News Flash: HRTC deadline January 31, 2010
2009 Budget: It’s possible to double dip into the Home Renovation Tax Credit (HRTC) and Medical Expenses where renovations relate to a lack of normal physical development or severe and prolonged mobility impairment! For details about the HRTC with links to the original budget, and subsequent information pages from various government departments, lists of what’s eligible and what’s not...Surf to HRTC and bookmark it to review next tax season

Articles by Eileen Reppenhagen:

• Updated September 2009: Tax Credits Benefit Families
• Critical items box - Do you have everything you would need?
• Tax Credit Lottery - What is the disability tax credit?
• Caregiver Conundrum - In home arrangements can be taxing
• Cost of Accounting for Caregiver and Respite Care  (Update in progress Fall 2009)
• Disability Tax Credit - Gold Mine or Mine Field
• Heads Up - Liability for Non Profit Organizations
• Medical Expenses - Renovating, New Construction and Moving
• Open the books on non-profits - Do your homework before volunteering
• The Evidence Chain - Paper more important than ever

Income Tax Act sections relating to medical expenses:

• Income Tax Act S. 118.2 - Medical expenses only  (or CanLII version)
• Income Tax Act S. 118.4 - Nature of impairment
• Income Tax Act Regulation 5700 Medical devices and equipment referred to in S. 118.2(2) above (or CanLII version)
• Income Tax Act Regulation 8800 and 8801 Disability Related Modifications and Apparatus related to S. 20(qq)
• Income Tax Act S. 20(rr) (business expenses) (or CanLII version 88008100)

 

Article - Attesting to eligibility for mental impairment  Karen Cohen Ph.D., C. Psych

Software Related:

• Microsoft Office PowerPoint Viewer 2007 - useful if you don't already have Office 2007 / PowerPoint 2007
• Studio Tax - FREE Canadian personal income tax preparation software
• CRA Tables on Diskette (TOD) January 1, 2010 - payroll tax tables to download and install in WIndows
• ROE on the Web program - Service Canada
  • CGA’s in BC Lower Mainland contact Sheila Maguire at Sheila.maguire@servicecanada.gc.ca
  • CGA’s in other BC regions contact Bill Greenwood at bill.greenwood@servicecanada.gc.ca
• Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack - Install to allow Office 2000/2003 Word, Excel, and PowerPoint to read/write new 2007 File Formats
• OpenOffice.org -  free alternative and (mostly) compatible with Microsoft Office products 
• IBM Lotus Symphony - IBM has released Office Desktop software suite at No Charge
• Canadian Payments Association - New business cheque specification in effect since Sep 2, 2008 
• Intuit Canada - Quickbooks, QuickTax, Quicken
• Quicken / QuickBooks - (almost) Free to Canadian Registered Charities
• Issues with Quickbooks running under Windows Vista
• Intuit Canada Quickbooks Training
• Microsoft Office Templates - Download templates for accounting and administrative documents (invoices, purchase orders, cheque requests, etc.) 
• QuickBooks/Quicken Training - Across Canada - customized to your needs
• Currency Converter 
• Email security concerns? Check out www.e-courier.ca  
• SpamArrest - Protect your mailbox from 100% of spam - We use this service ourselves!

Provincial Government, Agencies, and Organizations:

• NEW - BC Laws Online - a webpage to keep track of law for the province
• NEW - PST reductions - eligibility, tax rates and alternative fuel vehicles 
•    Fuel Efficient Vehicles
•    Alternative Fuel Vehicles
•    Bulletin SST 085
•    Bulletin SS 087

