Canada: Tax Tips 2015 – 35 Easily Adaptable Tax Ideas For You And Your Family

Our annual Tax Tips can assist you in your tax planning. It presents some quick ideas and strategies. Please take the time to review your 2015 tax situation and call us for specific recommendations tailored to meet your needs. We will be pleased to work with you on these and other tax-savings ideas.

Click here to download a copy of the tax letter (PDF).

---

Investment income

1. Tax rates are significantly more favourable for dividend income than interest income.

The top personal tax rates in Ontario for 2015 are as follows:

Interest income

The top personal tax rates are expected to increase in 2016 under the new Liberal government as follows:

Income	2016
	For taxable income over $140,388 to $150,000	For taxable income over $150,000 to $200,000	For taxable income over $200,000 to $220,000	For taxable income over $220,000
Eligible dividends (generally, dividends received from public corporations)	29.52%	31.67%	37.19%	39.34%
Non-eligible dividends (generally, dividends received from small business corporations)	37.00%	38.82%	43.50%	45.33%
Interest income	46.41%	47.97%	51.97%	53.53%

Re-evaluate your investment strategy by comparing the pre-tax dividend rates with the pre-tax interest rates using the chart provided later in this document.

2. Defer tax on interest to the following year by investing funds for a one-year term ending in the next calendar year.

3. Defer purchases of mutual funds until early in the next calendar year to minimize taxable income allocated in the current year from the mutual fund.

4. Existing holding companies that have built up refundable dividend tax should consider paying dividends to recover this tax. Depending on its year-end, the company may have up to 24 months to enjoy the benefits of the tax refund before the shareholder is required to pay the personal tax on the dividend. The individual circumstances should be reviewed.

5. If you have a corporation and you are otherwise going to withdraw cash therefrom in the form of dividends over the next few years, consideration should be given to receiving the aggregate dividend income from the corporation before the end of the 2015 year-end as the top marginal dividend tax rates in 2015 are up to about 5% lower than the expected tax rates under the new Liberal government. If the money is kept in the corporation, there is a deferral opportunity, but the retention period would have to be significant (assuming a "normal" rate of return) to outweigh the additional tax cost of future distributions (over the next few years) at a higher rate.

Capital gains and losses

6. If you own qualified small business corporation (QSBC) shares or qualified farm and fishing property, you may benefit from the lifetime capital gains exemption of $813,600. The exemption is indexed to inflation annually.

The government has increased the exemption to $1,000,000 for qualified farm and fishing property. The increased exemption is available on dispositions made on or after April 21, 2015.

7. Consider realizing accrued losses on investments to shelter capital gains realized this year and in the previous three years.

Note that a loss realized from the disposition of an investment may be denied if you repurchase the investment within a short period of time.

8. If you have significant trading activity, your sales of securities may be considered a business for income tax purposes.

If your sale of securities is considered a business, your profits will be fully taxable as income (instead of being considered capital gains taxable at 50%), and your losses will be fully deductible against any source of income.

If you are concerned about your sale of securities being considered a business, you can consider filing a one-time, non-revocable election with the Canada Revenue Agency.

This election will treat all of your gains from dispositions of Canadian securities as capital gains (and all of your losses as capital losses) for the current year and all future years.

Charitable donations

9. Consider donating publicly-traded securities instead of cash.

A tax-advantaged gift of securities can be made to a private foundation as well as to public charities. Any appreciation in the value of the securities will not be subject to capital gains tax if the securities are donated to:

The donation credit (for individuals) or deduction (for corporations) continues to be available for the fair market value of the securities donated.

To avoid capital gains tax on the appreciated securities, the actual securities must be transferred to the charity or foundation.

Similar rules will apply to a capital gain on ecologically sensitive land donated to a conservation charity.

Due to 2011 changes to the tax rules, the donation of flow-though securities may trigger a capital gain to the donor.

Did you know?

The 2015 federal budget proposed that capital gains arising from the disposition of private corporation shares or real estate after 2016 will be exempt from tax where the cash proceeds are donated to a registered charity or certain other qualified donees within 30 days after the disposition.

Various anti-avoidance rules will apply that would prevent the donor from reacquiring the donated property within five years after the disposition.

