The Department of Finance introduced a number of changes to the tax laws in 2019, here are some things you may need to know about the 2019 budget:
- Enhanced Canada Pension Plan: The Canadian Pension Plan (CPP) is gradually being enhanced as of 2019. This means that the CPP retirement pension, post-retirement benefit, disability pension and survivor’s pension will increase. The enhancement to the CPP retirement pension means it will grow from one quarter to replacing one third of your average work earnings after 2019. In simple terms this means that your pension increases depending on how much and how long you contribute to the enhanced CPP. Starting in 2019, this enhancement also increases the CPP disability pension and the CPP survivor’s pension.
- Canada Training Credit Limit: The Canada training credit was created under the Canada Training Benefit in response to barriers to professional development for working Canadians. This new refundable tax credit provides eligible individuals with financial help, covering up to half of eligible tuition and fees associated with training. Eligible individuals will also accumulate $250 a year in a notional account. Individuals can accumulate up to a maximum amount of $5,000 over a lifetime and any unused amount will expire at the end of the year in which an individual turns 65.
- Home Buyers’ Plan: The revised home buyers’ plan is designed with first time buyers in mind. This new 2019 law allows first-time home buyers to withdraw up to $35,000, (up from the previous $25,000) from a registered retirement savings plan (RRSP) that can be used to purchase or build a home and not have to pay tax on the withdrawal. This means that a couple could withdraw up to $70,000 from their RRSP’s for their first home. The amounts withdrawn under this plan are required to be paid back to an RRSP within 15 years starting in the second year after the withdrawal was made.
An individual is not considered a first-time home buyer if:
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- the individual, or the individual’s spouse or common-law partner, owned and occupied another home and that home was the individual’s principal place of residence in the previous five-year period.
- the individual, or the individual’s spouse or common-law partner, owned and occupied another home and that home was the individual’s principal place of residence in the previous five-year period.
- Business investment in zero-emission vehicles: The 2019 Budget has temporarily enhanced the capital cost allowance rate (CCA) from 30% to 100% for the first year in regard to eligible zero-emission vehicles. In order to be eligible for the first-year enhanced allowance the vehicle needs to be:
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- be a motor vehicle as defined in the Income Tax Act (i.e., an automotive vehicle for use on streets and highways, but not including a trolley bus or vehicle operated exclusively on rail).
- otherwise be included in Class 10, 10.1 or 16.
- be fully electric, a plug-in hybrid with a battery capacity of at least 15 kWh or fully powered by hydrogen: and
- not have been used, or acquired for use, for any purpose before it is acquired by the taxpayer.
- Journalism—Personal Income Tax Credit for Digital Subscriptions: People who enjoy digital subscriptions will be able to claim up to $500 towards digital subscriptions that qualify in a taxation period and receive a maximum credit of $75 annually. This credit is available temporarily for eligible amounts paid after 2019 until 2025. This is a great credit opportunity for people who enjoy many digital subscriptions that keep them informed and up to date on the latest news and information. Only subscriptions to Qualified Canadian Journalism Organizations are considered eligible for this credit.
by Anjuli Gustafson, May, 2020