Monday, April 6, 2009

Tax Credit


Tax Credit to be taken advantage of for the first time home buyers

Tax Credit for 2009 based on the new budget with questions and answers as listed:

1. What is the Home Buyers' Tax Credit (HBTC)?

For 2009 and subsequent years, the budget proposes to introduce a new non-refundable tax credit, based on an amount of $5,000, for certain home buyers that acquire a qualifying home after January 27, 2009 (i.e., closing after this date).

2. How is the new HBTC calculated?

The HBTC is calculated by multiplying the lowest personal income tax rate for the year (15% in 2009) by $5,000.

For 2009, the credit will be $750.

3. Who is eligible for the HBTC?

An individual will qualify for the HBTC if:

  • they acquire a qualifying home; and
  • neither the individual nor the individual’s spouse or common-law partner owned and lived in another home in the year of purchase or any of the four preceding years.

If you are a person with a disability or are buying a house for a related person with a disability, you do not have to be a first time home buyer.

However, the home must be acquired to enable the person with a disability to live in a more accessible dwelling or in an environment better suited to the personal needs and care of that person.

Tax Credit of $750 works well for first time buyers




Tax Cuts


Tax Cuts for Homeowners

Tax Cuts that may benefit you and your family

The Home Renovation Tax Credit means savings up to $1,350 on renovations completed before February 2010


Temporary, Timely and Targeted Stimulus

The HRTC will apply to eligible home renovation expenditures for work performed, or goods acquired, after January 27, 2009 and before February 1, 2010, pursuant to agreements entered into after January 27, 2009.

The temporary nature of the tax credit will provide an immediate incentive for Canadians to undertake new renovations or accelerate planned projects.

The HRTC can be claimed for renovations and enduring alterations to a dwelling, or the land on which it sits.


How the HRTC Will Work

The 15-per-cent tax credit may be claimed on the portion of eligible expenditures exceeding $1,000, but not more than $10,000, meaning that the maximum tax credit that can be received is $1,350.

The credit can be claimed on eligible expenditures incurred on one or more of an individual’s eligible dwellings.

Properties eligible for the HRTC include houses, cottages and condominium units that are owned for personal use.

Renovation costs for projects such as finishing a basement or re-modelling a kitchen will be eligible for the credit, along with associated expenses such as building permits, professional services, equipment rentals and incidental expenses.

Routine repairs and maintenance will not qualify for the tax credit. Nor will the cost of purchasing furniture, appliances, audio-visual electronics or construction equipment

Tax Cuts for home renovations are gaining popularity across Canada



Tax Incentive


A new government tax incentive means now is the time to buy and upgrade your workplace technology.

Tax incentive in Budget 2009 increases the CCA rate to 100 per cent (100%) for computers, hardwares and systems software acquired after January 27, 2009 and before February 1, 2011.


This budget is temporary for two years only that allows businesses to fully write off computer investments.

Action to Support Businesses and Communities
Providing Assistance to Businesses in All Sectors to Invest in Computers

Budget 2009 proposes a temporary 100-per-cent CCA rate for computer hardware and systems software acquired after January 27, 2009 and before February 1, 2011.

In addition, the rule that restricts CCA deductions to one-half of the CCA write-off otherwise available in the first year will not apply to these computers.

This temporary measure will allow taxpayers to fully expense their investment in computers in one year.

The measure will provide stimulus by assisting businesses to increase or accelerate investment in computers.

It will also contribute to boosting Canada's productivity through the faster adoption of newer technology.

Businesses in all sectors of the economy, including the service sector, will benefit from this incentive.


Reminder of the Old Tax Rules: > $2,750 write off in the first year > annual diminishing-balance deductions afterward
New tax rules: > $10,000 tax write off immediately


Tax incentive for this budget is great and business must take advantage before it expires Ferbuary 1, 2011

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Tax Preparation



Tax preparation or tax filing time is here again

Tax preparation or tax filing made simple, by WHY Wealth Management is here, just following instructions below

Thank you for choosing WHY Wealth Management Inc. for your tax preparation needs.

We have made some changes in our operations to increase efficiency during this high volume period.

Below are outlines of two methods we have utilized in the collection of your tax information.

Please pick which ever method is most convenient for you. Thank you

Method 1 -- (preferred)

1. Please scan and save your tax documents in PDF or jpg format.

2. Email your scanned tax documents along with a completed Tax Info Form to whywealth@gmail.com.

3. WHY Wealth Management will email your tax return to you along with an invoice for the tax preparation fees.

Scanning in black & white mode significantly reduces the file size and makes it easier to email the file as an attachment.