Income	2015
	For taxable income over $136,271 to $150,000	For taxable income over $150,000 to $220,000	For taxable income over $220,000
Eligible dividends (generally, dividends received from public corporations)	29.52%	31.67%	33.82%
Non-eligible dividends (generally, dividends received from small business corporations)	36.45%	38.29%	40.13%

Interest deductibility

10. Where possible, maximize interest deductions by structuring or arranging your borrowings first for business or investment purposes, and then for personal use.

Note that the federal government has abandoned the proposed restrictions on the deduction for interest on funds borrowed to make investments in foreign affiliates.

11. Where certain business or capital property (e.g., shares, but not real estate or depreciable property) is lost or ceases to earn income, the interest incurred on the related borrowed money may in some cases continue to be deductible.

Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA)

12. Beginning in 2015, Canadian residents 18 years of age and older can each contribute up to $10,000 annually, plus any unused contribution room from previous years to a tax-free savings account. However, the annual limit will no longer be indexed to inflation.

Contributions to a TFSA are not deductible for income tax purposes.

Interest on money borrowed to invest in a TFSA is not tax deductible.

Contributions to, and income earned, in a TFSA are tax-free upon withdrawal.

You can give money to your spouse for a TFSA contribution, and the income earned on the contributions in your spouse's TFSA will not be attributed back to you.

You cannot contribute more than your TFSA contribution room in a given year, even if you make withdrawals from the account during the year. If you do so, you may be subject to a penalty tax for each month that you are in an excess contribution position.

Did you know?

The new Liberal government proposes to scale back the TFSA limit to $5,500. The change will be made effective January 1, 2016.

Quick Facts for 2015

• The maximum RRSP contribution limit is $24,930.
• The amount of earned income required in 2015 to maximize your 2015 RRSP contribution room is $140,944 (the maximum RRSP contribution limit for 2016 is $25,370).
• The small business deduction limit is $500,000.

Pensioners, retirees and pre-retirees

13. Income splitting opportunity:

Individuals receiving pension income that qualifies for the pension credit can allocate up to half of this income to their spouse or common-law partner. A determination of the optimal allocation should be considered in tandem with the couple's continued ability to qualify for Old Age Security payments and certain personal tax credits.

14. An individual's RRSP must be converted to a Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF) or be used to acquire a qualifying annuity by the end of the year in which the individual turns 71.

An individual who turns 71 in 2015 can make RRSP contributions by the end of 2015, where contribution room is available.

An individual can continue to make a contribution to a spousal RRSP until the end of the year in which his or her spouse turns 71, where contribution room is available.

For 2015 and later years, the government has introduced a reduction in the minimum amount that must be withdrawn from an RRIF for a holder who is 71 to 94 years old. The new RRIF factors will permit holders to preserve more of their RRIF savings in order to provide income at older ages.

If you have disabled or infirm dependents

15. The Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) is intended to help parents and others save for the long-term financial security of a person who is eligible for the Disability Tax Credit.

Contributions to an RDSP are not tax deductible and can be made until the end of the year in which the beneficiary turns 59 years of age.

To help you save, the Government pays a matching grant of up to $3,500. You are allowed to carry forward unused grant entitlements for up to ten years.

Contributions that are withdrawn are not included in the income of the beneficiary, although the Canada disability savings grant, Canada disability savings bond, and investment income earned in the plan will be included in the beneficiary's income for tax purposes when paid out of the RDSP.

There is no annual limit on amounts contributed to an RDSP of a particular beneficiary, but the overall lifetime limit is $200,000.

A deceased individual's RRSP or RRIF can be transferred tax-free into the RDSP of a financially dependent infirm child or grandchild.

16. For 2016 and subsequent tax years, the government has implemented a new non-refundable Home Accessibility Tax Credit.

The tax credit is available for eligible expenses incurred in making a home more accessible to individuals aged 65 or older or to individuals who are disabled or infirm.

Either the individual who incurred the expenses or the individual for whom the expenses are made can claim the tax credit. The individual who incurred the expenses can only claim the tax credit in respect of expenses incurred for his or her spouse or common-law partner, or for disabled or infirm dependants.

You can claim up to $10,000 in eligible expenses under the Home Accessibility Tax Credit, resulting in a non-refundable tax credit worth up to $1,500. Expenses eligible for the claim must be permanent and non-routine renovations to the home. The alterations must allow the individual for whom the expenses were incurred to be mobile within the home and/or reduce the risk of harm to the individual within the home.

