,421 for 2020, then you are not eligible for the age income amount deduction.

3. Pension income amount

You may be able to claim up to $2,000 if you report eligible pension or annuity payments on your tax return. Income from your Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF) qualifies for the $2,000 pension income amount.

For a detailed list of eligible pension and annuity income, click here if you’re 65 or younger and click here if you’re 65 years or older.

4. Medical expenses

Type: non-refundable tax credit

Through taxes, you are paying for medical services, but there are many medical expenses that you’ll have to pay out-of-pocket. Tally up receipt totals for the medical expenses made over the 12-month period ending in 2020, which you have not been reimbursed for. You may be able to claim eligible medical expenses up to $2,397 or 3% of your net income, whichever is less, to count toward a credit.

One of the most common medical expenses you can claim is prescription medication and dental services that are not for cosmetic purposes. You can also claim medical expenses for your spouse, common-law partner, your children, or other dependents.

5. [NEW] Digital news subscription

Type: non-refundable tax credit

You can get a digital news subscription for a year as low as the cost of a sandwich, but it can also set you back $100 or more per year. If you are an avid news consumer and have multiple subscriptions, the costs can add up.

Luckily for you, this is the first tax year you will be able to claim any expenses up to $500 that you paid over the past 12 months for a digital news subscription.

The only caveat is that the subscription needs to have been purchased from a qualified Canadian journalism organization, or QCJO. Qualifying digital news subscriptions include The Globe and Mail and the Toronto Star Newspapers. Here is a full, up-to-date list of qualifying digital news subscriptions.

 6. Foreign tax credit

Type: non-refundable tax credit

You are required to complete Form T2209.

You may have money abroad that is generating income, which is the likely case of persons such as expats and international students. This income you will have to report on your tax return, but you may be able to claim this credit depending on tax treaties. For more information, view the CRA website.

7. Disability tax credit (DTC)

Type: non-refundable tax credit

You must fill out and have the CRA approve Form T2201 if you are applying for the DTC for the first time.

Although you may not consider yourself as disabled, if you have significant health problems that affects your daily life, you may be eligible to receive financial relief in the form of the disability tax credit (DTC). Hundreds of thousands of individuals claim DTC each year, with the government distributing over $1.3 billion dollars in relief.

For 2020, you will be able to claim up to $8,416 should you qualify. First, you must meet the CRA criteria of disability and receive an attestation from a medical professional.

Thousands of medical conditions fall under the scope of DTC. You can find out if you’re eligible for the DTC here.

8. [NEW] Canada caregiver credit (CCC)

Type: non-refundable tax credit

Those caring for a dependent with a physical or mental impairment may be able to claim up to a maximum of $7,276. To learn more about this, view the CRA website here.

9. Tuition, education, and textbook amounts

Type: non-refundable tax credit

You must have received Form T2202, TL11A, TL11C, or TL11D from your educational institution.

It’s no secret that education is costly. Thankfully, you may be able to write off costs related to your education, such as tuition fees or textbook costs, on your tax return.

The amount you are eligible to claim depends on the amount set by your province or territory. Unfortunately, the federal education and textbook tax credits were eliminated back in 2017.

10. Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP)

Did you contribute in 2020 to your RRSP? If so, you can deduct the total amount contributed from your taxable income. You can read more about RRSPs here.

In Conclusion…

Claiming deductions and credits is one of the best ways to reduce the total amount that you’ll pay in taxes. When you reduce your taxable income, you lower your effective tax rate. You may also enjoy a sizeable payout from the government, otherwise known as a tax refund. To keep more money in your pockets, you’ll want to claim as many deductions and credits as possible.

Borrowing, Saving, and Investing in 2021

2020 was a sobering year filled with unprecedented economic challenges. Thanks to the swift collective response to the pandemic, the outlook for 2021 is bright with possibilities of recovery in all areas of your life, including your relationship with money. In this post, we’ll take a look at what the next year has in store for each of the three main themes of personal finance: borrowing, saving, and investing, so you can be prepared for what lies ahead.

Borrowing money from the bank

The Bank of Canada (BoC) is committed to maintaining its policy interest rate at a record-low of 0.25% for the foreseeable future. As Canada’s economic recovery proceeds as expected, the BoC says it will hold the interest rate at 0.25% “until economic slack is absorbed” and a 2% inflation rate is “sustainably achieved.”

Lower policy interest rate, lower borrowing costs?

The BoC’s decision impacts the rates you get on things like your mortgage, credit card, and bank loans. A lower policy interest rate means banks can set lower interest rates for their clients. For you this means it is now less expensive to borrow money than it was before the pandemic.

To understand why this is the case, it’s important to understand how banks operate.

While you’re sleeping, banks will lend or borrow money among themselves. Banks will lend money if they have a cash surplus at the end of the business day. Meanwhile, they will borrow money from another bank if they have insufficient funds to cover the day’s transactions.

The policy interest rate is the target interest rate set for these overnight inter-bank transactions. This rate is set by the BoC, which manages Canada’s economy and finances as the nation’s central bank.

When the BoC sets a low policy interest rate, like 0.25%, this means that the cost of lending or borrowing money between banks is comparatively less expensive to say, a pre-pandemic rate, such as 1.75%.

In turn, since it costs less for banks to borrow and lend between themselves, they can lower their products’ interest rates. As mentioned above, for you, this means the cost of borrowing money from a bank is cheaper.

What’s the catch? The BoC typically lowers its benchmark rate to encourage you, the consumer, to borrow money. Since you normally only borrow money when you plan to spend it, and spending is what fuels economic recovery, you can now see why the BoC lowers its interest rate.

Making the decision to borrow

Just because it’s cheaper to borrow money, doesn’t mean you have to do so. A decision to borrow money from a bank, whether it’s for a small line of credit or something as big as financing a mortgage, should not be made in haste or taken lightly.

While it’s unlikely the interest rate on your mortgage or loans will change, if you delay your payments, you will most probably end up having to pay late penalties. Interest will also accrue, necessitating hefty payments down the line. Not to mention, your decisions may impact your credit score and you may even jeopardize your ability to borrow money in the future.

