CAAT's Nine Retirement Realities
A 2026 CAAT Pension Plan report says Canadians often misread how retirement income works, especially the role of workplace pensions.
PersonalCategory
Personal
CRA Points to Tax-Debt Options
The CRA is pointing taxpayers with balances owing to payment arrangements, including an online Manage balance service for some debts of $1,000 or more.
PersonalDTC Application Rules Updated
The CRA says two summer changes will affect how disability tax credit applications and older Form T2201 versions are handled.
PersonalGroceries Benefit Top-Up Begins
The one-time top-up is expected to deliver $3.1 billion to 12 million existing GST Credit recipients.
PersonalCRA Self-Employed Filing Reminder
CRA reminded self-employed taxpayers about income reporting, GST/HST registration, benefit eligibility, and online balance-management tools.
PersonalCRA Account Security Warning
CRA warned that scammers time account-access attempts around tax season and published benefit-payment dates.
PersonalDisability Tax Credit Access Measures
Finance Canada proposed $42.5 million over five years for CRA to administer Disability Tax Credit access changes.
PersonalFiling Taxes for Benefits
CRA said a one-time GST/HST credit top-up would be issued June 5, 2026 before Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit payments began in July.
PersonalChanging a Filed Tax Return
CRA said online change requests can lead to a notice of reassessment and any refund sooner than paper requests.
PersonalCRA Reports 2026 Tax Season
CRA said more than 28.5 million returns were filed for the 2026 tax season, with 95.6% filed online.
PersonalApril 30 Filing Reminder
CRA said more than 16.1 million returns had already been filed by April 12, 2026, including more than 15.4 million through certified software.
PersonalIndigenous Tax Filing Highlights
The CRA summarized 2026 filing issues and benefit amounts relevant to First Nations, Inuit, and Metis Peoples.
PersonalCRA Drop Boxes to Close
The CRA said 45 drop boxes will close on May 29, 2026, after submissions fell 78% from 2018-2019 to 2024-2025.
PersonalAI Tax Scam Warning
CRA warned that generative AI can produce convincing fake tax messages, websites, audio, images, videos, and software code.
PersonalSimpleFile and Benefit Access
CRA reminded lower-income taxpayers that filing a return can unlock refunds, credits, and benefit payments, including through SimpleFile services.
Personal2026 Tax Season Opens
CRA said online filing for 2025 returns opened February 23, 2026, after more than 33 million returns were received in the prior filing season.
Personal2026 Filing Season Changes
CRA listed the 2026 filing dates, digital notice changes, and a new top-up tax credit tied to the first federal tax bracket threshold.
PersonalGroceries Benefit Act Passed
Bill C-19 received Royal Assent, creating a one-time GST-credit top-up and a five-year increase to the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit.
PersonalCRA Tax-Season Service Levels
CRA said it was adding about 1,700 contact-centre employees after receiving more than 12 million tax-season calls in the prior year.
PersonalTax Preparer Access Changes
CRA moved individual representative authorization requests to Represent a Client, with CRA account and notice-of-assessment options for taxpayers.
PersonalTax Clinic Funding Renewed
CRA renewed CVITP grant funding for three years after more than 3,580 organizations and 19,810 volunteers helped file over 1 million returns.
PersonalTax Slip Timing Reminder
CRA said taxpayers should contact the issuer, not CRA, if a tax slip is missing after the expected deadline.
PersonalGroceries Benefit Proposal
Finance Canada said the proposed Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit would build on the GST Credit and provide $11.7 billion in additional support over six years.
PersonalLife Events and Tax Changes
CRA reminded taxpayers that major life events can affect benefits, credits, registered accounts, housing rebates, and renovation claims.
PersonalCRA Tax-Season Security Measures
CRA warned that tax-season fraud attempts rise as threat actors try to access accounts, file false returns, and claim benefits.
PersonalCRA Service Plan Results
CRA said its 100-day service plan more than doubled unique calls answered and added processing improvements for tax adjustments, DTC applications, and benefit claims.
Personal2025 Tax Package Changes
CRA said it would no longer proactively mail the income tax package and removed several low-use schedules from the 2025 paper package.
PersonalInsurance Tax Scheme Warning
CRA warned about critical-illness insurance arrangements that may be designed to let shareholders extract corporate funds without paying tax.
PersonalCRA Tax Literacy Reminder
CRA highlighted benefit amounts, FHSA and RRSP housing rules, GST/HST rebates, and registered savings accounts during Financial Literacy Month.
