It’s tax season, a time when many people’s thoughts turn towards their tax refund and what they’ll do with it. Should you put it towards your mortgage, add it to your RRSP or make a TFSA contribution? While many financial institutions often recommend one of those options, we might suggest a different one: don’t get a tax refund at all.
IG PRIVATE WEALTH MANAGEMENT |
Many of us understand the value of the Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP): almost six million Canadians make RRSP contributions every year.1 Most of us also know about the tax benefits of RRSP contributions and that it’s an extremely versatile and effective retirement planning tool.
As we wave goodbye to 2023, we can also expect to bid adieu to some of the key events of the year that made it especially challenging for the markets. The central bank interest rate rises, which brought about a mini banking collapse early in the year, appear to have come to an end, while inflation is moving toward target levels.
IG WEALTH MANAGEMENT |
Most people think of life insurance as a necessary expense. It’s something that you almost begrudgingly pay for, in the hope that you’ll never need it, but with the expectation that it will protect your family’s finances, should the worst happen.
IG WEALTH MANAGEMENT |
If you die without leaving a will, it could become a major headache for your family members and loved ones. With no will, the government will decide on who gets your money and assets, and every province and territory have their own distinct intestate rules regarding who will benefit from your estate.
IG PRIVATE WEALTH MANAGEMENT |
And are you one of the 32,000 Canadians who’ll have to pay it? Many Canadians haven’t heard of the alternative minimum tax (AMT), which isn’t surprising when you discover that only a small percentage of Canadians typically pay AMT annually. The AMT came into the news recently when the federal government announced significant changes to it in the 2023 budget (which will come into effect in 2024). Let’s take a look at what the alternative minimum tax is, how it works, who it might affect and the impact of those changes.
If you owned a residential property in Canada on December 31, 2022, you might have to pay an Underused Housing Tax (UHT) if it was vacant or underused. Even if you’re not subject to tax, you may be required to file an Underused Housing Tax return to claim an exemption.
IG WEALTH MANAGEMENT |
On Tuesday March 28, 2023, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland presented the 2023 federal budget, which contains several measures of interest to IG Wealth Management and its clients.
IG PRIVATE WEALTH MANAGEMENT |
Tax preparation season is a good time to take a look at your unincorporated business and consider whether you should consider changing its status. If you don’t need all of your business’s income for your personal needs, it could make sense to incorporate it. In this article, we examine the different kinds of business ownership, the types of tax advantages and savings that can come with incorporation, and whether it might be a valid option for your business.
IG PRIVATE WEALTH MANAGEMENT |
Looking ahead to 2023, we’re feeling more optimistic towards both the equity and fixed income markets (we’re confident they’ll soon come out of their troughs). At the same time however, the probability of an economic recession in Canada and the United States is more likely. We also expect to see peaks in inflation, interest rates and economic activity.
IG PRIVATE WEALTH MANAGEMENT |
A Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) is a great tool to build wealth for most Canadians while paying less tax. Although there are many benefits to investing in a TFSA, there can also be costly mistakes. This article outlines the eight most common pitfalls people encounter and how to avoid them.