Tax Tips for Employees - 2019

As we approach year end, it’s a good time to review your finances to ensure that you are tax planning, as effectively as possible. Below are some useful guidelines, along with some key areas to consider when tax planning, to ensure that you cover all the essentials. We have divided our tax planning tips into 4 sections:

1. Tax deadlines
2. Family tax issues
3. Managing your investments
4. Retirement planning

1) Tax Deadlines for 2019 Savings

December 31, 2019:

• If you reached the age of 71 in 2019, RRSP contributions
• Use up your TFSA contribution room
• Contribute to RESP to get the Canadian education savings grant and the income-tested Canada learning bond
• Contribute to RDSP to get the Canada disability savings grant and the income-tested Canada disability savings bond
• Medical expenses
• Investment counsel fees, interest and other expenses relating to investments
• Some payments for child and spousal support
• Fees for union and professional memberships
• Student loan interest payments
• Deductible legal fees
• Charitable gifts
• Political contributions

January 30, 2020:

• Interest on intra-family loans
• Interest you must pay on employer loans, to reduce your taxable benefit

February 29, 2020:

• Contributions to provincial labour-sponsored venture capital corporations
• Deductible contributions to a personal or spousal RRSP
• RRSP Repayment under Home Buyers Plan or Lifelong Learning Plan

2) Family Tax Issues

Check your eligibility for the Canada Child Benefit

To receive the Canada Child Benefit in 2020/21, you must file your tax returns for 2019 because the benefit is calculated using the family income from the previous year. Eligibility depends on set criteria, such as your family’s income and the number and age of your children.

Consider family income splitting

The CRA offers low interest rates on loans; therefore, it makes sense to consider setting up an income splitting loan arrangement with members of your family. Income splitting can potentially lock in the family loan at a low interest rate of 2%, allowing you to invest the borrowed monies into a higher return investment. * Remember to adhere to the Tax on Split Income rules.

Contribute to Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP)

The Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) is a savings plan for parents to save for a child’s education. The Canada education savings grant (CESG) will match up to 20% of contributions to a maximum of $2,500. This means the CESG can add a maximum of $500 to an RESP each year. Grant room accumulates until the child turns 17; therefore, unused basic CESG amounts for the current year are carried forward for possible use in the future years. The income-tested Canada learning bond (CLB) is paid directly to the RESP by the Canadian government to low-income families. There are no personal contributions required to receive the CLB.

Contribute to Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP)

The Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) is a savings plan for parents to save for the financial security of a person who is eligible for the disability tax credit (DTC). The Canada disability savings grant will pay matching grants of 300%, 200% or 100%, depending on the beneficiary’s adjusted family net income and amount contributed. The income-tested Canada disability savings bond is paid directly to the RDSP by the Canadian government to low-income Canadians with disabilities. Before December 31 of the year you turn 49 years old, you can carry forward up to 10 years of unused grant and bond entitlements, to future years if you met the eligibility requirements during the carry forward years.

3) Managing Your Investments

Use up your TFSA contribution room

If you are able, it’s worth contributing the full $6,000 to your TFSA for 2019. You can also contribute more (up to $63,500) if you are 28 or older and haven’t made any previous TFSA contributions.

Contribute to Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP)

The Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) is a savings plan for parents to save for a child’s education. The Canada education savings grant (CESG) will match up to 20% of contributions to a maximum of $2,500. This means the CESG can add a maximum of $500 to an RESP each year. Grant room accumulates until the child turns 17; therefore, unused basic CESG amounts for the current year are carried forward for possible use in the future years. The income-tested Canada learning bond (CLB) is paid directly to the RESP by the Canadian government to low-income families. There are no personal contributions required to receive the CLB.

Contribute to Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP)

The Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) is a savings plan for parents to save for the financial security of a person who is eligible for the disability tax credit (DTC). The Canada disability savings grant will pay matching grants of 300%, 200% or 100%, depending on the beneficiary’s adjusted family net income and amount contributed. The income-tested Canada disability savings bond is paid directly to the RDSP by the Canadian government to low-income Canadians with disabilities. Before December 31 of the year you turn 49 years old, you can carry forward up to 10 years of unused grant and bond entitlements, to future years if you met the eligibility requirements during the carry forward years.

Donate securities to charity

Making a donation by year end will provide you with tax savings. If you donate eligible securities or mutual funds, capital gains tax does not apply, and you can receive a tax receipt for their full market value. Also, the charity gets the full value of the securities.

Think about selling any investments with unrealized capital losses

It might be worth doing this before year end, in order to apply the loss against any net capital gains achieved during the last three years. Any late trades should ideally be completed on, or prior to, December 24, 2019 and subsequently, confirmed with your broker.

Conversely, if you have investments with unrealized capital gains that are not able to be offset with capital losses, it may be worth selling them after 2019 in order to be taxed on the income the following year.

Consider the timing of purchasing certain non-registered investments

If you are considering purchasing an interest-bearing investment, like a guaranteed investment certificate (GIC) with a maturity date of one year or more, you may consider delaying the purchase to the following year. This way, you don’t have to pay tax on accrued interest until 2021. You should also consider delaying mutual fund purchases that make taxable distributions before the end of 2019.  Don’t pay taxes earlier than necessary.

Check if you have investments in a corporation

The new passive investment income rules apply to tax years from 2018. They state that the small business deduction is reduced for companies that are affected with $50,000 of investment income; therefore, reducing or eliminating the small business deduction limit. At a provincial level, Ontario and New Brunswick have indicated that they are not following the federal rules to limit access to the small business deduction.

4) Retirement Planning

Make the most of your RRSP

The deadline for making contributions to your RRSP for 2019 is February 29, 2020. There are three things that affect how much you may contribute towards your RRSP:

• 18% of your previous year’s earned income
• Up to a maximum of $26,500 for 2019 and $27,230 for 2020
• Your pension adjustment

Check when your RRSP is due to end

You should wind-up your RRSP if you reached the age of 71 during 2019 and your final contributions should be made by December 31, 2019.

Convert to RRIF before year end

If you are 65 or older, you are entitled to a pension credit on the first $2,000 of eligible income, annually. Consider setting up a RRIF before the year end to pay out $2,000 annually, if you don’t have any other eligible pension income.

Contact us if you have any questions, we can help.