PersonalBudget 2025 Worker Measures
Budget 2025 worker measures include a temporary PSW tax credit, apprenticeship funding, foreign-credential recognition, and tariff-related training support.
PersonalTFSA Limit Reminder
CRA reminded taxpayers that the TFSA dollar limit was $7,000 for both 2024 and 2025 and that excess contributions can trigger monthly tax.
PersonalSelf-Employed Filing Reminder
CRA reminded self-employed taxpayers that the 2024 filing deadline was June 16, 2025, while any balance owing was due April 30.
PersonalNewcomer Benefit Applications
CRA's newcomer application update covers GST/HST credit, Canada Carbon Rebate, Canada Child Benefit, and related provincial or territorial payments.
PersonalLowest Federal Tax Rate Cut
Finance Canada said the lowest federal personal income-tax rate would fall from 15% to 14%, delivering more than $27 billion in savings over five years.
PersonalOnline Tax Return Changes
CRA said more than 2 million 2024 change requests were still filed on paper, representing 80% of all adjustment requests.
PersonalFile After Deadline
CRA said 27.8 million 2024 returns had been filed, with 13.9 million refunds issued for more than $30.8 billion.
PersonalFree Tax Clinics
CRA said 18,090 volunteers helped 857,000 people file more than 980,000 returns, producing over $2.3 billion in benefits and credits.
PersonalDisability Tax Credit Review
CRA's Disability Advisory Committee made 18 new recommendations on Disability Tax Credit administration and data transparency.
PersonalTrust Reporting Reminder
CRA reminded trusts that T3 returns and Schedule 15, where required, are due no later than 90 days after the trust year-end.
Personal2025 Tax-Filing Season
CRA said the prior filing season received more than 33 million returns, almost 93% online, and delivered more than $52 billion in benefits.
PersonalCapital Gains Slip Reporting
CRA said some T3, T4PS, and T5008 information needed recalculation after the proposed capital-gains inclusion-rate date changed.
PersonalNewcomer First Tax Return
CRA reminded newcomers that filing a first Canadian return can unlock GST/HST credit, Canada Child Benefit, and related payments.
PersonalDonation Deadline Extended
Finance Canada released draft legislation to let eligible donations made by February 28, 2025 count for the 2024 tax year.
PersonalTax Tips for Adults 65+
CRA highlighted benefits and credits for adults 65+, including GST/HST credit and up to $7,500 of eligible secondary-unit renovation costs.
PersonalIndigenous Tax Filing Highlights
CRA highlighted filing, GST/HST credit access, and payroll responsibilities for First Nations, Inuit, and Metis taxpayers and employers.
PersonalAutomobile Deduction Limits
The limits for 2025 cover capital cost allowance ceilings, deductible leasing costs, tax-exempt allowances, and employer benefit rates.
PersonalFall Economic Statement
The innovation package combines SR&ED threshold changes, pension-fund rules, a $1 billion venture-capital round, and AI data-centre financing.
PersonalGST/HST Holiday Rules
CRA explained the temporary GST/HST break that applied from December 14, 2024 to February 15, 2025 to selected holiday and everyday purchases.
PersonalBare Trust Filing Relief for 2024
CRA said bare trusts would not be required to file a T3 return and Schedule 15 for the 2024 tax year, continuing relief from the expanded trust-reporting rules.
PersonalCarbon Capture Investment
The $2 billion Canada Growth Fund-Strathcona partnership sits alongside federal carbon-contract financing for industrial decarbonization.
PersonalGST/HST Exemption for Therapy Services
CRA clarified that certain psychotherapy and counselling therapy services became GST/HST-exempt as of June 20, 2024.
PersonalBudget 2024 Dental Care Measures
In Budget 2024, the federal government launched the Canada Disability Benefit, to help improve the financial well-being of over 600,000 low-income persons with disabilities by delivering up to $2,400 in direct support every year.
PersonalTFSA Contribution Limit Reminder
The CRA reminded Canadians that the TFSA dollar limit was $7,000 for 2024 and remains $7,000 for 2025.
PersonalSimplified Benefit Filing
CRA said a simplified filing approach was helping lower-income individuals access benefit and credit payments tied to annual tax filing.
PersonalNewcomers and Benefit Filing
CRA reminded newcomers that filing or applying for benefits can help establish access to GST/HST credit, Canada Carbon Rebate, and child-benefit payments.
PersonalRent and Grocery Measures
The affordability package referenced rent support, grocery-price competition measures, and housing-assistance funding.
Personal