If you have young children

17. Save for your child's or grandchild's education with a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP).

An RESP is a trust arrangement that earns tax-free income to be used to fund the cost of a child's or grandchild's post-secondary education. Contributions to an RESP are not deductible for tax purposes and withdrawals of capital from the RESP are not taxed. The beneficiary is taxed on the income portion when withdrawn from the RESP for the purpose of funding his or her post-secondary education. While at school, the child or grandchild tends to have relatively low sources of other income, and, as a result the income is usually taxed at lower rates, if at all.

For RESP contributions in 2015:

• There is no annual contribution limit;
• The lifetime contribution limit is $50,000 per beneficiary; and
• A federal government grant of 20% of annual RESP contributions is available for each beneficiary under the "Canada Education Savings Grant." The maximum annual RESP contribution that qualifies for the federal government grant is $2,500.

18. Maximize child-care expense deduction and consider the federal Children's Fitness Tax Credit, the Ontario Children's Activity Tax Credit, and the Children's Art Tax Credit.

If you have a child under the age of 16 enrolled in a program of physical activity, you may be able to claim up to $1,000 of related expenses under the non-refundable federal Children's Fitness Tax Credit (CFTC). Costs eligible for the credit include costs for administration, instruction, rental of required facilities, and certain uniforms and equipment.

Effective 2014, the government has enhanced the Children's Fitness Tax Credit by increasing the maximum amount that may be claimed under the credit to $1,000 from $500. The credit will be made refundable starting in 2015, allowing Canadians who pay little or no income tax to receive the credit.

The maximum amounts deductible for child-care expenses are $11,000 for a disabled child, $8,000 for children under age seven, and $5,000 for other eligible children (generally, children aged 16 and under). Each of these limits has been increased by $1,000 for 2015 and subsequent years. In most cases, the spouse with the lower net income must claim the child-care expenses against his or her earned income.

You will not be able to claim the expenses incurred for the child's physical activity program for both the child-care expense deduction and the Children's Fitness Tax Credit.

If you have a child enrolled in a qualifying activity, you may be able to claim up to $551 of eligible expenses under the refundable Ontario Children's Activity Tax Credit. You may receive a refundable tax credit worth up to $55.10 per child under 16 years of age, or up to $110.20 for a child with a disability under 18 years of age. This tax credit covers eligible fitness and non-fitness activities.

If you have a child enrolled in a prescribed program of artistic, cultural, recreational or developmental activity, you may be able to claim up to $500 in 2015 of eligible expenses under the non-refundable Children's Art Tax Credit (CATC). You may receive a non-refundable tax credit worth up to $75 per child under 16 years of age, or up to $150 for a child with a disability under 18 years of age. Costs eligible for the credit include costs of registration or membership, including administration, instruction, and the rental of facilities or equipment.

19. Apply for the Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB) program:

Effective January 2015, the UCCB program provides parents of children aged six and under with $160 per month for each child, an increase of $60 per month. The program will also provide a new benefit of $60 per month for children aged six through 17.

The application form is available by visiting the following website address:

http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pbg/tf/rc66/README.html.

The UCCB payments that a family receives will be taxable to the lower income spouse.

A single parent can designate the amount of the UCCB payments received to be included in the income of a child to take advantage of the child's lower tax rates.

Income splitting opportunity:

20. Apply for the Canada Child Tax Benefit (CCTB):

Apply as soon as the child is born, as the CRA makes retroactive payments up to only 11 months prior to the application.

The application form is available by visiting the following website address:

http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pbg/tf/rc66/README.html. Note that the application form is the same form that is used to apply for the UCCB.

The CCTB is a tax-free monthly payment for children under the age of 18.

Both shared custody parents are recognized as "eligible individuals" in the same month for the purposes of the CCTB. This enables both parents to equally share the benefit each month rather than being subjected to the previous six-month rotational basis.

Under the new Liberal government, the UCCB and Canada Child Tax Benefit (CCTB) programs are expected to be replaced by the new Canada Child Benefit (CCB). The new benefit will be entirely income tested, meaning it will be fully dependent on a family's income level.

It is expected that all families with children that earn annual incomes below $150,000 will receive more in monthly child-benefit payments than under the current programs.

