Leverage the budget - like a boss
THE 2015 BUDGET IS HERE... dun dun dunnnnn
So, like, what does that even mean and why should you care? The budget affects you in SO MANY WAYS but often people don't even know about it!
The 2015 Federal Budget outlines your tax rates, tax breaks, changes to your savings and how much money is going back into your wallet each year. It's a BFD.
Rob Carrick nailed it in his recent article by noting that this budget definitely favours seniors and that GenY/Millenials didn't get much attention.
But, here are some things in the budget that will affect GenY/Millenials/GenX
1) TFSA or Tax Free Savings Account Increased Contribution Limit
The TFSA is the bomb. It's an amazing savings account for everyone and for both long and short-term savings. The money that grows inside the TFSA is NOT taxed when you pull it out. I repeat - NOT TAXED. This is key. When you pull your money out of an RRSP account you must include it in that year’s income and be taxed on it (iccccky).
NEW BUDGET THANG: The TFSA contribution limit has been raised from $5,500 to $10,000 effective immediately. Hella yes. More room for tax-free savings? YES PLEASE!
2) Benefits for Post-Secondary Students
The budget assists university students starting in 2016. Usually, to be eligible for Canada Student Loan Programs, it's dependent on what your parents are forking over/their incomes. i.e. if your parents made a certain level, you wouldn't qualify. In addition, for every dollar YOU earned in school over $100 a week, that amount was deducted from your loans.
NEW BUDGET THANG: If the parental units are forking over for your education whether the total amount or in part, your parents aren’t expected to pony up as much as before to make you eligible for the Canada Student Loans Program. Also, you can now earn money while a student without the amount you earn effectively becoming a drag factor on your student loan. WOOT!
3) Help for Parents with the UCCB and Children’s Fitness Tax Credit
While you may be sleep-deprived, there is a small token of appreciation for your current condition in the budget. The UCCB or Universal Child Care Benefit has been increased from $100 per month up to $160 per month for each child in your family under the age of 6.
The UCCB is taxable money from the gov that parents get REGARDLESS OF THEIR INCOME.
NEW BUDGET THANG: Effective from the beginning of this year, the cheques are in the mail as of July 2015 - PARTY!! Also, the budget has doubled the children’s fitness tax credit to $1,000 starting in 2015. Kid's activities are so friggen expensive, amirite? Now, at least you get back 15% up to $1000. Little Billy can go to swimming - hurray!
4) Tax Rate Decrease for Small Businesses
NEW BUDGET THANG: The tax rate for small businesses will be reduced from 11% to 9% in 2019. (Now why would you give someone a gift that is so far off in the future? Oh yeah – it’s election time again). Note that this is only for CORPORATIONS - not sole-props or freelancers.
If you are curious about any of the four points above or of finding out in plain language how any of this applies to you, it may be time to book a financial planning sesh to flush out how you can leverage this 2015 budget like a boss.