This is all to say: If you’re considering borrowing money from your bank in the near future, yes, it’s better to do so when rates are extremely low, but you need to also consider your individual situation. There’s no such thing as free money: Are you able to repay back the amount you borrowed? It’s equally important to assess how borrowing fits into your overall personal finance strategy.

Saving for your goals

COVID-19 cases are climbing across Canada, which has led to partial lockdown measures. These partial lockdown measures, from physical distancing to closing ‘non-essential’ businesses and 8pm curfews, could pose significant obstacles to returning to a pre-pandemic way of life in the near-term. But there may be a silver lining for you in all of this if you’re looking to stack up your money and save.

Spend less, save more

Measures implemented by provinces to ensure public health and safety and stop the spread of COVID-19 may actually work in your favor as they can discourage and even protect you from spending needlessly.

It’s no secret that when you don’t spend as much, you’re able to save more.

According to a recent survey by Scotiabank, Canadians are becoming better savers thanks to reduced spending in other areas of their lives. In fact, Canadians have increased their savings by $160 billion during the pandemic.

“The pandemic has prompted many Canadians to reassess their personal finances and short-term priorities, shifting how they manage their money and planning for whatever uncertainties lay ahead,” says D’Arcy McDonald, SVP, Deposits, Investments, & Payments at Scotiabank. “Not only are Canadians making savings a priority, but with different spending patterns created by the pandemic, many are seeing their savings grow even faster.

Managing your savings

So, what happens after you’ve managed to put some money aside? You can do a couple of things, namely place it in your savings account, which is an important aspect of any personal finance strategy. However, if you’re just saving in a savings account, you’re not going to get the best rate of return right now. Again, this goes back to the BoC interest rates being so low.

Central bank policy rates are a double-edged sword. While your bank will offer you ultralow interest rates on loans and lines of credit, they will also lower the interest rates for your savings account. Typically, the decrease is negligible, but it may be worth looking into other savings options to make the optimize your personal finance goals.

“In your interest, you may want to look into a TFSA. Something that gives you more bang for your buck,” says Rothenberg Wealth Management Advisor Stuart Greenley.

 

Investing to grow your income

The BoC expects Canada’s economy to grow by an average of almost 4% in 2021 and 2022, following “one of the deepest recessions in Canadian history.” The Conference Board of Canada estimates that the GDP contracted by a whole 5.3% in 2020.

With growth expected this year, economic recovery is on the horizon. The economy is set to retrace its 2020 setback starting as soon as the second half of 2021 depending on the evolution of the pandemic and in particular, how quickly vaccines can be distributed across the country.

As the inoculated population grows, the economy can reopen and a sense of normalcy to everyday life and, perhaps most importantly, ‘business as usual’ will gradually be restored. This will filter into different facets of the investment landscape, which will certainly affect your personal finance strategy and goals.

Implications for stock market and equities

When it comes to the stock market and equities, it is important to keep in mind that, the stock market often reflects the anticipated direction of the economy.

In 2020, as business activity was restricted, people were laid off, and sectors flickered out, whole industries suffered a decline in output. As the economy starts recovering in 2021, industries affected by the pandemic can start to reopen, albeit slowly. With companies able to resume their activities, their stocks are poised for recovery. But how quickly affected stocks will make a comeback remains to be seen.

Fixed-income investments

Though stocks usually get the headlines – an important asset class is fixed income.  The fixed income component of a portfolio can include Guaranteed Investment Certificates, Government & Corporate bonds, and preferred shares. These options can form an important part of your personal finance strategy, providing a predictable and steady stream of income in the form of regular interest or dividend payments.

Our balanced portfolio strategy

Regardless of the outlook for equities and fixed income investments in 2021, it’s important to maintain a well-balanced investment portfolio tailored to your specific situation. A diversification into different asset classes will help reduce the volatility in your portfolio.

“The key to investing is to make sure that your portfolio is well-balanced” says Rothenberg Vice-President and Wealth Management Advisor Maurice Pallone. “You want to be able to take advantage of opportunities when they arise, and simultaneously protect your portfolio from unanticipated events.”

Conclusions

  1. Borrowing money is cheaper, but getting into debt is also easier
  2. The returns on your savings may be lower than before the pandemic
  3. A well-balanced investment portfolio is the key to success

During these times, it’s especially important to seek out the advice of a wealth management professional, who can coach you on money management and guide you towards creating a balanced portfolio that is suited to your financial situation and short- and long-term goals. Simply email us at inforequest@rothenberg.ca or call us at 514-934-0586 for an introduction to one of our trusted advisors.

5 Money Resolutions You Can Make Now

Resolutions. You might’ve made some for this year to improve certain aspects of your life, whether personal, professional, or both. It’s an equally good idea to make some resolutions as well to make the most of your money. Your financial well-being is just as important as your physical and mental health and your career.

Below you will find 5 realistic money management ideas that are easy to implement and stick to, and can have transformative effects on your financial well-being.

1. Be intentional. Set goals and deadlines.

Goals are what motivate us to push forward. Without motivation or a sense of direction, you may never achieve what truly matters to you. By setting financial goals, you can lead the life that you want.

When it comes to financial goals, it’s not only critical to write them down. Writing them down is only part of the recipe for success. You must also be clear and concise. When your goals are vague, you’ll have trouble achieving them. Therefore, it’s important to set a timeframe and deadline for each of your financial goals.

It’s equally important to ensure your goals are measurable. This allows you to track your progress, adjust your efforts, and know when you can celebrate your success. Always include a tangible number in your goal. You can then work backwards and determine how long it will take you to achieve this goal. Conquer one step at a time, be patient, and remain committed. Keep in mind that nothing happens overnight.

2. Put your finances and savings on autopilot.

Banking has become a lot easier because of new technologies. You can now receive deposits, pay your bills, grow your savings, and apply for loans at the click of a cursor or the touch of a finger. Digital banking is so popular that more than 76% of Canadians use digital channels, both mobile and online, to manage their finances.

One neat feature of digital banking solutions is that you can automate your personal finances according to your needs and goals. This means you don’t have to worry about your paycheck getting lost in the mail, missing regular bill payments, or misplacing financial documents.

