Lesia Gilbert, CPA, CA
Red Spruce St K1V 1T1 Ottawa, ON, Canada

Great news...income tax deadline has been extended to June 1st! It's still better to get them in sooner rather than later, but at least we have some breathing room! https://nationalpost.com//government-extends-tax-deadline-

Ontario has a new Child Care Tax Credit this year! It provides a refundable tax credit for families with income under $150K. The percent of the daycare you get back from the government is dependent on your family's income level...up to 75% of the eligible fees paid for child care expenses. https://www.ontario.ca/page/ontario-child-care-tax-credit

Great news...income tax deadline has been extended to June 1st! It's still better to get them in sooner rather than later, but at least we have some breathing room! https://nationalpost.com//government-extends-tax-deadline-

Did you know, if you received a cheque from the government that you never cashed, it will show up on your My Account profile? Replacements for lost cheques can be requested. https://www.canada.ca//reven/services/uncashed-cheque.html

Ontario has a new Child Care Tax Credit this year! It provides a refundable tax credit for families with income under $150K. The percent of the daycare you get back from the government is dependent on your family's income level...up to 75% of the eligible fees paid for child care expenses. https://www.ontario.ca/page/ontario-child-care-tax-credit

Honoured to be one of the 16 individuals (+ 6 groups) whose name will permanently hang at Ottawa City Hall after receiving the 2018 United Way Community Builders Award last November. #locallove

Children at Risk (local charity that helps kids with autism and their families) is having their semi-annual raffle. Almost $10k in prizes...top prize includes Westjet tickets to anywhere they fly! $20 for a booklet of 10, $5 for 2 or $3 each. Let me know if you’re interested!

Capital losses (such as from the sale of stocks and mutual funds, or real estate) can only be deducted against capital gains. However, make sure you claim the investment transactions, even if you have a loss for the year...these losses can be carried back up to three years to get back taxes you previously paid on capital gains...or they can be carried forward indefinitely! In the year a person passes away, any capital losses claimed in the year or carried forward from a prior year can be claimed against any income (and carried back to use against any income in the prior year too) https://www.canada.ca//persona/line-127-capital-gains.html

Did you know that if you get a doctor's note, you can deduct tutoring as a medical expense? Per CRA: Tutoring services that are additional to the primary education of a person with a learning disability or an impairment in mental functions, and paid to a person in the business of providing these services to individuals who are not related to the person. A medical practitioner must certify in writing that these services are needed.

You are required to inform CRA when your marital status changes...don't wait until you file your taxes. There are certain credits, such as the GST credit, Canada Child Benefit and Ontario Trillium Benefit, that are calculated based on the income of the family...if your family situation changes, so do these calculations. https://www.canada.ca//tax-filing-season-medi/tfsmk31.html

The new Climate Action Incentive is available for almost all Ontario tax payers (very few restrictions...must be resident, not in jail, etc). The amount in Ontario is $154 for the first person, $77 for their spouse, and $38 per qualified dependent (or $77 if you are a single parent). There's an extra 10% if you live outside a major metropolitan area...but this is defined by Statistics Canada, and it pretty far reaching. I have included a map of Ottawa's area...the area goes down past Kemptville to the south, almost as far as Arnprior to the west, and just past Rockland to the east. https://www.canada.ca//line-449-climate-action-incentive.h

In July 2016, the government replaced the Universal Child Care Benefit (which was taxable...slip RC62) with the Canada Child Benefit, which is not taxable. The amount of the benefit is based on your income tax return, but you must apply for it separately (just declaring a child on your tax return does not mean you are registered). https://www.canada.ca///canada-child-benefit-overview.html

If you are a home daycare provider, there are specific requirements for the receipt you provide to the parents, including putting your Social Insurance Number on the slip. https://www.canada.ca//daycare-your-/issuing-receipts.html

Do you think you or a family member may qualify for the Disability Tax Credit? There are lots of medical issues that could qualify...everything from being in a wheelchair or being deaf to having autism, diabetes (requiring intensive insulin therapy) or ADHD/anxiety. The individual typically needs a marked restriction that is prolonged in one of the following daily functions: vision, speaking, hearing, walking, eliminating, feeding, dressing, mental functions or life sustaining therapy (or a lesser restriction in a combination of areas). A marked restriction means a person is unable to do something, or it takes an inordinate amount of time to perform the task. If you think you may qualify, let me know! https://www.canada.ca//tax-cred/disability-tax-credit.html

If you child was born before Apr 1, 2001 then they should file a tax return, even if they have no income, as they will be eligible for the Goods and Services Tax Credit starting the month after they turn 19. Same goes for the Ontario Sales Tax Credit! https://www.canada.ca//goods-services-tax-harmonized-sales

It is not always the lower income spouse that must claim the daycare...there are a few exceptions, like when the lower income spouse is in school or has a disability. https://www.canada.ca//questions-answers-about-child-care-