It’s tax-time again – and if you’re stressing over the last-minute preparation of this year’s return, you’ve got plenty of company.  Most Canadians wait until the last minute to file. But bumping up against the tax deadline year after year isn’t just stressful, it’s costly.  When you toss a bunch of numbers on the forms just to get them in the mail by the deadline it’s bound to cost you your money – in errors, omissions, and poor tax strategies.  But by starting now to plan for the next tax year, it’s likely you’ll see a worthwhile reduction in your taxes – and your tax preparation process should be easier, too.

Here are some tax planning tips guaranteed to reduce your stress level and possibly lower your income taxes when prep time rolls around next year:

·         Get it all on the record: Make your task manageable by setting up a simple record-keeping system that tracks all your finances for tax purposes.  Include all your receipts for expenses that qualify for tax deductions – such as eligible moving expenses, accounting fees and investment management fees – that will reduce your taxable income and tax bite.  Start now and be diligent about keeping your records up-to-date.  This is especially important if you are self-employed or earn commission income.

·         Register all your savings: Your Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) could become the essential foundation of your financial future.  Make it even stronger – and take full advantage of its unique tax-reducing, savings-building opportunities – by maximizing your RRSP contribution every year.  And plan to do it early in the year to reap the full benefits of the “magic of compounding”.  Avoid having to come up with a lump sum contribution by starting a Pre-Authorized Contribution (PAC) program that each month makes an automatic contribution to your RRSP from a bank account.

·         Spouse-up to tax-down: If you expect to generate more income than your spouse in retirement, consider a spousal RRSP.  You contribute for your spouse, but get the tax break on your tax return.  And by helping to balance your retirement income with that of your spouse, you’ll likely lower your combined tax bill in retirement, too. A spousal RRSP isn’t necessarily the best solution for everybody though – for example, there might be concerns about who “controls” the proceeds of the RRSP or that a spouse’s creditors could seize the funds – so it’s always a good idea to speak with your financial advisor before jumping into one.

·         Be a tax-savvy investor: You can actually reduce your taxes through a well-planned investment portfolio.  One good way is to keep “heavily”-taxed investments (those that earn interest income that would otherwise be fully taxed at your marginal rate) inside your tax-deferred RRSP or RRIF  (Registered Retirement Fund), and those that benefit from a “lighter” tax treatment (those that derive investment income from preferentially-taxed capital gains or Canadian dividends) outside your registered plans.

·         RESPs earn high marks for lower taxes: Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) contributions deliver valuable tax-deferral and income-splitting benefits.  And in most cases, the government will add a Canadian Education Savings Grant* to your child’s education investment.

·         Move now to save later: If you’re relocating to a province with a lower tax rate, do it before December 31 and you’ll pay taxes for the entire year based on the lower rates in your new province.

·         69 this year? If you’re turning age 69 in 2005, you’ll be required by law to wrap up your RRSP by December 31.  Explore your retirement options right away to avoid a big tax hit.

·         Pay on time: Make all required personal income payments on time to avoid penalties and interest.

·         Aim for a zero refund: That tax refund isn’t a gift to you, it’s your money that the government has had for its use interest free.  Keep your hard-earned dollars working for you through the year by requesting a reduction in taxes withheld at source based on you making RRSP contributions, child care expense payments, or support payments.

It’s a fact: tax planning pays – in reduced taxes, better wealth accumulation and a huge decrease in deadline stress.  You financial advisor can help develop a complete tax planning strategy that fits your current and long term financial needs and goals.

*CESG provided by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada