Seniors

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As we age, our forms of income change, which can affect our returns. Here, some pointers to help you master your taxes.

1. Get Organized

When it is tax time, more you organized easier your tax processing will be. Keep all your  receipts for medical items such as prescriptions and dental work. Best way to use only one pharmacy to get your prescription filled so that you can get an year-end statement for all your medical items. Don’t throw away any of your charity donation receipts-they can be claimed within a five-year period.

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2.  Income and Tax burden

Income typcially come from three main sources:

  • Canada Pension Plan ( CPP )
  • Old Age Security (OAS)
  • Employer sponsored pension plan
  • In addition you may have income from your investment and retirement savings, such as:
  • RRSP
  • TFSA
  • Real Estate
  • EPP ( Employer Pension Plan )
  • Non-registered savings

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At the age of 65 if you are still in the labor market and receiving Old Age Security (OAS) benefits, you must pay back all or a portion of their OAS benefit as well as any federal supplements if your annual income exceeds  $77,580. Youwill have to repay 15% of the excess over this amount, to a maximum of the total amount of OAS received.  The clawback threshold is indexed each year and called the “OAS recovery tax”.

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3. Divide and Conquer

 

Splitting eligible pension income can save lot of taxes.It allows the higher-earning individual to share up to half their pension income (excluding the Canada Pension Plan) with their lower-earning spouse. The goal is to level out both partners’ incomes so one isn’t taxed significantly higher than the other.  Note that RRSP withdrawals ( other than annuity payment) are not eligible pension income.

CPP retirement pension also can be splitted if you and your spouse are both over the age of 60. This could be beneficial if one spouse is in a higher tax bracket

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4. Available Deductions

Age Amount

You can claim this amount if you were 65 years of age or older on December 31, 2015, and your net income is less than $82,353. The maximum amount you may be able to claim is $7,033.  This non-refundable tax credit is targeted at reducing the taxable income of low- to middle-income seniors 65 years of age or older.

  • Full Credit entitlement : Income below $35,466
  • Partial Credit entitlement: Income is between $35,466 and $82,353
  • Nil Credit: Income over over $82,353

Pension Income Amount

This $2,000 credit may be available if you received eligible pension, superannuation or annuity payments. Canada Pension Plan (CPP) income doesn’t count as eligible income here.

 

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Medical Expenses

You may be eligible to claim a variety of medical expenses, as long as the expenses were incurred in any 12-month period ended in any date of the current tax year. The list of eligible expenses has continued to expand slowly over the past few years. Claim medical expenses on the lower-income spouse’s return to maximize your tax relief.

Disability Amount 

If you or your dependant have a severe and prolonged impairment in physical or mental functions and meet certain conditions, you or your dependant may be eligible for the disability tax credit (DTC). A complete Form T2201, Disability Tax Credit Certificate and have to be submitted by a medical practitioner.

Family Caregiver Amount

If you are caring for a dependant with impairment in physical or mental functions, you may be able to claim up to an additional $2,093 when calculating certain non-refundable tax credits.

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5. Snowbirds Beware

Tax retursn get tricky when you spend the chiller months down south as you have to be compliant in both countries. If you own a property in the United States that you live in for half the year and rent out the rest of the time, you will be required to file a US Tax. If you have residential ties to Canada (i.e., you own a home and/or keep bank accounts in this country), you’re likely still considered a Canadian resident. Failing to report your income will trigger penalties.

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