The CCB will start at $6,400 per year, tax-free, for each child under the age of six, and $5,400 per year, tax-free, for each child between the ages of six to 17. The benefit will slowly phase out as family income rises. Family income will be calculated the same way as it is now, every July, based on the family's previous year's income.

21.Utilize the Family Tax Cut:

The Family Tax Cut allows an individual to transfer up to $50,000 of taxable income to his/her spouse who is in a lower tax bracket.

The income-splitting federal tax measure will provide relief of up to $2,000 in the form of a non-refundable tax credit to the higher income-earning spouse. The Family Tax Cut applies to 2014 and subsequent tax years.

Note that the new Liberal government plans to repeal the Family Tax Cut and replace it with the proposed CCB program (discussed on the previous page). We expect these changes to be made effective for 2016 and subsequent tax years.

If you have your own corporation

22. Consider your optimum salary/dividend mix to achieve less overall tax:

Salary will qualify you and other family members active in the business for RRSP contributions, Canada Pension Plan (CPP) contributions, and child-care deductions. Dividends will not qualify an individual for these contributions or deductions.

Dividends, on the other hand, may cost the family unit less in current taxes. Each family member, over 17 years of age and receiving dividend income of approximately $36,149 or less of non-eligible dividends, or $50,124 or less of eligible dividends, from taxable Canadian corporations, will pay little or no income tax, but will pay a small Ontario Health Tax premium. The tax on split income eliminates the tax benefits of paying dividends to children under 18 years of age.

Consider accessing funds from the corporation that can be withdrawn tax-free. For example, repay shareholder loans, return capital to shareholders up to the lesser of the paid-up capital and the adjusted cost base of the shares, or roll in personal assets with a high cost base to the corporation on a tax-free basis to extract the cost base of the assets on a tax-free basis.

As mentioned above, if you are otherwise going to extract funds from your corporation (for personal spending) in the form of dividend income, consider doing so before the end of 2015 so that such dividend income will be taxed at 2015 marginal tax rates. Tax rates are expected to increase, making dividend income subject to significantly more tax at the top rate in 2016 and subsequent tax years.

23. Defer income that is not required personally for longer period:

If you do not require cash from your corporation to spend personally, consider keeping the funds invested in your corporation and defer the extra dividend tax payable on the withdrawal of the funds that will apply under the proposed tax changes under the new Liberal government.

24. Dividend income splitting with adult children:

If you have children who are 18 years of age or older and for whom you are currently funding expenses, consider reorganizing the shareholdings of your corporation to enable income splitting with your children. A reorganization would involve your children (or a trust for their benefit) receiving dividend-paying shares of the corporation. If your children do not already earn income that is taxed at the top marginal tax rate, then the dividend income will be taxed more favourably in their hands.

25. Consider instalments for 2016:

The threshold above which corporations must pay income tax, GST and source deductions instalments is $3,000. The threshold will be based on 2015 tax amounts payable.

Certain Canadian-controlled private corporations are allowed to make quarterly, instead of monthly, income tax instalments. To qualify, certain conditions must be met, including the following criteria relating to the 2015 taxation year:

The corporation was entitled to the small business deduction;

The taxable income of the associated group did not exceed $500,000; and

The taxable capital of the associated group did not exceed $10 million.

Instalment planning for 2016 can be addressed during 2015 by meeting the conditions where applicable.

If you are self-employed

26. If you have a home office and you meet certain conditions, you can deduct eligible home office expenses, including a portion of your mortgage interest, home insurance, property taxes, utilities and minor repairs.

27. Consider the potential benefits of incorporating your business.

If you are employed

28. Reduce tax withheld at source:

If you will have large tax deductions available to you (e.g., RRSP contributions, tax shelters, interest, business losses, work related car expenses, or alimony), apply in advance to the CRA for a reduction of the payroll withholdings that are withheld from your salary.

29. Minimize taxable employee benefits:

Arrange to receive non-taxable benefits from your employer instead of taxable benefits where possible. Examples of non-taxable benefits include: employer contributions to a registered pension plan (the pension is taxable when you receive it); and contributions to a "private health services plan," such as those covering medical expenses, hospital charges and drugs not covered by public health insurance and dental fees.

If you received interest-free or low-interest loans from your employer, the loans will generally result in a taxable benefit.