Method 2 - (fax/pick-up)


1. Fax all your tax documents along with a completed Tax Info Form to (403) 398-4736. Please remember to add a cover page.

2. If you do not have access to a fax, please photocopy all your tax documents. Arrange for a time to meet with either Jonathan or Thien to drop off the photocopies of your tax documents along with a complete Tax Info Form.

3. Your tax return will be emailed to you along with an invoice for the tax preparation fees.

4. In the event that you do not have email, we will contact you to arrange for the pick up of your tax return or we will mail your tax return to you via Canada Post.

Note:

Medical Receipts - Please DO NOT send us your medical receipts. Just total up all your medical receipts and provide us with the total amount. You only have to provide medical receipts to back up your medical claims when CRA asks for them.

Business expenses - Please DO NOT send us your business expense receipts. Just provide us with a summary detailing your income and expenses.

_____________________________________________

WHY Wealth Management Inc.
#445, 1711 ‐ 4th Street S.W. Calgary, AB T2S 1V8

E-mail: whywealth@gmail.com

Thien Nguyen (403) 714‐0078 ♦ Jonathan Khor (403) 397‐3833 ♦
______________________________________________

Tax Info Form (request for this for by email)

SIN # : ____________________________

Title: Mr. Mrs. Ms. Miss.
First Name:_____________________________
Middle Name: ___________________________
Last Name:_____________________________
Address:_________________________________
City: _______________________ Province: _____
Postal Code:_________________

Marital Status: Married* Living Common‐Law* Widowed* Divorced* Separated* Single*

Home Ph:___________
Cell Ph:____________

Date of Birth:_______/____/__________ MM/DD/YYYY

Enter your province or territory of residence on December 31, 2008 __________
Provide information to Elections Canada? YES / NO

Are you applying for GST/HST credit? YES / NO

Did you own or hold foreign property at any time in 2008
with a total cost of more than $100,000 CAN? YES / NO


Notes / Special Instructions:
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________



Spouse SIN # :
Spouse First Name:___________________________
Spouse Middle Name:___________________________
Last Name:___________________________
Address:_____________________________

City:___________ Province:___ Postal:___________

Date of Birth:_________ / ___ / ____________ M M D D Y Y Y Y



Dependant # 1 or Dependant # 2


Relationship:___________________________
___________________________

SIN # : ______________________________

Title: Mr. Mrs. Ms. Miss.

First Name:_____________________________
Middle Name: ___________________________
Last Name: _____________________________

Address:_______________________________
______________________________________
_______________________________________

City: _______________________ Province: _____ Postal Code:__________

Notes / Special Instructions:
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________


Check list

Check all that have been provided for filing.



  • Tax Year 2008 Notice of Assessment
  • Tax Year 2008 Tax Return
  • T5003
  • T4 _____________# of Docs
  • T4A ____________# of Docs
  • RRSP ___________# of Docs
  • Church or Charity Donation _________# of Docs
  • Medical _________# of Docs
  • Child Care _______# of Docs
  • Student Loan Interest _______# of Docs
  • T2202 / TL11 (tuition) _______# of Docs
  • T ‐ SLIPS ________________# of Docs
  • T4RSP _________________# of Docs
  • T5 _____________________# of Docs
  • Transit Pass Receipts ________# of Docs
  • Other:_______________________
  • Other:_______________________
RECEIPTS
Rental
Other: _______________________
Other:_______________________
Other:_______________________



FEES FOR PERSONAL TAX RETURNS

Basic Tax Preparation $80.00

• Preparation of 1 individual tax return
• Includes reporting of :
• T4 Slips
• RRSP Receipts
• Tuition Receipts
• Child Care Receipts
• Medical Receipts

Self‐Employed Tax Preparation $80.00+Bookkeeping fees *

• Preparation of 1 individual tax return
• Includes reporting of :
• T4A Slips
• RRSP Receipts
• Tuition Receipts
• Child Care Receipts
• Medical Receipts
• Statement of Business Activities

Summary of Rental Income $80.00/schedule/property *

Summary of Capital Gains and Losses $20.00/schedule

Bookkeeping Fees $40.00/Hour, Min. 1 Hour Charge

All fees are payable to: WHY Wealth Management Inc.

GST will be applied to all fees

* All receipts, income and expense transactions must be totaled. If we have to total all the receipts, then bookkeeping fees apply @ $40/hour, minimum 1 hour charge.

