There are two reasons for a collective sigh that takes place across Canada this time of year. The first is a sigh of relief that spring is finally close at hand. Canadians nationwide seem to share a collective hope that cannot be supressed; that is that March will signal a change in the weather and that better days are soon to come. The other reason we sigh in March is not quite so hopeful for some, it’s because we know tax season is upon us and for many, tax season fills us with dread. This isn’t so much because we fear the Canada Revenue Agency but because we just aren’t organized, prepared and ready to deal with our taxes. Breathe friends, because today we have some tips, tools and resources to share that just might make your life a little easier.
You Still Have Time
The good news is you still have plenty of time before your taxes are due. That means time to get organized and also time to put a system in place for future years that will ensure you never have to dread tax season again!
RRSP Time
The deadline for a contribution to an RRSP was March 1st but some financial analysts suggest you need not be too worried about missing deadlines this year. Pandemic times have been hard on everyone but perhaps now more than ever, implementing a structured savings plan will help better prepare you for next year’s RRSP deadline. According to Kelley Keehn, a personal finance educator and author of Talk Money to Me, “it’s not now or never because contribution room carries over.” As well, “Keehn says regardless of the deadline it’s a good time to get into the habit of saving, even if a $25 monthly contribution to an RRSP or TFSA is all you can afford.” You can read the full blog at https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/why-missing-todays-rrsp-deadline-isnt-the-end-of-the-world-193730686.html
RRIF Time
If you are at the other end of the financial spectrum and planning for retirement, there are some things you should know about transferring your RRSP savings into an RRIF. Even if you are not yet age 65, or thinking about retiring in the next year, there are tips and tools you can start putting in place now to maximize the benefits and minimize the tax consequences of your future withdrawals. You can read more about RRIF’s from this source https://www.nbc.ca/personal/advice/savings-investment/what-you-need-to-know-before-converting-an-rrsp-to-a-rrif.html
Filing Time
Unfortunately, while Covid-19 has resulted in a number of changes for us all, it hasn’t resulted in any change to the tax filing and payment deadlines. While there are specific rules in place for different circumstances, most of us will have to file our taxes by April 30, 2021. You can view all the tax filing deadlines specific to your circumstances here https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/campaigns/covid-19-update/covid-19-filing-payment-dates.html
At thE Concierge, we’re committed to the concept of organization. It’s why we exist! We help families and small business owners alike to manage their time and available resources with maximum efficiency. If you need more time to get your taxes, financials and other paperwork in order, contact us to ask how we can help take on some of your other tasks so you can focus on your finances. Don’t have time for that out of town Costco run? Delegate to us. Planning for an anniversary, birthday or an Easter egg hunt for the kids? Let us take care of the planning, the shopping, gift wrapping and negotiating with the Easter bunny to determine what type of eggs to deliver. (Yes, the Easter Bunny is still deemed to be an essential service!) We offer both personal shopping and corporate concierge services that allow you to make the most of YOUR time by using OURS for the tasks you can easily delegate!
Breathe a sigh of relief by booking time with thE Concierge. Send us to the garden centre to stock up on supplies for spring. When the weather is finally warm enough, you’ll be ready to hit the garden because you’ll have had time to tackle your taxes. The sun is shining as we write this today, spring IS coming – we promise. We also promise to share more in our next blog, for those of you who don’t want to “sigh” next tax season about how to use our services to get your personal or professional paperwork in order for next year!