• Some of the benefit can be offset by an "interest" deduction if the loans are used for certain purposes.
• If not deductible, be sure to pay any interest payable on the loan for 2015 by January 30, 2016 to reduce or eliminate your taxable benefit.
• Consider renegotiating any home purchase loans from your employer in order to minimize taxable benefits by "locking in" the loan at a lower prescribed interest rate for a five-year term.

Did you know?

The Liberal government is expected to revise the tax treatment of stock options earned by an employee.

Under the existing rules, the difference between the fair market value of the shares and the exercise price paid to acquire the shares is a taxable employment benefit to the employee.

For public corporations, this benefit is taxable to the employee in the year he/she exercises the options and, for Canadian-controlled private corporations (CCPC), the benefit is taxable in the year the employee sells the shares. If the employee and the shares meet certain conditions, the employee is eligible to claim a deduction equal to 50% of the employment benefit, effectively taxing the benefit like a capital gain (although the net benefit is employment income).

The Liberals are expected to limit the availability of the 50% stock option deduction to $100,000 of option gains annually. Option gains in excess of $100,000 would not be eligible for the deduction.

It is expected that existing stock options will be grandfathered.

If your employer provides you with an automobile

30. The taxable benefit is based on original cost of the automobile and does not decrease as the car ages. Consider purchasing the car from the company by way of an interest-free loan from your employer and personally claiming depreciation on the car.

Avoid employer-owned vehicles costing over $30,000.

You can reduce the taxable benefit if your automobile is used primarily (generally, greater than 50%) for business purposes and by keeping your personal use to less than 20,000 kilometers per year.

Working in the U.S.

31. A Canadian resident who works in the U.S. may deduct contributions made to a U.S. pension plan, under certain circumstances, up to the taxpayer's RRSP deduction limit.

This will reduce the individual's unused RRSP contribution room.

Income splitting with family members – other opportunities

Consider the following legitimate means of shifting income to family members whose taxable income is below the lowest tax bracket, approximately $44,701. This will allow them to take advantage of certain non-transferable credits as well as lower tax rates.

32. Income splitting with children over the age of 17 ("adult children"):

Shift investment income by gifting money to your adult children or to a trust for their benefit, if you wish to maintain control.

Lend funds to or purchase shares in a corporation whose shareholders are your adult children.

Did you know?

You may obtain access to your tax accounts online by applying for a "My Account" on the Canada Revenue Agency's website. This service allows you to check for your tax refund, check your benefit and credit payouts, obtain your RRSP limit, view your T4 and change your address, to name a few examples.

For more information, please visit http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/esrvc-srvce/tx/ndvdls/myccnt/menu-eng.html

33. Income splitting with adult or minor children:

Purchase appreciating assets in the names of your children regardless of their ages. Capital gains will be taxed in their hands, not yours.

Lend money to your children with actual interest payable at the prescribed rate. Earnings in excess of this rate will be taxed in their hands.

Did you know?

In August of 2014, the first ever CRA mobile app for small and medium-sized businesses was launched. The app lets business users create custom reminders and alerts for key CRA due dates related to instalment payments, returns, and remittances.

The Business Tax Reminders mobile app is now available free of charge on Apple iOS, Google Android, and BlackBerry mobile platforms. To download the mobile app, go to your app store and search "Business Tax Reminders," or visit the CRA Business Tax Reminders mobile app page www.cra-arc.gc.ca/mobileapps/.

34. Income splitting with your spouse or common-law partner:

Lend money to your spouse or common-law partner to earn business income.

Have the higher-income spouse or common-law partner incur all household expenses, thus allowing the lower income person to acquire investments, which could be taxed at a lower rate.

Lend money to your spouse or common-law partner with actual interest payable at the prescribed rate. Earnings in excess of this rate will be taxed in your spouse or common-law partner's hands.

Consider the Family Tax Cut when contemplating your income-splitting strategy for 2015 (see page 9).

35. File and pay your taxes on time

Even if you are receiving a refund, you should file your taxes on time. Filing on time avoids the possibility of late-filing penalties that may be applicable on CRA reassessments.

The deadline for filing your 2015 personal tax return is Monday, May 2, 2016. If you, or your spouse or common-law partner, are self-employed, the deadline for filing your tax return for 2015 is extended to Wednesday, June 15, 2016. Regardless of your filing due date, if you have a tax balance owing for 2015, you still have to pay the balance due on or before May 2, 2016.