Original Tax Info Forms will be email to you upon request, at
whywealth@gmail.com
Thank You


Tax preparation or tax filing must be before the end of April 30, 2009



Monday, August 4, 2008

Home Buyers Plan




Home Buyers Plan, how to participate

Home buyers plan is for you, as a first-time home buyer or builder

You intend to occupy the qualifying home as your principal place of residence.

You can withdraw a single amount or make a series of withdrawals throughout the same year and January of the following year, as long as the total of your withdrawals is not more than $20,000.

If you buy the home with your spouse or common-law partner, each can withdraw up to $20,000 from his or her "RRSP" Registered Retirement Savings Plan making a total of $40,000
A qualifying home is a housing unit located in Canada.

This includes existing homes and those under constructed

Single-family homes, semi-detached homes, townhouses, mobile homes, condominium units, and apartments in duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, or apartment buildings all qualify.

A share in a co-operative housing corporation that entitles you to possess, and gives you an equity interest in a housing unit located in Canada, also qualifies.

When do you have to repay?

Your first repayment is due the second year following the year in which you made your withdrawals.

You have up to 15 years to repay the amount that you withdrew from your "RRSP" Registered Retirement Savings Plan

You have to repay a minimum of 1/15 of the total amount each year until the full amount is repaid to your RRSP

Every year, you will receive a Home Buyers' Plan (HBP) Statement of Account with your Notice of Assessment or Reassessment.

This statement will show the total amount of withdrawals, the amount you have repaid and to date and the balance

Home Buyers Plan is a great help for first time home buyer

Sunday, August 3, 2008

Tax Free Savings Account




Tax Free Savings Account '' TFSA" will become available in January 01, 2009

Tax Free Savings Account . . . ? for a lifetime of savings . . . free from taxes . . .

TFSA contributions are made from after tax dollars, withdrawals are tax free at anytime for any purpose

The amount withdrawn can be put back in, at a later date without reducing your contribution room.

Contributions to a spouse’s TFSA will be allowed and TFSA assets can be transferred to a spouse upon death

Canadians aged 18 and older can save up to $5,000 every year

Interest, investment income including capital gains, are tax-free, even when withdrawn.

The difference between RRSP and TFSA as highlight below:

Contributions to an RRSP are deductible and reduce your income for tax purposes, whereas,
your TFSA savings will not be deductible.

Withdrawals from an RRSP are added to your income and taxed at current tax rates, whereas, your TFSA withdrawals and growth within your account will not be tax

Tax Free Savings Account are tax-free savings, so take advantage of it asap

RRSP: Registered Retirement Savings Plan




RRSP: Registered Retirement Savings Plan is a Canadian Governments Program for retirement saving

RRSP: Registered Retirement Savings Plan is deduction for your tax planning

This Retirement Savings Plan or RSP is an account that provides tax benefits for saving for retirement in Canada.

RSP in the Income Tax Act allows a person to shelter financial property from income taxes.

RSPs help you reduce taxes: Contributions to RSP, up to limits described below, may be deducted from income before calculating income tax

A deduction limit is calculated as 18% of a person's earned income from the previous tax year, minus any "pension adjustment", up to a specified maximum.

This specified maximum is as shown in the table below:

* 2008 $20,000
* 2009 $21,000
* 2010 $22,000

After 2010 the RSP contribution limit will be indexed to the annual increase in the average wage.

A person with a marginal tax bracket of 40%, means that in an investment of $1000 in RSP, they would receive $400 back from your withholding taxes

Any RSP deductions not taken in a tax year are carried forward indefinitely to future tax years.

Every year, tax payer receives a Notice of (Re)Assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency, indicating their new RSP deduction limit.

Income earned in RSP (interest, corporate dividends, trust distributions, capital gains) is not taxed until money is withdrawn from the registered plan

Money may be withdrawn from an RSP in tax years when one is unemployed or when one is ready to retirement at age 69, it must be either cashed out or matured into a RRIF: Registered Retirement Income Fund

RSP accounts popularly promoted are: savings accounts, GIC: guaranteed investment certificates, stocks, bonds, and mutual funds

Gaining popularity is the Canadian Home Buyers Plan where Canadians can borrow, up to $20,000, tax-free from their RRSP "and another $20,000 from a spousal RSP" making a total of $40,000 towards buying their first residence.

This loan has to be repaid within 15 years after two years of grace.

RRSP or Registered Retirement Savings Plan is a good tax deduction program