2021 Federal Budget Summary

GST New Housing Rebates

There is a change in respect of GST New Housing Rebates when a property is sold to two or more individuals. Previously, all individuals purchasing the household needed to satisfy the condition that the property was acquired as a primary place of residence for the individual or a primary place of residence for a relation of the individual. Budget 2021 proposes that only one individual purchasing the property needs to meet the condition of the property being a primary place of residence for the individual or a relation of that individual.

Interest-free Loans for Retrofits

Budget 2021 proposes to provide $4.4 billion on a cash basis ($778.7 million on an accrual basis over five years, starting in 2021-22, with $414.1 million in future years) to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) to help homeowners complete deep home retrofits through interest-free loans worth up to $40,000. This is supplementary to the one million free energy audits and 700,000 grants, valued up to $5,000, made available to Canadians to complete energy efficient home improvements announced in the 2020 Fall Economic Statement.

Loans would be available to homeowners and landlords who undertake retrofits identified through an authorized EnerGuide energy assessment. The program would be available by summer 2021.

Examples of deep retrofits include:

• Replacing oil furnaces or low-efficiency systems with a high efficiency furnace, air source heat pump, or geothermal heat pump.

• Better wall or basement insulation and/or wall or roof panels.

• Installing a high-efficiency water heater or on-site renewable energy like solar panels.

• Replacing drafty windows and doors. 

Old Age Security (OAS) for Canadian 75 and Over

The Budget proposes an immediate one-time payment of $500 in August 2021 to Old Age Security (OAS) pensioners who will be 75 or over as of June 2022, and to increase regular OAS payments for pensioners 75 and over by 10% on an ongoing basis as of July 2022, indexed for inflation going forward.

Disability Tax Credit

For 2021, the value of the Federal Disability Tax Credit (DTC) is $1,299. To be eligible for the DTC, an individual must have a certificate confirming that they have a severe and prolonged impairment in physical or mental functions for everyday life.

For the purpose of the DTC, the Budget proposes to define “mental functions for everyday life” as: attention, concentration, memory, judgment, perception of reality, problem solving, goal-setting, regulation of behavior and emotions, verbal and non-verbal comprehension, and adaptive functioning.

Individuals may also qualify for the DTC if they are undergoing life-sustaining therapies that have a significant impact on everyday living.  The Budget adjusts the list of eligible activities used to determine time spent on life-sustaining therapies, and where an individual is incapable of performing their therapy on their own, the Budget proposes to allow individuals to include the time reasonably required by another person to assist in performing and supervising the therapy.

The Budget further proposes the requirement that the therapy be administered at least three times each week be reduced to two times each week, however an individual must still receive therapy for a duration averaging not less than 14 hours a week.

These proposed changes would apply to the 2021 and subsequent taxation years with regards to DTC certificates filed with the Minister of National Revenue on or after Royal Assent.

Canada Workers Benefit

The Canada Workers Benefit (CWB) is a refundable tax credit that offers tax relief to low-income workers and increases their work incentives. Under the Budget, the CWB increases from 26% to 27% for income in excess of $3,000, up to a maximum entitlement of $1,395 for single individuals without dependents, or $2,403 for families (couples and single parents). The Budget also increases the income phase-out threshold from $13,194 to $22,944 for single individuals without dependents, and from $17,522 to $26,177 for families. The phase out rate is also increased from 12% to 15%.

A secondary earner exemption to the CWB in order to improve work incentives for secondary earners in a couple was also proposed. This rule allows the spouse or common-law partner with the lower income to exclude up to $14,000 of their working income to compute their adjusted net income for the purpose of the phase-out.

The CWB is also available to individuals who are eligible for the Disability Tax Credit. Corresponding changes would be made to the disability supplement’s phase-in and reduction rates as well as the reduction threshold. The Budget increases the threshold to $32,244 from $24,815 for single individuals without children, and $42,197 from $37,548 for families, and states that the phase out rate for the supplement is 7.5% for each individual in a couple where both individuals receive the supplement, and 15% otherwise.

These measures would apply to the 2021 and subsequent taxation years. 

Northern Residents Deductions

The Northern Residents Deductions consists of a residency deduction and a travel benefits component. To be able to claim the deductions, the individual has to live in one or more prescribed zones for a continuous period of at least six months. The travel component allows the taxpayer to deduct the benefit provided by the employer.

The Budget proposes to expand the travel component of the Northern Residents Deductions. A taxpayer would have the option to claim, in respect of each taxpayer and each eligible family member up to the travel benefit provided by the employer. Alternatively, a $1,200 ($600 for Intermediate Zone) standard amount may be allocated across eligible trips taken by the individual. The Budget proposes a maximum of two trips taken by the individual for non-medical purposes would be allowed to be claimed in total and any number of trips for medical purposes in a household.