The penalty for late filing your return is 5% of the unpaid taxes, plus an additional 1% for each complete month your return is late (up to 12 months). Penalties are higher for repeat offenders or gross negligence omissions.

Highlights of the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), Old Age Security (OAS) and the new Ontario Retirement Pension Plan (ORPP)

Canadian Pension Plan (CPP)

Effective January 1, 2012, there have been some noteworthy changes to the CPP, which include the following:

• If you are an employee between the ages of 60 and 65 and you are still working, you must continue to contribute to the CPP even if you are already receiving a CPP retirement pension.
• If you are an employee between the ages of 65 and 70 and you are still working, you can choose to continue to contribute to the CPP or you can opt out of making these contributions.
• Any contributions you make to the CPP, regardless of your age, will increase your CPP benefits even if you are already receiving a CPP pension benefit.
• You will be able to receive your CPP retirement pension without any work interruption.
• Your employer must match your CPP contributions in each of the scenarios described in (1) and (2) above. Your employer must make these contributions regardless of whether you are already receiving a CPP pension benefit.

Old Age Security (OAS)

The value of the Old Age Security (OAS) benefit for eligible seniors over the age of 65 is approximately $6,750 per year (indexed quarterly for inflation) but is generally reduced where net income exceeds $72,809 and is completely eliminated where income exceeds $118,055. Beginning July 1, 2013, you may choose to delay receipt of your OAS for up to five years beyond the normal benefit start date of 65, in exchange for an increased monthly pension of 0.6% (up to a total of 36% annually) for each month that the benefit is delayed. If you have already started receiving OAS payments but would like to benefit from the deferral, you can write to Service Canada to request a cancellation of your OAS pension, provided you have been receiving the pension benefits for less than 6 months, but you will have to repay the benefits you have received to date.

Ontario Retirement Pension Plan (ORPP)

Beginning in 2017, Ontario employers and employees will be required to contribute a percentage of their earnings to the ORPP, a new retirement program introduced by the Ontario government. All Ontario employers without a comparable workplace pension plan will be required to enroll in the ORPP. The province has announced various minimal thresholds to determine whether a workplace pension plan is acceptable to avert the requirement to enrol in the ORPP.

Did you know?

The Liberal government intends to reinstate the eligibility age for Old Age Security and Guaranteed Income Supplement to 65. The Conservative government had introduced a plan that was aimed at raising the eligibility age to 67 gradually over time with full implementation by 2029.

Investment income – A closer look...

It may be a good time for you to contemplate whether your investment income is tax efficient and consider investment alternatives.

The table below has been prepared to assist you in this matter. It assumes that your investment goal is to earn an after-tax rate of return of 5%.

It compares the pre-tax yield required to achieve a 5% after-tax rate of return by earning:

• Interest income;
• Eligible dividends (generally, dividends received from public corporations); or
• Non-eligible dividends (generally, dividends received from small business corporations).

	The pre-tax rate of return required to achieve a 5% after-tax rate of return is approximately:
If your taxable income is:	If you receive interest income	If you receive eligible dividends	If you receive non-eligible dividends
Between $1,000 and $44,701	5% – 6.6%	5%	5% – 5.6%
Above $44,701 but below $89,401	7.3%- 8.3%	5.5% – 6.2%	6.1% – 7%
Above $89,401 but below $138,586	8.8%	6.7%	7.5%
Above $138,586 but below $150,000	9.3%	7.1%	7.9%
Above $150,000 but below $220,000	9.6%	7.3%	8.1%
Above $220,000	9.9%	7.6%	8.4%

Did you know?

U.S. social security benefits received may be taxable at a lower effective rate. Eligible Canadian residents are allowed in addition to the 15% deduction permissible against U.S. social security income, an additional 35% deduction for a total deduction equal to 50% of the benefits.

You are eligible for the enhanced deduction if you have been resident in Canada and receiving U.S. social security benefits continuously since before 1996 or you are receiving these benefits in respect of your deceased spouse or common-law partner who received benefits prior to 1996.

Click here to download a copy of the tax letter (PDF).

For more information, contact our Tax Group.

Tax Tips was prepared for the general information of our clients and other friends of Crowe Soberman LLP. Specific professional advice should be obtained prior to the implementation of any suggestion contained in this publication.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.