• BC Budget 2008 Spring into Greener Future
• BC Budget Spring 2007 - includes a $50 increase in income assistance and property tax deferral at age 55 instead of age 60
• BC Housing - housing programs
• BC Housing (SAFER) - Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters
• BC Provincial Emergency Program  and Delta Emergency Preparedness through DESS
• BC Provincial Emergency Program - preparedness information for people with disabilities
• BC Employment Standards Branch
• BC Ministry of Finance
• BC Ministry of Health
• BC Consumer Taxation Branch - various programs for those with disabilities
• BC Consumer Taxation Branch - medical supplies and equipment
• BC Povincial Sales Tax - Fuel Tax Refund Program (also see Federal program)
• Medical Services Plan of BC
• BC Pharmacare
• Trustee Act BC
• Public Guardian and Trustee of BC
• BC Home Owner Grant for persons with a disability or their family and seniors or widow(ers)
• BC Property Taxation Branch  - Deferral of property tax  (in BC, you can defer at 55 anyway)
• Small Business BC – Education Centre Seminars
• ICBC Insurance Corporation of BC - motor vehicle licensing and insurance -
• WorkSafeBC - The Workers's Compensation Board of B.C.
• BC Centre for Elder Advocacy and Support - Elder Law Clinic - Advocacy for 55+ (located on 4th floor, 411 Dunsmuir) Seniors help line 604-437-1940 or for more information call 604-688-1927
• Where will you live?
• http://www.hls.gov.bc.ca/seniors/
  http://www.hls.gov.bc.ca/seniors/guide/housing/index.htm
  http://www.hls.gov.bc.ca/seniors/guide/health/care_services.htm#assisted_living
  http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/assisted/about/types.html - cost about 70% of net income
  http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/hcc/
  http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/hcc/fees.html
   (fee schedule for residential care funded by the province)

 

 Federal Goverment, Agencies and Organizations:

• Canada Benefits - connecting you to government benefits
• Canada-U.S. Tax Treaty Amended - September 21, 2007
• Government of Canada - or call toll free 1-800-O-Canada ( 1-800-6...) Ask for a booklet titled “Bridging the Gap” published 2002 Cat No. MP43-376/2002E - ISBN: 0-662-32203-7
• Federal Budget 2007 - March 19th 2007
• Bank of Canada - currency exchange rates
• Canada Pension Plan (CPP)
•  Canada Pension Plan -  Child Rearing Provision
• Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)
• Canada Business - Services for Entrepreneurs
• Canadian Consumer Information Gateway 
• Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association - Consumer Assistance publications
• Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)
• CMHC Programs & Financial direct link to programs like Home Adaption for Seniors Independence (bathtub and toilet railings) and more...
• CMHC Rental Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program (Rental RRAP) - up to $24,000 funding
• Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) - indvidual and business taxation
  • Goods and Services Tax
  • Tables on Diskette (TOD) July 1, 2008 - payroll tax tables to download and install in WIndows
  • Payroll Deductions Online Calculator (PDOC)
  •  CRA Forms ReOrder -  Excel 2007 format
• CIPO - Canadian Intellectual Property Office
• Copyright Board of Canada
• HRSDC Amendments to CPP and OAS - November 2006 Bill C-36 - First Reading 
• Statistics Canada
• Seniors Canada On-Line
• Tax Court of Canada - Access to Judgements
• Canadian Legal Information Institute (CanLII) 
• Income Tax Act (1985, c.1 (5th Supp) - current to Feb 9, 2007 from Justice Canada
• Income Tax Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. 1 (5th Supp). - from CanLII  

Persons with Disabilities: 