This measure would apply to the 2021 and subsequent taxation years. 

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Luxury Tax

Certain luxury goods will have a Federal tax levied upon their purchase beginning January 1, 2022. 

For the purchase of new luxury vehicles and personal aircraft, the tax will apply on items priced over $100,000. For boats, the tax will apply on items priced over $250,000. 

Details and legislation (including any defined terms) will be announced in the coming months, but for now broad points include:

• The tax is on purchases of new luxury vehicles, personal aircraft, and boats.

• Within each vehicle type, there are definitions for what would be taxed and exclusions for what would not. For example:

• For luxury vehicles there are exemptions for motorcycles and certain off-road vehicles, motor homes, farm vehicles, and certain commercial vehicles.

• For aircraft there are exemptions for large aircraft (ones having a certified maximum carrying capacity of more than 39 passengers), or aircraft used in certain commercial and public sector activities.

• For boats there are exemptions for smaller personal watercraft (e.g. water scooters), floating homes, and certain vessels used for commercial purposes.

• The tax rate is the lessor of 20% of the price above $100,000 or 10% of the full price for luxury cars and aircrafts.

• The tax rate is the lessor of 20% of the price above $250,000 or 10% of the full price for boats. 

• The tax would be levied at the final point of purchase, whether that be in Canada or at the border, if imported. The seller or lessor is responsible for collecting and remitting the tax, and the tax applies whether the good is purchased outright, financed, or leased.

• GST/HST will still apply to applicable purchases and is applied to the final sale price, inclusive of the Luxury Tax. Therefore, GST/HST is being levied on the tax that is levied on the purchase cost.

Taxation of Vaping Products and Tobacco

The government intends to introduce a new taxation framework for the imposition of excise duties on vaping products in 2022. 

Budget 2021 also proposes to increase the tobacco excise duty by $4 per carton of 200 cigarettes, along with corresponding increases to the excise duty rates for other tobacco products. This measure would take effect the day after Budget Day. 

Interest Deductibility Limits

The Budget proposes an earnings-stripping rule that would limit the amount of net interest expense that a corporation may deduct in computing its taxable income. This is in accordance with recommendations from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development and its aim to limit base erosion and profit shifting by multinational enterprises through the use of interest deductions.

Under the new rule, the interest deduction would be limited to a fixed ratio of “tax EBITDA,” which would be the corporation’s taxable income before accounting for interest expense, interest income, income tax, and deductions for depreciation and amortization as determined for tax purposes. Further details about the earnings-stripping rule are provided below:

• Tax EBITDA would exclude dividends to the extent they qualify for the inter-corporate dividend deduction or for the deduction for certain dividends received from foreign affiliates.

• Interest expense and interest income would include certain payments that are economically equivalent to interest, along with other financing-related expenses and income.

• The measure of interest expense would exclude interest that is not deductible under existing income tax rules, including the thin capitalization rules, which would continue to apply.

• Interest expense and interest income related to debts owing between Canadian members of a corporate group would generally be excluded.

This new rule would also apply to trusts, partnerships, and Canadian branches of non-resident taxpayers. Exemptions from the rule would be available for:

• Canadian-controlled private corporations that, together with associated corporations, have taxable capital employed in Canada of less than $15 million; and

• Groups of corporations and trusts whose aggregate net interest expense among their Canadian members is $250,000 or less.

Interest denied under the earnings-stripping rule would be available for carry forward for up to twenty years or for carry back for up to three years. There will be mechanisms in place for Canadian members of a group to transfer unused capacity to deduct interest to other Canadian members of the group.  There will also be a “group ratio rule” which may allow entities to deduct more interest expense depending on the relative net interest/EBITDA ratio of the worldwide group. Consistent with the rationale of the group ratio rule, the Department of Finance has indicated that standalone Canadian corporations and Canadian corporations that are members of a group none of whose members is a non-resident would, in most cases, not have their interest expense deductions limited under this new rule.

This measure would apply to taxation years that begin on or after January 1, 2023, and would be phased in, with a fixed ratio of 40% for taxation years beginning on or after January 1, 2023, but before January 1, 2024, and 30% for taxation years beginning on or after January 1, 2024, and would apply with respect to existing as well as new borrowings. There would be an anti-avoidance rule to prevent taxpayers from deferring the application of the measure, or of the 30% fixed ratio.