Automating your finances doesn’t only help relieve stress and avoid late penalties. It can also help you get out of debt quicker and build wealth over time. By automatically making payments on your debt or contributing money to your savings, investment, or retirement accounts, you can reduce your debt and make your money work for you.

3. Create or update your will.

You may think only the rich and wealthy need wills. Or you may be worried that the cost won’t be worthwhile. You may simply avoid creating a will altogether because the subject itself can be uncomfortable to think or talk about. Whatever the reason, you should know that a will represents an essential part of a sound financial plan, and every adult should have one.

A will doesn’t just cover how your hard-earned money will be distributed when the inevitable occurs. A will also enables you to maximize your estate’s benefits and control your legacy. Perhaps most importantly, you can also help ease the burden on your loved ones during an exceptionally difficult time.

More than half of Canadians don’t have a will and millions don’t have a will that is up-to-date. Are you among them? If the answer is yes, it’s time to start writing, or at the very least, brainstorming.

4. Make it a habit to pay yourself.

What does “pay yourself” mean? It depends on your life stage and circumstances. If you’re an employee, it’s about setting money aside before paying your bills. If you’re a business owner, it may be rewarding your family for all the hard work, trials, and tribulations throughout the year, such as with a vacation.

“Successful savers take it off the top of their paycheques, invest it and let the chips fall where they may,” said David Chilton, the author of The Wealthy Barber, in an interview.

The general idea is to work your way towards financial freedom by prioritizing yourself. Saving is not necessarily an intuitive habit, but the more and more you do it, the easier it becomes. And you can even automate it, as in Point 2.

 5. Invest in companies that reflect your values.

There are many ways you can use your money to contribute to bettering the world around you. One of the most popular ways is by donating to charities, which you can receive tax credits for.

Another way you can help is by investing in companies that are committed to social good and creating positive change. Contrary to popular opinion, you can earn competitive returns and invest for the social good without sacrificing one for the other. Franklin Templeton confirms that ESG investing “doesn’t require a trade-off in terms of performance.”

2021 Canada Important Deadlines

Tax deadlines 2021 Canada calculator accounting

When it comes to filing and paying your taxes, it’s your responsibility to know and meet the important tax deadlines, which may vary from year to year. Over the course of this tax year, there are various important tax deadlines that may be applicable to you. Keep them in mind or better yet, take note of the following dates in your calendar. Planni­ng ahead of time is also important to avoid headaches, stress, and late payment penalties.

 

January 2021

Fri, Jan. 1 New TFSA contribution room.
Sat, Jan. 30 Deadline to pay interest on a family loan at prescribed interest rates to avoid income attribution.

March 2021

Mon, Mar. 1 Deadline to contribute to an RRSP for the 2020 tax year (including Home Buyers’ Plan/Lifelong Learning Plan repayments).
Mon, Mar. 1 Deadline to issue T4s, T4As, and T5s and for issuers of TFSAs to file their annual information returns.
Mon, Mar. 15 First quarter personal tax instalment is due.
Wed, Mar. 31 Deadline to file NR4s and T3 trust returns.

April 2021

Thur, April 15 Deadline to file U.S. individual income tax returns for 2020 or 6-month extension requests.
Thur, April 15 Deadline to file 2020 report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts, FinCEN report 114 (formerly FBAR), for U.S. citizens living in Canada.
Fri, April 30 Deadline to file personal income tax returns for 2020 where the taxpayer or taxpayer’s spouse/common-law partner does not have self-employed business income.

June 2021

Tue, June 15 Second quarter personal tax instalment is due.
Tue, June 15 Deadline to file personal income tax returns for 2020 where the taxpayer or taxpayer’s spouse/common-law partner has self-employed business income.
Tue, June 15 Deadline to file GST/HST returns for self-employed individuals with a December 31 year-end
Tue, June 15 Deadline to file 2020 U.S. individual income tax returns for U.S. citizen or resident alien residing abroad and U.S. non-resident with no withholding tax.

September 2021

Wed, Sep. 15 Third quarter personal tax instalment is due.

December 2021

Wed, Dec. 15 Fourth quarter personal tax instalment is due.
Wed, Dec. 29 Last day to settle trades in calendar year 2021 for Canadian tax-loss selling.
Fri, Dec. 31 Contribution deadline for Registered Education Savings Plans (RESP).
Fri, Dec. 31 Deadline to make charitable donations to be claimed for the 2021 tax year.

Prioritizing TFSA vs. RRSP

It’s that time of the year again and the question remains…”am I better off investing in my Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) or my Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA)”?

Here are a few important elements to consider when faced with the choice:

First consider your marginal tax bracket.

Investments made in your RRSP are tax deductible. If your annual income is high and you have the possibility of investing in your RRSP, this might be a better option in order to reduce your taxable income for the year. TFSA contributions are not deducted from your annual income.

The second factor to consider is the contribution limit.

The TFSA has a contribution limit of 6000$ for 2021 and the contribution amounts are cumulative since its creation in 2009. This means, assuming you were 18 years of age at the time and have been living in Canada, your lifetime contribution room is 69,500$ in 2020 and 75,500$ in 2021. RRSPs have a carry forward value of unused contribution room. RRSP contribution limit for 2020 is 27,230$. If you are unable to contribute the maximum amount, the difference is carried forward to next year.

Third factor and an important one, are the withdrawals.

RRSPs are retirement vehicles that have a tax penalty schedule depending on the amount being withdrawn. Contributions can be made until the age of 71, at which point RRSPs have to be converted into Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF). TFSAs do not have any withdrawal taxation and the amounts withdrawn can be added to the contribution limit in the following year. Furthermore, TFSAs do not have an age limit or conversion requirement.

In conclusion, both Investment choices have the advantage of increasing in value tax free. There are contribution limits on both and over contributing bares a hefty fine (1% per month). The differences involve the possibility of withdrawals and the differed tax timeframe.

For further details contact your Rothenberg advisor.

