Tax Tips for Filing Your 2024 Income Tax Return

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The deadline for filing your 2024 income tax return is April 30, 2025. Stay informed about the latest tax changes and benefits available to maximize your savings and ensure compliance. This guide outlines the key updates and important deductions and credits separated into sections for Individuals and Families, and Self-Employed Individuals.

For Individuals and Families

Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT)

  • Increased minimum tax rate and basic exemption threshold.

  • Modified calculation for adjusted taxable income affecting foreign tax credits and minimum tax carryovers.

  • Limited value on most non-refundable tax credits.

Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Enhancement

• The standard CPP contribution rate remains at 5.95% for both employees and employers on earnings up to $68,500 (the Year’s Maximum Pensionable Earnings or YMPE) in 2024.

• Additionally, employees and employers each contribute an extra 4% on earnings between the YMPE ($68,500) and the Year’s Additional Maximum Pensionable Earnings (YAMPE) of $73,200 in 2024.

Home Buyers’ Plan (HBP)

  • Withdrawal limit increased from $35,000 to $60,000 after April 16, 2024, with temporary repayment relief available.

Volunteer Firefighters and Search and Rescue Volunteers

  • Amounts increased from $3,000 to $6,000 for eligible individuals completing at least 200 hours of combined volunteer service.

Basic Personal Amount (BPA)

• For 2024, the Basic Personal Amount (BPA) has increased to $15,705 for taxpayers with net income up to $173,205.

• For taxpayers with net incomes above this amount, the BPA is gradually reduced, reaching a minimum of $14,138 at incomes of $235,675 or higher.

Short-term Rentals

  • Expenses related to non-compliant short-term rentals are no longer deductible after January 1, 2024.

Popular Tax Credits and Deductions

Canada Training Credit (CTC) Eligible taxpayers aged 26 to 65 can claim this refundable tax credit to cover a portion of eligible tuition and fees for training or courses to enhance their skills.

Canada Caregiver Credit (CCC) This non-refundable tax credit supports individuals caring for family members or dependents with a physical or mental impairment. The amount varies based on the dependent’s relationship, net income, and circumstances.

Child Care Expenses Child care expenses, such as daycare, nursery schools, day camps, and boarding schools, are deductible if incurred to enable a parent or guardian to work, pursue education, or conduct research.

Disability Tax Credit (DTC) The DTC provides a non-refundable tax credit for individuals with disabilities or their caregivers to reduce the amount of income tax payable. Applicants must have a certified disability lasting at least 12 months.

Moving Expenses Deductible moving expenses include transportation and storage costs, travel expenses, temporary living costs, and incidental expenses incurred when relocating at least 40 kilometers closer to a new work location, educational institution, or business location.

Interest Paid on Student Loans Interest paid on eligible student loans can be claimed as a non-refundable tax credit. The loans must be under federal, provincial, or territorial student loan programs.

Donations and Gifts Donations made to registered charities or other qualified organizations qualify for non-refundable federal and provincial tax credits. Typically, you can claim eligible amounts up to 75% of your net income.

GST/HST Credit The GST/HST credit is a quarterly refundable payment designed to offset the impact of sales tax on low to moderate-income individuals and families. Eligibility is automatically assessed based on your annual tax return.

For Self-Employed Individuals

CPP Contributions

  • Enhanced CPP contribution rate for self-employed individuals.

Filing and Payment Deadlines

  • Tax Return Deadline: June 16, 2025 (June 15 is Sunday).

  • Balance due must be paid by April 30, 2025.

Reporting Business Income

  • Report income on a calendar-year basis for sole proprietorships and partnerships.

Digital Platform Operators

  • New reporting rules requiring platform operators to collect and report seller information.

Mineral Exploration Tax Credit

  • Eligibility extended for flow-through share agreements signed before April 2025.

Need Assistance?

If you’re unsure about your eligibility for specific credits or deductions, reach out to your tax consultant or tax advisor for personalized guidance. They can help you optimize your tax return, maximize your savings, and ensure compliance with CRA regulations.

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Defined Contribution vs. Benefit Pension Plan for Employees

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The Key Differences Between a Defined Benefit and Defined Contribution Pension Plan

As an employer, you may be thinking about offering your employees a pension plan. If so, you have two main options: a defined benefit pension plan and a defined contribution pension plan. A defined benefit pension plan offers your employees a set amount of money when they retire, whereas a defined contribution pension plan does not.

There are four key areas you should be aware of for pension plans:

  • Contributions

  • Investment Management

  • Costs

  • Employee Retention

We will walk you through each of these to help give you a better understanding of the differences between the two types of pension plans.

Contributions

In a defined benefit pension plan, both you, the employer, and the employee will contribute to the pension plan. The amount that you will have to contribute each year will depend on what kind of expenses the pension plan has, and the amount of funding it will require that year.

In a defined contribution pension plan, employees contribute a set amount each year into their pension. As an employer, you can choose to match or “top up” their contributions to a set amount that you define in advance.

For both types of plans, contributions are tax-deductible for the employee.

Investment Management

As an employer, you or your pension plan administrator will be responsible for managing the funds in a defined benefit pension plan. This applies whether the employee is actively contributing to the fund or has retired and is receiving funds from it.

With a defined contribution pension plan, you can let your employees choose how they want to invest their funds. This provides your employees with more flexibility and choice and takes the responsibility off you as the employer to manage pension funds. You will still need to arrange to have a selection of funds for your employees to select from.

Costs

In a defined benefit pension plan, an actuary will work with you (approximately every three years) to calculate how much money you will need to cover the pension expenses. The actuary must consider everything from cost of living adjustments to how many employees will be retiring.

In a defined contribution plan, the costs will be lower as less active management is required. Employees will receive whatever amount their investments are worth when they retire.

Employee Retention

Both types of pension plans will help attract and retain employees. Since a defined benefit plan builds in value each year, it is more likely to attract employees interested in staying with your company for a long time. A defined contribution plan will still attract employees – but the pension will be less appealing than a defined benefit plan would be.

The Takeaway

A defined benefit plan will cost you more to set up, maintain, and administer, but offers your employees more stability in their retirement. A defined contribution plan will give you and your employees more flexibility and cost you less to run.

Either type of plan will help you attract and retain employees.