Rate Reduction for Zero-Emission Technology Manufacturers

The Budget proposes a temporary measure to reduce the general corporate income tax rate to 7.5% (from 15%), and the small business tax rate to 4.5% (from 9%) for qualifying zero-emission technology manufacturers. The reduced tax rates would apply to taxation years that begin after 2021 and would be gradually phased out starting in taxation years that begin in 2029 and fully phased out for taxation years that begin after 2031.

This measure would apply in respect of income from the following zero-emission technology manufacturing or processing activities:

• Manufacturing of solar energy conversion equipment;

• Manufacturing of wind energy conversion equipment;

• Manufacturing of water energy conversion equipment and wave energy conversion equipment;

• Manufacturing of geothermal energy equipment;

• Manufacturing of equipment for a ground source heat pump system;

• Manufacturing of electrical energy storage equipment used for storage of renewable energy or for providing grid-scale storage or other ancillary services, including battery, compressed air and flywheel storage systems;

• Manufacturing of zero-emission vehicles and the conversion of vehicles into zero-emission vehicles;

• Manufacturing of batteries and fuel cells for zero-emission vehicles;

• Manufacturing of electric vehicle charging systems and hydrogen refueling stations for vehicles;

• Manufacturing of equipment used for the production of hydrogen by electrolysis of water;

• Production of hydrogen by electrolysis of water; and

• Production of solid, liquid or gaseous fuel from either carbon dioxide or specified waste material, but excluding the production of by-products which is a standard part of another industrial or manufacturing process.

Support for Canadian TV and Film Production

Budget 2021 proposes to provide $105 million over three years, starting in 2021-22, for Telefilm Canada to modernize its current suite of programs to provide better access to a diverse range of creators and producers, support green practices, and respond to increasing digitization in the audiovisual industry.

To provide opportunities for equity deserving creators to build skills and experience, and to support greater diversity in top-tier productions, it is also proposed to provide $60 million over three years, starting in 2021-22, to the Canada Media Fund to increase support for productions led by people from equity deserving groups working in the Canadian audiovisual industry.

Extension for Film or Video Production Tax Credits

The Budget proposes to extend the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit (CPTC) and the Film or Video Production Services Tax Credit (PSTC) by 12 months on certain qualified labour expenditures.

Taxpayers would be required to file a waiver with the Canada Revenue Agency and the Canadian Audiovisual Certification Office in order to extend the assessment limitation period in respect of the relevant years to take into account this 12-month extension.

Mandatory Disclosure Rules

The government announced a consultation on proposals to enhance Canada’s mandatory disclosure rules. The consultation will address:

• Changes to the Income Tax Act’s reportable transaction rules;

• A new requirement to report notifiable transactions;

• A new requirement for specified corporations to report uncertain tax treatments; and

• Related rules providing for, in certain circumstances, the extension of the applicable reassessment period and the introduction of penalties.

Avoidance of Tax Debts

The Income Tax Act has an anti-avoidance rule (the “tax debt avoidance rule”) that prevents taxpayers from avoiding their tax liabilities by transferring their assets to non-arm’s length persons for insufficient consideration. Some taxpayers are engaging in complex transactions that attempt to circumvent the tax debt avoidance rule, and the Budget introduces new measures to address this type of planning.

The Budget also introduces a new penalty for planners and promoters of tax debt avoidance schemes equal to the lesser of:

• 50% of the tax that is attempted to be avoided; and

• $100,000 plus the promoter’s or planner’s compensation for the scheme.

These new measures would apply in respect of transfers of property that occur on or after April 19, 2021.

Immediate Expensing of Eligible Property

The Budget proposes a temporary immediate expensing of up to $1.5 million per taxation year of eligible investments by Canadian-controlled private corporations (CCPC).

The immediate expensing is available for eligible properties acquired on or after the Budget day that are available for use before January 1, 2024. CCPCs are allowed to expense up to $1.5 million per taxation year and this $1.5 million limit is prorated for short taxation years. The $1.5 million would be shared among associated members of a group of CCPCs. Any unused portion of the limit cannot be carried forward. 

Eligible property includes capital properties subject to the capital cost allowance (CCA) rules other than assets that would be included in CCA classes 1 to 6, 14.1, 17, 47, 49 and 51.

CCPCs may decide which CCA class the immediate expensing applies to, and any capital cost in excess of $1.5 million would be subject to the existing CCA rules. Assets that are eligible for enhanced deductions under the existing rules, such as the accelerated investment incentive rules, will not reduce the maximum deduction under the immediate expensing Budget proposal, such that a CCPC may expense up to $1.5 million in addition to all other CCA claims under the existing rules. This is provided that the total CCA deduction does not exceed the capital cost of the property.

