RLB Blog

Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has announced an important change to the GST/HST treatment of mutual fund trailing commissions, effective July 1, 2026. This shift will primarily impact investment dealers, advisors, and fund managers and will require operational and compliance updates across the industry.

The November 4, 2025 federal Canadian budget sets the course for the nation’s economic and social trajectory in the coming years, with significant spending and investment measures proposed but operating expenditure cuts projected to generate $60 billion in savings over the next 5 years. Although not a major focus, there are several key tax measures (outlined below) which are proposed as part of the 2025 Budget.

On April 1, 2025, the rate of GST/HST in Nova Scotia will be reduced from 15% to 14%.

With Taylor Swift taking over Toronto, homeowners who rent out their home on a short-term basis could find themselves saying, “Look What You Made Me Do”. Here’s how renting to Swifties might turn your extra income into a surprise tax bill you didn’t plan for.

On June 10, 2024, drafted legislation was released regarding the proposed changes to capital gains previously announced in the earlier 2024 Federal Budget.  The announcement reaffirmed that the changes are intended to become effective beginning June 25, 2024, and additional information was provided regarding the transition to these rules.

Effective June 25, 2024, Federal Budget 2024 proposed to increase the capital gains inclusion rate from 50% to 66.7%. Individuals will have an annual $250,000 capital gains safe harbour at which the old inclusion rate will continue to apply. This change has many Canadians reconsidering their succession plans for their family cottages and asking whether it’s better to sell their property or gift it to the next generation.

Effective June 25, 2024, Federal Budget 2024 proposed to increase the capital gains inclusion rate from 50% to 66.7%. Individuals will have an annual $250,000 capital gains safe harbour at which the old inclusion rate will continue to apply. This change has many Canadians considering their options for triggering capital gains in their portfolio. Is now the right time, and how do you know?

The 2024 Federal Budget of Canada was made public on April 16, 2024. Delivered by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, The Budget will address many concerns at the forefront of the Canadian business economy. It will offer insight into measures in critical areas that will affect many of our clients, such as audit and enforcement, business tax, credits and incentives, international tax, and private client services. Upon review of the Budget, we have highlighted some of the more considerable changes and the implications of these measures for the Canadian economy, businesses, and individuals.

For businesses beginning to provide goods and/or services into a new jurisdiction, a frequent question is whether they have an obligation to register and collect sales tax. An often-underappreciated aspect of the Canadian federal value added tax system was the decision to harmonize the provincial sales tax with the administration of the federal goods and services tax, together forming GST/HST. Currently five provinces have opted for their provincial sales tax to form part of the federal GST/HST system (Ontario, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island). The GST/HST system requires one registration and return that covers the federal tax and the provincial tax for each of the harmonized provinces.

On September 14, 2023, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced plans to introduce new legislation to enhance the GST Rebate on new rental apartments. The new legislation is intended to incentivize construction of new rental homes and improve housing affordability for Canadians. 

 GST/HST on Assignment of New Housing Agreements

The results of the 2021 Federal election have left many Canadians wondering, ‘What Changes?’ While there may have been a few surprises and changes from the election results, the overall picture looks very much the same – the Liberal party forming a minority government, a Conservative party opposition, and the BQ or NDP holding enough seats to possibly boost the Liberal agenda provided they can work together to do so.

On Monday, April 19, 2021, Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland released the 2021 Canadian federal budget. This is very likely the last budget before the next federal election. The minority Liberal government proposed measures encouraging support from other parties and included something for almost every potential voter.

On Wednesday, March 24th, Ontario Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy unveiled the province’s 2021 budget. This spending plan focused on healthcare, small businesses, and families with several key financial proposals. Read more about the 2021 budget announcement.

Canada Revenue Agency Allows Simplified Tax Claims for Employees Working From Home Are you working from home and have home office expenses piling up?

On Friday, October 9, further COVID-19 relief measures were announced outlining the expansion of existing programs and creating a new program, the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS). Details are still forthcoming, but we have some insight into the framework of these program changes and additions.

On June 12, 2018, Quebec Bill 150 received Royal Assent. The Bill includes changes relating to the application of the Quebec Sales Tax (QST) to supplies made by suppliers with no significant presence in Quebec through the implementation of a new “specified registration system.”