2020 year end tax tips: COVID-19 edition

By Jamie Golombek, Managing Director, Tax and Estate Planning, CIBC Private Wealth Management

Tax planning should be a year-round affair.But as year-end approaches, now is a particularly good time to review your personal finances and take advantage of any tax planning opportunities that may be available to you before the December 31st deadline. As we enter the final weeks of 2020, here are some tax tips you may wish to consider for:

  • Individuals affected by COVID-19
  • Investors
  • Families with students
  • Family members with disabilities
  • Individuals making gifts
  • Individuals with changes to tax rates; and
  • Business owners and employers.
Individuals affected by COVID-19

The government introduced a number of measures in 2020 to assist individuals who have been affected by COVID-19. Full details are available in our report, Personal tax measures: Canada’s COVID-19 response plan.(1) Here are some year end considerations to take into mind if you’ve received any of these benefits in 2020.

Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)

If you lost your job,were working reduced hours due to the COVID-19 pandemic, or were sick, quarantined or forced to stay home to care for children or other relatives in 2020, the CERB provided income support of $500 per week (or $2,000 per four-week eligibility period) for up to 28 weeks, with a maximum claim of $14,000. The CERB was available until September 26, 2020 and the last date to apply retroactively is December 2, 2020.

The government will be issuing a T4A tax reporting slip for 2020 showing the total amount of CERB you received, and you must report this amount as income when filing your 2020 income tax return. No tax was deducted at source from your CERB payments, so you may need to pay tax on the CERB amounts you received when you file your 2020 income tax return. The amount of tax that you will owe on your CERB will depend on your 2020 marginal tax rate, taking into account all other income you may have earned in 2020. Before year end, you may wish to estimate your total income from all sources so you can set aside funds to pay any potential taxes you may owe on the CERB come tax filing season next April.

Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB)

If you are not eligible for El, perhaps because you are self-employed, you may qualify for the CRB, which began on September 27, 2020 and runs until September 25, 2021.You can receive a taxable benefit amount of $500 per week, for up to 26 weeks. You are required to apply after every two-week period for which you need support and the deadline for applying for any two-week period is 60 days after the end of that period.

While the government has indicated that, unlike the CERB, it will be withholding 10% in taxes on any CRB payments, this may be insufficient to cover your tax liability on the CRB, which will be taxable at your 2020 marginal tax rates. In addition, if your total income (excluding the CRB) was over $38,000 in 2020, you may be required to pay back the CRB at a rate of $0.50 for each dollar of CRB received for income over this amount.

As we approach year end, it’s a good idea to estimate any additional tax you may owe on the CRB as well as plan for potential repayment of the CRB if you estimate that your 2020 income could be over $38,000 this year.

Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB)

If you are (self-)employed and don’t have a paid sick leave program, the CRSB may provide a $500 per week taxable benefit, for up to two weeks, if you cannot work either because you are ill or because you must self-isolate due to COVID-19, or you are more susceptible to COVID-19. This benefit is available from September 27, 2020 to September 25, 2021. Applications can be made after the specific claim week ends. The deadline for applying for any one-week period is 60 days after the end of that period.

Like the CRB, the amount is taxable and is subject to 10% withholding tax, so you could end up owing some extra tax on the CRSB for 2020 come next spring.

Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB)

The CRCB provides a $500 per week taxable benefit, for up to 26 weeks, if you miss work to care for a family member in certain circumstances due to COVID-19. This benefit is also available from September 27, 2020 to September 25, 2021. Similar to the CRSB, applications can be made after the particular claim period ends and the deadline for applying for any one-week period is 60 days after then end of that period.

As with the CRB and the CRSB, the CRCB is taxable and subject to the 10% withholding tax, which may be insufficient. Accordingly, if you receive the CRCB, you may want to set aside some funds at year end to cover any additional tax that could be owing next April.

Investors

Tax-loss selling

Tax-loss selling involves selling investments with accrued losses at year end to offset capital gains realized elsewhere in your portfolio. Any net capital losses that cannot be used currently may either be carried back three years or carried forward indefinitely to offset net capital gains in other years.

In order for your loss to be immediately available for 2020 (or one of the prior three years), the settlement must take place in 2020. The trade date must be no later than December 29, 2020 to complete settlement by December 31st.

If you purchased securities in a foreign currency, the gain or loss may be larger or smaller than you anticipated once you take the foreign exchange component into account. For example, Jake bought 1,000 shares of a U.S. company in November 2012 when the price was US$10/share and the U.S. dollar was at par with the Canadian dollar. Today, the price of the shares has fallen to US$9 and Jake decides he wants to do some tax loss harvesting, to use the US$1,000 [(US$10-US$9) X 1,000] accrued capital loss against gains he realized earlier this year.

Well, before knowing if this strategy will work, he’ll need to convert the potential U.S.dollar proceeds back into Canadian dollars. If the exchange rate is $1 U.S.= $1.33 CON, selling the U.S. shares for US$9,000 yields $12,000 CON.So, what initially appeared to be an accrued capital loss of US$1,000 (US$10,000 minus US$9,000) turns out to be a capital gain of $2,000 ($12,000 minus $10,000) for Canadian tax purposes. If Jake had gone ahead and sold the U.S. stock, he would actually be doing the opposite of tax loss selling and accelerating his tax bill by crystallizing the accrued capital gain in 2020!

Gifts to family members

If you have assets that have declined in value and wish to gift assets to family members, gifting when asset values are lower may result in a reduced capital gain (or increased capital loss) in your hands. When you gift property, the tax treatment is the same as if you sold the property at its fair market value {FMV). The difference between the FMV and your adjusted cost base (ACB) or tax cost of the assets will be a capital gain (or loss). Capital losses may be used to offset your capital gains and you’ll pay tax on 50% of any net capitalgains.Net capital losses may be carried back three years or forward to the future to offset net capital gains of other years. The family members receiving the property from you will have an ACB equal to the FMV at the time of the transfer, with any future change in value taxed in their hands.

Prior to gifting any assets, you should be comfortable that you won’t need those assets to cover expenses during your lifetime. You should also take into account that you will lose control of any property that is transferred to others. For instance, if you transfer ownership of a family cottage to your adult children, you generally won’t be able to use that cottage without your children’s consent!