• Autism Society of British Columbia 
  
• BC Parks - Campsite and Parking Fees for persons with disabilities
• BC Council for Exceptional Children (BC CEC)
• BC Ministry Children & Families - Autism Funding
• BC Personal Supports Information Line:  1-... Email here  Information about equipment and assistive devices.
• BC Ministry Heath - Home and Community Care - Updated:  Policy 8.H, Payment to Family Members
• BC Social Service Tax - Equipment and Devices used by persons with a disability
•  BC Motor Fuel Tax Refund for persons with disabilities
• Application for Refund of Federal Excise Tax on Gasoline Form XE8
• BC Cerebral Palsy Association
• BC Coalition of People with Disability
• BACI Burnaby Association for Community Inclusion and their wonderful tips website Untape
• Canada Benefits - I am a person with a disability in British Columbia 
• Statistics Canada - Disability Survey - 2006 survey results
•  Canadian Psychological Association - Disability Tax Credit eligibility
• Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)
  • Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) - commencing in 2008
  • Application T2201 Disability tax credit certificate (formerly RC4064)
  • GST518 GST/HST Specially Equipped Motor Vehicle Rebate
  • T2202 Education Amount Certificate
  • T929 Attendant care expenses 
  • IT 519R2 Medical Expense and Disability Tax Credits and Attendant Care Expense Deduction
  • NEW REVISED GUIDE RC4064 Medical and Disability - Related Information published December 1, 2006 
  •  Disability Tax Credit Application Form T2201  (not included in the .pdf above  but is included in the paper copy)
  • Celiac Disease – Incremental cost of food
  • Children's Fitness Credit - note special extra credit and age extension for children with a disability 
• Citizenship and Immigration Canada: The Live-In Caregiver Program
• People with Disabilities - services
• Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) - programs and financial assistance 
• HRSDC - Registered Disability Savings Plan    
• Registered Disability Savings Plan Grants and Bonds
• Disability Savings Plan (proposed) - answers to "What happens if I die first?"  
• Modelled on the RESP with matching grants and bonds
• HRSDC Opportunitites Fund for persons with disabilities
• MS Answers - MS Society of Canada
  •  Tax Credits for moving washer & dryer
• Service Canada - People with Disabilities - government guide
• Tax Credits Benefit Families of Persons with Disabilities or Infirmities 
• Technical Advisory Committee on Tax Measures for Persons with Disabilities
• Income Tax Act S. 118.2 - Medical expenses only  (or CanLII version)
• Income Tax Act S. 118.4 - Nature of impairment
• Income Tax Act Regulation 5700 Medical devices and equipment referred to in S. 118.2(2) above (or CanLII version)
• Income Tax Act Regulation 8800 and 8801 Disability Related Modifications and Apparatus related to S. 20(qq) and S. 20(rr) (business expenses) (or CanLII version 88008100)
• ICBC
  - Disability Discount
   
• Vancouver Adult ADD Support Group
• CHADD Vancouver (Children and adults with ADD)
• Delta Parks & Rec - Volunteer program
• Developmental Disabilities Association  
• Disability Resource Centre - Richmond, BC 
• Family Support Institute - Links page here
• Fighting for Fairness - lobbying for fairness in our tax system
• Vancouver Coastal Health - Dementia information 
• VELA Microboard Association - subsidized housing 
• Voice of the Cerebral Palsied of Greater Vancouver
• Alberta Government - Programs & Services for Persons with Disabilities 
• Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing - Audiology Department “Lend An Ear” Loaner Hearing Aid Program
• Information Services Vancouver (ISV)  - Information and referral provider offering free, confidential assistance
• Mom's on the Move has a website... a must follow powerhouse group of mom's determined to make a difference for their kids
• VoicePrint 

   - Canada's Broadcast Reading Service - audio newsstand broadcasting top news stories 

 

 Other Community Support

• Jan Palmer - Special Education Teacher, BCBA - great resource list for autism
• B.C. Coaltion to Eliminate Abuse of Seniors - Ph:  604-437-1940 / 1-866-437-1940 
• Bethesda Christian Association
• Caledon Institute of Social Policy - Social policy think tank
• DetectaPension - Are you getting all your pension benefits? 
• Disability is Natural – People First Language
• Hiring a Contractor - Get it in writing. 
• Mennonite Central Committee
• Personal Alternative - Reasonably priced funeral arrangements retirement planning advice
• Richard Shillington.ca - retirement planning   
• www.chauffeurette.com/ - independence and a break from caregiving
• www.peakadvancedinteriors.com - Kitchens that go up and down!! Check this out. Nancy Paris is a professional engineer working on solutions for persons with a mobility impairment. This is cool!
• www.bcits.org  BC Association for Individual Technology and Supports for People with Disabilities /Technology for Independent Living (TIL) provide Communication Aiids and Environmental Control Systems and through The Provincial Respiratory Outreach program, assisted ventilation
• Bloorview Kids Rehab - See transition checklist and timeline for youth in transition

Planning for incapacity - your commitee

See also www.user.dccnet.com/eileenr for more useful links. I may never get around to moving those links over... it's where I started from...	Email security concerns? Check out www.e-courier.ca

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