Paisley Tax Service
45632 Wellington Ave V2P 2E6 Chilliwack, BC, Canada

Another perspective on the "Fair Elections Act"

DID YOU KNOW Some low- or zero-income earners still think there's no need to file a return. This misunderstanding can cost thousands of dollars in lost benefits and credits like the GST/HST credit and the Canada Child Tax Benefit. More and more benefits are being distributed through the tax system these days. So if no return is filed no benefits get sent. For some benefits, like the Guaranteed Income Supplement and the Working Income Tax Benefit, recipients need to apply e...very year. Provinces also offer sales tax credits and property tax credits for low income earners. But again no tax return, no credit. Teenagers who earn a few thousand dollars should also consider filing. That creates RRSP room that can be carried forward indefinitely to use at a time when they will owe tax. They can accumulate contribution room but cannot open an RRSP until they turn 18 years of age.

DID YOU KNOW You can claim unreimbursed eligible medical expenses paid in any 12-month period ending in 2013 and not claimed for 2012. Generally, you can claim all amounts paid, even if they were not paid in Canada. Your total expenses have to be more than 3% of your net income (line 236) or $2,152, whichever is less. Claims can include: payments to a medical doctor, dentist, nurse, or certain other medical professionals, or to a public or licensed private hospital; pa...yments for prescription medicines and drugs; dental services (including x-rays, fillings, extractions, oral surgery, dentures, and tooth straightening); prescription eyeglasses, prescription contact lenses, laser eye surgery, including cataract replacement lenses; ambulance charges to or from hospital; premiums paid to private or non-government health services plans (other than those paid by an employer); Travel medical insurance; artificial limbs, aids, and other devices and equipment (including artificial eyes and limbs, iron lung, a rocking bed for poliomyelitis victims, wheelchairs, crutches, spinal braces, a brace for a limb, ileostomy or colostomy pads, a truss for a hernia, laryngeal speaking aids, hearing aids, pacemakers, an artificial kidney machine, and certain prescription medical devices; repairs to and replacement batteries for the above; laboratory tests; hospital services (including anaesthesia, oxygen masks/tents, vaccines, and x-rays); amounts paid for attendant care, or care in an establishment, provided no one claimed the disability amount for the person receiving the care; devices designed to assist in daily living (for example, to enter or leave a bathtub or shower); special telephone devices to help people who are hearing-impaired; expenses relating to guide and hearing-ear dogs; cost of diabetic testing supplies; incremental cost of gluten-free food (compared to the cost of non-gluten-free food) if required due to celiac disease; reasonable travel expenses (such as meals and accommodation), if medical treatment was not available locally. ( has to be at least an 80Km round trip.) If a medical practitioner certifies in writing that you were incapable of travelling alone to obtain medical services, you can also claim the transportation and travel expenses of an attendant who accompanied you. Any questions? Give me a call or post here... See more

How long will it take to get a refund? Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) says it takes about 2 weeks to process returns filed using EFile. For paper tax returns, CRA says it takes about 4 weeks to process returns filed before April 15, and about 6 weeks for returns filed after April 15. In my experience I have found that it is more like seven to ten days when Direct Deposit is used.