Superficial loss

If you plan to repurchase a security you sold at a loss, beware of the “superficial loss” rules that apply when you sell property for a loss and buy it back within 30 days before or after the sale date. The rules apply if property is repurchased within 30 days and is still held on the 301h day by you or an “affiliated person”, including your spouse or partner, a corporation controlled by you or your spouse or partner, or a trust of which you or your spouse or partner are a majority beneficiary (such as your RRSP or TFSA). Under the rules, your capital loss will be denied and added to the adjusted cost base (tax cost) of the repurchased security. That means any benefit of the capital loss could only be obtained when the repurchased security is ultimately sold.

Transfers and swaps

While it may be tempting to transfer an investment with an accrued loss to your RRSP or TFSA to realize the loss without actually disposing of the investment, such a loss is specifically denied under our tax rules.There are also harsh penalties for “swapping” an investment from a non-registered account to a registered account for cash or other consideration.

To avoid these problems, consider selling the investment with the accrued loss and, if you have the contribution room, contributing the cash from the sale into your RRSP or TFSA. If you want, your RRSP or TFSA can then “buy back” the investment after the 30-day superficial loss period.

Make RRSP contributions

Although you have until March 1, 2021, to make RRSP contributions for the 2020 tax year,contributions made as early as possible will maximize tax-deferred growth. Your 2020 RRSP deduction is limited to 18% of income earned in 2019, to a maximum of $27,230, less any pension adjustment plus any previous unused RRSP contribution room and any pension adjustment reversal.

Delay RRSP withdrawals under the HBP or LLP

You can withdraw funds from an RRSP without immediate tax under the Home Buyer’s Plan (up to $35,000 for first-time home buyers) or the Lifelong Learning Plan (up to $20,000 for post-secondary education). With each plan, you must repay the funds in future annual instalments, based on the year in which funds were withdrawn. If you are contemplating withdrawing RRSP funds under one of these plans, you can delay repayment by one year if you withdraw funds early in 2021, rather than late in 2020.

Make TFSA contributions

The TFSA dollar limit for 2020 is $6,000 but there is no deadline for making a TFSA contribution. If you have been at least 18 years old and resident in Canada since 2009, you can contribute up to $69,500 in 2020 if you haven’t previously contributed to a TFSA.

Take TFSA withdrawals

If you withdraw funds from a TFSA,an equivalent amount of TFSA contribution room will be reinstated in the following calendar year, assuming the withdrawal was not made to correct an over-contribution.

Be careful, however, because if you withdraw funds from a TFSA and then re-contribute in the same year without having the necessary contribution room, over-contribution penalties can result. If you wish to transfer funds or securities from one TFSA to another, you should do so by way of a direct transfer, rather than a withdrawal and re-contribution, to avoid an over-contribution problem.

If you are planning a TFSA withdrawal in early 2021, consider withdrawing the funds by December 31, 2020, so you would not have to wait until2022 tore-contribute that amount.

Pay investment expenses

Certain expenses must be paid by year end to claim a tax deduction or credit in 2020. This includes investment-related expenses, such as interest paid on money borrowed for investing and investment counselling fees for non-registered accounts.

Convert your RRSP to a RRIF by age 71

If you turned age 71 in 2020, you have until December 31 to make any final contributions to your RRSP before converting it into a RRIF or registered annuity.

It may be beneficial to make a one-time over-contribution to your RRSP in December before conversion if you have earned income in 2020 that will generate RRSP contribution room for 2021. While you will pay a penalty tax of 1% on the over-contribution (above the $2,000 permitted over-contribution limit) for December 2020, new RRSP room will open up on January 1, 2021 so the penalty tax will cease in January 2021. You can then choose to deduct the over-contributed amount on your 2021 (or a future year’s) return.

This may not be necessary, however, if you have a younger spouse or partner, since you can still use your contribution room after 2020 to make contributions to a spousal RRSP until the end of the year your spouse or partner turns 71.

Take advantage of lower RRIF minimum amounts

You have to take minimum withdrawals from your RRIF starting from the year after the RRIF is established. Minimum withdrawals are calculated as a percentage of the fair market value of your RRIF assets at the beginning of the year, and the percentage is based on your age.

For 2020 (only), the required minimum withdrawals were reduced by 25%. Further information on the changes to RRIF minimum amounts may be found in our report, “Lower RRIF minimum withdrawals for 2020: Canada’s COVID-19 response plan.”(2)

Use a prescribed rate loan to split investment income

If you are in a high tax bracket, you may wish to have some investment income taxed in the hands of family members (such as your spouse, common-law partner or children) who are in a lower tax bracket; however, if you simply give funds to family members for investment, the income from the invested funds may be attributed back to you and taxed in your hands, at your high marginal tax rate.

To avoid attribution, you can lend funds to family members, provided the rate of interest on the loan is at least equal to the government’s “prescribed rate,” which is 1% until at least December 31, 2020. (3) If you implement a loan before that date, the 1% interest rate will be locked in and will remain in effect for the duration of the loan, regardless of whether the prescribed rate increases in the future. If you previously entered into a prescribed rate loan at a higher interest rate, our report, “Prescribed rate loans: The one per cent solution” (4) provides some tips (as well as some cautions) that may allow you to take advantage of the current 1% rate while it is in effect. Note that interest for each calendar year must be paid annually by January 30111 of the following year to avoid attribution of income for the year and all future years.

When a family member invests the loaned funds, the choice of investments will affect the tax that is paid by that family member. It may be worthwhile to consider investments that yield Canadian dividends, since a dividend tax credit can be claimed by individuals to reduce the tax that is payable. When the dividend tax credit is claimed along with the basic personal amount,a certain amount of dividends can be received entirely tax-free by family members who have no other income.

For example, an individual who has no other income and who claims the basic personal amount can receive about $53,000 of eligible dividends in 2020 without paying any tax, other than in the provinces of Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, P.E.I. and Quebec, where the amount of eligible dividends that can be received is lower.

You should consult with tax and legal advisors to make arrangements to implement a prescribed rate loan. By putting a loan into place before the end of the year, you could benefit from income splitting throughout the upcoming year and for many years to come.