Immediate expensing would only be available for the year in which the property becomes available for use.

Restrictions

Immediate expensing is restricted by any existing rules that would otherwise restrict a CCA deduction, such as rules related to limited partners, specified leasing properties, specified energy properties and rental properties. Also a property that has been used, or acquired for use, for any purpose before being acquired by the taxpayer would be eligible for immediate expensing only if both of the following conditions are met:

• The property has not been transferred to the taxpayer on tax-deferred “rollover” basis; and

• Neither the tax payer nor a non-arm’s length person previously owned the property.

Establishing a $15 Federal Minimum Wage

The Government of Canada is announcing its intention to introduce legislation that will establish a federal minimum wage of $15 per hour, rising with inflation, with provisions to ensure that where provincial or territorial minimum wages are higher, that wage will prevail.

Supporting the Canadian Wine Sector

Budget 2021 proposes to provide $101 million over two years, starting in 2022-23, to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, to implement a program for the wine sector that will support wineries in adapting to ongoing and emerging challenges, in line with Canada’s trade obligations. 

Property Vacancy Tax for Non-Residents/Non-Canadians

Starting in 2022, real estate that is vacant or underutilized will have a new national tax levied on the assessed value annually.

Details and legislation (including any defined terms) will be addressed in the coming months. The government will be consulting with various parties to discuss special rules for tourism and resort communities.

At a high level, the points include:

• The annual tax will be 1% of the assessed value of the residential real estate in question;

• The tax will apply to residential real estate owned by non-residents and non-Canadians;

• Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada should not be required to declare;

• A declaration will be required to be filed and any applicable tax paid by a set date;

• Penalties could apply if the declaration is not completed on time;

• The declaration is required regardless if the owner is subject to Canadian income tax on the property;

• Exemptions should be available, such as leasing to qualified tenants (details to come) for a certain length of time.

Digital Services Tax

Expanding on the 2020 Fall Economic Statement, whereby the government is aiming to increase GST/HST revenues from non-resident companies providing digital services and who may not normally be required to register for GST/HST, a new tax is also being implemented and levied against them. The Digital Services Tax (“DST”) is intended to target large foreign business groups (including those organized in various forms such as corporations, trusts, partnerships) that earn certain “in-scope” revenue from Canadian-sourced data or users.

Essentially, current or traditional tax systems were generally designed for an economy where physical presence was assumed critical in creating value in a particular jurisdiction. Given the growth of e-commerce, that is no longer the case and multinational companies especially are able to effectively conduct business in many countries without always paying income tax. Countries are now aiming to coordinate tax systems to amicably levy tax in these digital situations, and so share in lost tax revenues. The DST is a temporary measure being implemented until a multilateral agreement can be put into place.

Large businesses subject to the DST include those who have global revenue from all source of 750 million Euros (~$1.125B CAD) or more in the previous calendar year and have “in-scope” revenue associated with Canadian users of more than $20 million in the particular calendar year. Rules will include looking at businesses within their relevant groups of entities for applying thresholds. User location may be determined in a number of ways depending on the service and may include IP address, billing address, or real time location tracking.

“In-scope” revenues generally are those from online business models in which user participation, provision of data, and contributions of content are key value drivers. General examples include certain online marketplaces, social media sites, and certain data-based online advertising.

The DST would be a 3% tax against “in-scope” revenues, in excess of $20 million, associated with Canadian users. Revenues would not include any applicable value-added or sales tax associated with the revenue generating transaction. Parties subject to the DST would likely file a separate return for it and pay annually. The DST cannot be used as a credit against Canadian income taxes payable.

The DST would be effective January 1, 2022 onwards until a multilateral agreement is reached with other countries.

Simplified GST/HST Registration for Non-Residents

A simplified GST/HST registration will be introduced for non-resident entities making taxable supplies of services, digital products, and/or tangible goods in excess of the $30,000 threshold.

Non-resident registrants under the simplified rules will not generally be able to claim Input Tax Credits and most rebates, other than for bad debts and certain HST point of sale rebates. The CRA has the authority to register non-resident entities if it feels the entity meets the simplified registration requirements.

CRA will determine the application of the new simplified registration rules over a twelve month period beginning July 1, 2021.

Changes to the thresholds for documentary support criteria under the Input Tax Credit Information (GST/HST) Regulations are as follows:

• The threshold of $30 is increased to $100

• The threshold of $150 is increased to $500

Billing agents can now be considered intermediaries for the purposes of this Regulation.

In continuing to support businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Budget 2021 proposes to:

• Extend the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) program to September 25, 2021. 

