Dear Client:

RE: 2012 PERSONAL INCOME TAX ORGANIZER

The 2012 Personal Income Tax Organizer is designed to assist you in gathering the reporting information and documents necessary for the preparation of your 2012 tax return.

Please complete the attached checklist and send all the necessary informationand documentation to us AS SOON AS POSSIBLE as we need time to prepare, process, check and deliver your tax return by the filing deadline of April 30, 2013. Please ensure that all documentation provided is complete. This will allow for quicker processing and efficiency.

Note that if you or your spouse carried on a business in the year, you have until June 17, 2013 to file your personal income tax return. However, you and your spouse's tax liabilities are due on April 30, 2013.

New personal tax measures for 2012 that can affect your tax return:

RRSP Limits

The maximum RRSP contribution for 2012 has increased to $22,970. Your RRSP deduction for 2012 is generally calculated as 18% of your 2011 earned income, less 2011 pension adjustments to a maximum of $22,970 plus unused RRSP deduction room from carried forward prior years.

Ontario Healthy Homes Renovation Tax Credit

The Healthy Homes Renovation Tax Credit is a permanent, refundable personal income tax credit for seniors and family members who live with them. If you qualify, you can claim up to $10,000 worth of eligible home improvements on your tax return. Eligible expenses are those incurred after September 30, 2011 and before January 1, 2013.

Family Caregiver Amount

For 2012 and subsequent years, you may be eligible to claim the new Family Caregiver Amount. If you qualify, the Family Caregiver Amount may increase your following non-refundable tax credits:

  • spouse or common-law amount;
  • amount for an eligible dependent;
  • amount for children born in 1995 or later; and
  • caregiver amount

by an additional $2,000 for each eligible dependent.

To qualify, the eligible dependent must be:

  • 18 years of age or older and depend on you because of an impairment in physical or mental function; or
  • A child under 18 years of age, with an impairment in physical or mental function. The impairment must be prolonged and indefinite and the child must be dependent on you for assistance in attending to personal needs and care when compared to children of the same age.

Important for EFile

It is now mandatory for all tax returns prepared by Crowe Soberman LLP to be e-filed (certain exceptions are provided by CRA).

Filing your tax return electronically is fast, safe, easy and environmentally friendly.

The benefits of using EFile Online are:

  • Individuals who have their returns e-filed can generally expect to have their returns and refunds processed within two weeks. You can get your refund even faster if you use direct deposit.
  • Crowe Soberman LLP receives an electronic acknowledgement that the return has been received.
  • If you have to pay, you can e-file your return early and not pay the amount owing until April 30th. Your payment can be made by telephone, Internet banking, ATM or by using the remittance form. In many cases, taxpayers receive their notice of assessment before the payment is due.

Many of our clients feel they do not need a complete copy of their tax return, which often consists of 20 to 30 pages. Most are satisfied with a Jacket Outline, which is a two-page summary of the tax return showing all line items. If you require more information after receiving the Jacket Outline, simply give us the line number, and we can provide the relevant schedules or the complete return by mail or email.

Clients will be provided with a Jacket Outline unless otherwise specified in this 2012 Personal Income Tax Organizer.

Crowe Soberman LLP will store your returns electronically in a secure environment that can be easily accessed when, or if, required.

If you have any questions regarding the organizer, or wish to discuss any aspect of your personal tax situation, please contact us at your earliest convenience.

Please click here to read Crowe Soberman's 2012 Personal Income Tax Organizer in full

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.