Families with students

Make RESP contributions

RESPs allow for tax-efficient savings for children’s post-secondary education. The federal government will pay into an RESP a Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG) equal to 20% of the first $2,500 of annual RESP contributions per child or $500 annually. While unused CESG room is carried forward to the year the beneficiary turns 17, there are a couple of situations in which it may be beneficial to make an RESP contribution by December 31.

Each beneficiary who has unused CESG carry-forward room can have up to $1,000 of CESGs paid into an RESP annually, with a $7,200 lifetime limit, up to and including the year in which the beneficiary turns 17. If enhanced catch-up contributions of $5,000 (i.e.$2,500 x 2) are made for just over seven years, the maximum total CESGs of $7,200 will be obtained. If you have less than seven years before your (grand)child turns 17 and haven’t maximized RESP contributions, consider making a contribution by December 31.

Also, if your (grand)child turned 15 this year and has never been a beneficiary of an RESP, no CESG can be claimed in future years unless at least $2,000 is contributed to an RESP by the end of the year. Consider making your contribution by December 31 to receive the current year’s CESG and create CESG eligibility for 2021 and 2022.

Take RESP withdrawals for students

If your (grand)child is an RESP beneficiary and attended a post-secondary educational institution in 2020, consider having Educational Assistance Payments (EAPs) made from the RESPs before the end of the year. Although the amount of the EAP will be included in the income of the student, if the student has sufficient personal tax credits, the EAP income will be effectively tax-free.

If your (grand)child is an RESP beneficiary and stopped attending a post-secondary educational institution in

2020, EAPs can only be paid out for up to six months after the student has left the school. You may, therefore, wish to consider having final EAPs made from RESPs of which the student is a beneficiary.

Pay interest on student loans

You can claim a non-refundable tax credit in 2020 for the amount of interest paid by December 31 on student loans received under the Canada Student Loans Act, the Canada Student Financial Assistance Act, the Apprentice Loans Act or a similar provincial or territorial government law.Note that while only the student can claim the student loan interest credit, the interest on the loan itself can be paid either by the student or by someone related to the student, such as a (grand)parent.

Family members with disabilities

One-time COVID-19 payment to persons with disabilities

A one-time, non-taxable payment of up to $600 is available to eligible individuals with disabilities, in recognition of the extraordinary expenses incurred by these individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

You should automatically receive this one-time payment if you:

  • Have an existing, valid Disability Tax Credit (DTC) certificate,
  • Are eligible and apply for the DTC by December 31, 2020,
  • Were a beneficiary as of July 1, 2020 of the Canada Pension Plan Disability (CPPD), Quebec Pension Plan Disability Pension (QPPD),or certain disability supports provided by Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC). (5)

If you are not eligible for the OAS pension, the one-time payment will be $600. If you are the parent of a child under age 18 with disabilities, you should receive the $600 on behalf of the eligible child.

If you were eligible for the OAS pension (but not the GIS) in June 2020, you should have received a special COVID-19 one-time OAS pension payment of $300 in July 2020 and the payment to persons with disabilities will be $300, for a combined total of $600.

If you had low income and were eligible for both the OAS pension and the GIS in June 2020, you should have received a special COVID-19 one-time OAS pension payment of $500 in July 2020 and the payment to persons with disabilities will be $100, for a combined total of$600.

If the CRA was able to confirm your eligibility for the payment to persons with disabilities by September 30,

2020, you should automatically receive the payment on October 30, 2020; otherwise, your payment may be delayed until January 2021 (if you are approved by Nov. 30) or Spring 2021 (if you are confirmed to be eligible by the end of February 2021).(6)

If have yet to apply for a DTC to be eligible for the payment to persons with disabilities, make sure to submit your application by the deadline of December 31, 2020. To get your payment, it’s also important to ensure the government has your current personal information, including your marital status, direct deposit details and mailing address.

Make renovations for home accessibility

The non-refundable Home Accessibility Tax Credit (HATC) assists seniors and those eligible for the disability tax credit with certain home renovations.

The tax credit is equal to 15% of up to $10,000 of expenses per year towards renovations that permit these individuals to gain access to,or to be more mobile or functional within, their home, or reduce their risk of harm within their home or from entering their home.

The HATC will apply in respect of payments made by December 31st for work performed or goods acquired in A single expenditure may qualify for both the HATC and the medical expense tax credit, and both may be claimed.

Contribute to a Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP)

RDSPs are tax-deferred savings plans available for Canadian residents eligible for the Disability Tax Credit. Up to $200,000 can be contributed to the plan until the beneficiary turns 59, with no annualcontribution limits. While RDSP contributions are not tax deductible, all earnings and growth accrue on a tax-deferred basis.

Federal government assistance in the form of Canada Disability Savings Grants (CDSGs), which are based on contributions,and Canada Disability Savings Bonds (CDSBs) may be deposited directly into the plan up until the year the beneficiary turns 49.The government may contribute up to a maximum of $3,500 CDSG and $1,000 CDSB per year of eligibility, depending on the net income of the beneficiary’s family. Eligible investors may wish to contribute to an RDSP before December 31 to get this year’s assistance.There is a 10-year carryforward of CDSG and CDSB entitlements.

RDSP holders with shortened life expectancy can withdraw up to $10,000 annually from their RDSPs without repaying grants and bonds. A special election must be filed with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) by December 31 to make a withdrawal in 2020.

Pay family medical expenses

A tax credit may be claimed when total eligible medical expenses exceed the lower of 3% of your net income or $2,397 in 2020.

For medical expenses, it may be worthwhile to look for unclaimed expenses prior to 2020 as well. The medical expense tax credit (METC) may be claimed for eligible medicalexpenses that were paid during any 12-month period that ended within the calendar year (extended to 24 months when an individual died in the year.)

Charitable giving

Make charitable donations

Both the federal and provincial governments offer donations tax credits that, in combination, can result in tax savings of around 50% of the value of your gift in 2020, depending on your province or territory of residence.

With total cash donations up to $200 in a year, the federal donation credit is 15% of the donation amount. For total donations exceeding $200 in a year, the federal donation credit jumps to 29% (33% to the extent taxable income exceeds $214,368) of the donation amount. Provincial donation credits are also available and the total credit may be up to approximately 50% once total annual donations exceed the $200 in a calendar year.

December 31 is the last day to make a donation and get a tax receipt for 2020. Keep in mind that many charities offer online, internet donations where an electronic tax receipt is generated and emailed to you instantly.

Gifts “in-kind”

Gifting publicly-traded securities, including mutual funds and segregated funds, with accrued capital gains “in-kind” to a registered charity or a foundation not only entitles you to a tax receipt for the fair market value of the security being donated, it eliminates capital gains tax too.You should plan gifts in-kind well before year end, to allow for sufficient time to make arrangements.

Individuals with changes to tax rates

If you anticipate that your income tax rates will be substantially different in 2021, it may be worthwhile to shift income and expenses between 2020 and 2021, where feasible.

For example, you may expect that your tax rate could increase in 2021, perhaps if you plan to return to work, or expect to receive deferred compensation or exercise stock options. If so, you may wish to realize income in 2020 by taking steps such as selling investments with a capital gain, exercising stock options or taking bonuses in 2020 rather than 2021, where feasible. It may also make sense to defer deductible expenses until 2021 where possible.

Conversely, you may anticipate that your tax rate could decrease in 2021, perhaps if you plan to retire or if you received a bonus in 2020 that may not reoccur. There could also be changes to income tax credits that could decrease your taxes in 2021. If you expect your tax rate to be lower in 2021, you may wish to defer income by taking steps such as waiting to sell investments with a capital gain,exercise stock options, take bonuses or distribute dividends to owner-managers from a corporation, where feasible, in 2021 rather than 2020.

Business owners and employers

COVID-19 wage subsidy measures for employers

Under the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) program, you may be able to receive a subsidy of up to 85% of eligible remuneration that you paid between March 15 and December 19, 2020 if you had a decrease in revenue. Applications for the CEWS must be submitted by January 31, 2021.

Under the Temporary Wage Subsidy {TWS) program, you may qualify for a subsidy equal to 10% of remuneration that you paid between March 18, 2020 and June 19, 2020, with a maximum of $1,375 per employee and $25,000 in total. If you are eligible for TWS but did not reduce your payroll remittances, you can still apply and the CRA will pay the amount of the subsidy to you or transfer it to your next year’s remittance.

More details of these wage subsidy programs are available in our report Wage subsidy programs for employers: Canada’s COVID-19 response plan. (7)

Corporate loss planning

Tax-free dividends

If your corporation has unrealized losses in its investment portfolio, it’s worth checking to see if there is a positive balance in your corporation’s capital dividend account {CDA) before engaging in any tax-loss selling, as discussed above. The CDA is a notional account that tracks the non-taxable portion of capital gains, among other things. Dividends may be designated as capital dividends, which are generally tax-free to the shareholder, if they do not exceed the balance of the CDA. Net capital losses will decrease the CDA and will, therefore, reduce (or possibly even eliminate) the capital dividends that may be paid. Prior to realizing any capital losses, consider paying out any capital dividends to eliminate any positive balance in the CDA.

Loss consolidation

You may have more than one corporation within a corporate group. One (or more) of these companies may be profitable (“Profitco”), and one (or more) may be suffering losses( Lossco”) generally permitted the consolidation of losses within a related group through a variety of methods. For example, Profitco may subscribe for shares of Lossco, which in turn makes a loan to Profitco. Interest payments on the loan will reduce the taxable income of Profitco, and the taxable interest income received by Lossco will be offset by its losses.

As corporate reorganizations are complex, tax and legaladvisors should be consulted before implementing any loss consolidation transactions.

Business transition planning

If you’re thinking about transitioning your business to new owners and you believe that your business has recently dropped in value, you may want to explore some of the planning considerations, including an estate freeze or refreeze, that are discussed in our report Tax and estate planning in uncertain times, (8) in advance of the end of the year.

Income splitting

The “tax on split income” (TOSI) rules can apply where an individual receives dividend or interest income from a corporation, or realizes a capital gain, and a related individual is either actively engaged in the business of the corporation or holds a significant amount of equity (with at least 10% of the value) in the corporation.

When the TOSI rules apply,dividends are taxed at the highest marginal rate.

If your private corporation has other shareholders, such as your spouse, partner, children or other relatives as shareholders, review the possible impact of the TOSI rules with your tax and legal advisors before paying dividends to these individuals in 2020.

Planning for the TOSI is more fully described in our report The CCPC tax rules. (9)

Passive investment income

The first $500,000 of active business income in a Canadian-controlled Private Corporation (CCPC) (10) generally qualifies for the small business deduction (SBD), which reduces the corporate tax rate by 12.5 to 19.0 percentage points in 2020, depending on the province or territory. This means there may be significantly more after-tax income in your corporation for investment when the SBD is available.The government believed this posed an unfair advantage and, so, new rules were introduced effective in 2019 which affected the amount of income that’s eligible for the federal SBD.The SBD is generally reduced by $5 for each $1 of passive income over $50,000 in the previous year. Once passive income reaches $150,000 in the previous year, none of the current year’s business income may be eligible for the lower tax rates.

If your corporation is approaching the $50,000 limit for passive income in 2020, consider a “buy and hold” strategy to defer capital gains. Also, consider whether an Individual Pension Plan or corporately-owned exempt life insurance may be appropriate, as income earned within these plans will not be treated as passive income.(11)

Ontario and New Brunswick have not followed the federal measure,so the provincial SBD is still available for active business income up to $500,000 annually in these two provinces.This may lessen the negative tax impact of the federal measure.You should consult a tax advisor prior to year-end to determine how provincial and federalmeasures may apply.

You may also wish to withdraw sufficient salary from your private corporation by December 31 to maximize contributions to RRSPs and TFSAs. These registered investment plans may offer benefits beyond those available with corporate investments,as outlined in our reports RRSPs: A smart choice for business owners (12) and TFSAs for business owners… A smart choice (13). Receiving salary of at least $154,611 by December 31, 2020 may allow the maximum RRSP contribution of $27,830 in 2021. Reasonable salaries may also be paid to family members who work in the business to allow them to make contributions to RRSPs and TFSAs.

Planning for passive investment income is more fully described in our report CCPC tax planning for passive income. (14)

Conclusion

These tips highlight various ways you can act now to benefit from tax savings when you file your 2020 personal tax return. But keep in mind that tax planning is a year round affair. Be sure to speak to your Wealth Management Advisor or tax advisor well in advance of tax filing season if you want more information on reducing your taxes.

Jamie Golombek, CPA,CA, CFP, CLU, TEP is the Managing Director, Tax & Estate Planning with CIBC Private Wealth Management in Toronto.

Permission was asked for and obtained, to view the original document, click here


(1) The report “Personal tax measures: Canada’s COVID-19 response plan” is available online at cibc.com/contenl/dam/oersonal banking/advice centre/tax-savings/covid-tax-en.pdf.

(2) The report “Lower RRIF minimum withdrawals for 2020: Canada’s COVID-19 response plan” is available online at cibc.comlcontentldamlpersonal banking/advice centreltax-savingslcovid-rrif-en.pdf.

(3) Quarterty prescribed interest rates are available online at canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/seNicesltax/prescribed-interest-rates.html.

(4) The report “Prescribed rate loans: The one per cent solution” is available online at cibc.com/contentldam/personal banking/advice centreltax­ savinqs/prescribed-rate-loan.pdf.

(5) Qualifying VAC disability supports are the Disability Pension, Disability Award,Pain and Suffering Compensation, Critical Injury Benefit, Rehabilitation Services and VocationalAssistance Program, Income Replacement Benefit, and Canadian Forces Income Support.

(6) Additional information is available at canada.ca/en/services/benefits/covid1!Hlmeraencv-benefits/one-time-oayment-oersons-disabilities.html.

(7) The report “Wage subsidy programs for employers: Canada’s COVID-19 response plan” is available online at cibc.com/content/dam/oersonal banking/advice centrettax-savinqslcovid-wage-subsidy;m.pdf.

(8) The report “Tax and estate planning in uncertain times is available online at cibc.com/content/dam/personal banking/advice centre/tax-savings/tax­-planning-uncertain-times-en.pdf.

(9) The report “The CCPC tax rules” is available online at cibc.com/contenVdam/small business/dav to day banking/advice centre/Ddfslbusiness reports/private-corporation-tax-changes-en.pdf

(10) The SBD is available to a CCPC that earns active business income up to the annual limit of $500,000 federally and provincially or territorially (except in Saskatchewan where ifs $600,000) in 2020. The SBD must be shared among associated corporations.

(11) A tax advisor should be consulted before investing in an Individual Pension Plan or corporate owned life insurance.You should also consider whether these strategies fit into your overall financial plan.

(12) The report “RRSPs: A smart choice for business owners” is available online at cibc.com/content/dam/small business/advice centre/business·reports/RRSPs-for-business-owners-en.pdf.

(13) The report “TFSAs for business owners… A smart choice” is available online at cibc.com/content/dam/small business/day to day banking/advice centre/pdfs/personal financesltfsas-for-business-owners-en,pdf

(14) The report “CCPC Tax Planning for Passive Income” is available at cibc.com/content/dam/small business/day to day banking/advice centre/pdfs/business reports/ccpc-passive-income-en.pdf.

Canadian Snowbirds in Winter 2020-21

Much remains uncertain during COVID-19 for the many Canadians who hope to escape the frozen north this winter. Many popular winter destinations have struggled to contain their COVID-19 outbreaks contrary to many parts of Canada, which have been more effective at reducing infection rates.

Concerns such as:

  • What happens if border restrictions don’t ease by fall?
  • What’s going on with travel insurance?
  • What’s the COVID-19 situation in various southern climes?

With so much uncertainty swirling, most snowbirds are taking a “wait and see” approach to their plans for the season. Therefore, snowbirds have a host of health concerns to consider in deciding whether to migrate south this winter.

Snowbirds tend to be older, so they’re more likely to have underlying health conditions that put them at greater risk of COVID-19 complications.

If you decide to travel 

Snowbirds need to decide whether they should be at home where they are potentially near support and family and a healthcare system that they know and can depend on. Snowbirds must consider the perils of relying on a foreign healthcare system. Some jurisdictions may not have the medical infrastructure to treat an influx of international patients, which could pose a risk to travellers and local populations as a second coronavirus wave hits.

A significant share of snowbirds drives across the border each year, so the partial closure of the U.S.-Canada land border has proved to be a powerful hurdle for many people. Among those most affected by the travel restrictions are people who lack permanent winter housing in Canada, instead opting to live in summer cottages or mobile homes.

Snowbirds should familiarize themselves with the Canadian government’s travel advisories, public health measures at their intended destination and quarantine requirements upon arrival and return.

In the US, some states have quarantine restrictions, such as Hawaii. However, according to the Canadian Snowbirds Association, the three most popular destinations for Canadian snowbirds – Arizona, California, and Florida – do not require international travellers to quarantine.

Review your travel Insurance 

In the U.S., hospital bills can run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, and provincial health insurance plans offer limited out-of-country coverage, particularly for trips that contravene federal travel recommendations.

Snowbirds are urged to purchase travel insurance and read the fine print to ensure the policy comes with comprehensive health coverage. It is important to understand what is included and what is excluded. Provide accurate health information regarding each traveller when purchasing travel medical insurance. Some insurance providers are rolling out travel policies that promise emergency medical coverage for COVID-19 and related conditions. Consult with your supplier to confirm which offerings include COVID coverage and which do not.

Please keep in mind

Just because you could travel doesn’t mean you should travel. It may be the year to give a hard think about whether you should go. Maybe family and new hobbies can keep you sane through the winter, or at least delay it until there is a really strong sense of where COVID is going. Whatever you decide to do, what is important is “STAYING SAFE.”

If you decide to stay in Canada

There are a few Canadian options for those deciding to winter closer to home.

Victoria, B.C. is expecting a pretty good tourism business this winter. Tourism Victoria is planning a promotional campaign to attract potential snowbirds to fly west instead of heading south. Find more on their website.

Contact Us

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