• Extend the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS) and Lockdown Support program to September 25, 2021.

• Introduce a new program known as the Canada Recovery Hiring Program that will apply for the period June 6, 2021 to November 20, 2021.

Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy

The subsidy rates will decline over the period starting July 4, 2021 and only employers with a revenue decline of more than 10% will be eligible for a wage subsidy. The rate structure for these periods is summarized below:

Requirement to Repay

Publicly listed corporations will be required to repay wage subsidy amounts received after June 5, 2021 to the extent of the lesser of the wages subsidies paid after June 5, 2021, and the increased compensation paid to specified executives for 2021 over 2019.

Furloughed Employees

Support for furloughed employees will continue from June 6, 2021 to August 28, 2021 at the lesser of:

• The amount of eligible remuneration paid in respect of the week; and

• The greater of:

• $500, and

• 55% of pre-crisis remuneration for the employee, up to a maximum subsidy amount of $595.

Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy

Similar to CEWS, the subsidy rates will decline over the period starting July 4, 2021 and only employers with a revenue decline of more than 10% will be eligible for a rent subsidy. The rate structure for these periods is summarized below:

Lockdown Support

Budget 2021 proposes to extend the additional 25% rate added to the base rent subsidy provided via CERS for locations that must cease operations or significantly limit their activities under a public health order.

Canada Recovery Hiring Program

The Federal Government proposed to introduce a new program known as the Canada Recovery Hiring Program (“CRHP”) that will provide eligible employers with a subsidy of up to 50% of incremental eligible remuneration paid to eligible employees between June 6, 2021 and November 20, 2021.

An eligible employer can claim either the CRHP or a CEWS amount for a particular period, but not both.

Eligible employers generally include those eligible for CEWS, such as individuals, not-for-profit organizations, registered charities and certain partnerships, however a for profit corporation must be a Canadian controlled private corporation to be able to claim the hiring subsidy. Eligible employers are required to have had a payroll account on March 15, 2020.

The same revenue decline thresholds that apply to the CEWS program will apply to the CRHP so at least a 10% decline is required.

Note: Although the CRHP has many similarities to the CEWS program, review of the program details is advised as there are definitions and terms that are specific to the CRHP.

Incremental eligible remuneration is the difference between an employer’s total eligible remuneration for a qualifying period and the total eligible remuneration for a baseline period. The baseline period that will apply for the qualifying periods from June 6 to November 20, 2021 will be the period March 14 to April 10, 2021. For both periods, qualifying and baseline, eligible remuneration will be subject to a maximum of $1,129 per week for each eligible employee.

The claim for a period will be the equal to the incremental remuneration multiplied by the applicable subsidy rate as noted in the table below.

The government announced its commitment to create one million jobs and restore employment to pre-covid levels through government investment. Budget 2021 proposes a number of programs to help make this commitment a reality.

Supporting Entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurs, especially those from equity deserving groups such as racialized Canadians, young people, LGBTQ2 people, and more, face barriers to starting and growing a business. Budget 2021 proposes to provide:

• Up to $101.4 million over five years, starting in 2021-22, to Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada for the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Development Program;

• Affordable financing, increased data, and strengthened capacity within the entrepreneurship ecosystem, by providing up to $146.9 million over four years to strengthen the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy, resulting in greater access to financing, mentorship, and training; and

• Up to an additional $51.7 million over four years, starting in 2021-22, to Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and the regional development agencies for the Black Entrepreneurship Program.

Child Care & Early Learning 

The federal government will work with provincial, territorial, and indigenous partners to build a Canada-wide, community-based system of quality child care. The government’s goal is to ensure all families have access to high-quality, affordable, and flexible early learning and child care, no matter where they live, improving flexibility for working parents.

The Budget proposes to invest up to $30 billion over the next five years and $8.3 billion ongoing for Early Learning and Child Care and Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care.

An additional $29.2 million over two years, starting 2021-22, will be allocated to Employment and Social Development Canada through the enabling Accessibility Fund to support child care centres as they improve their physical accessibility.

Indigenous Families & Communities

A proposed $2.5 billion investment over the next five years will be invested in Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care to build on their existing Framework to strengthen high quality, culturally appropriate child care for Indigenous children guided by Indigenous priorities.

Persons with Disabilities

In an effort to ensure all persons with disabilities have the support they need, $11.9 million over three years, starting in 2021-22, to Employment and Social Development Canada has been allocated to reform the eligibility process for federal disability programs and benefits. This work will lead directly into the design of a new disability benefit.

To make workplaces more accessible, Budget 2021 also proposes an additional $100 million to Employment and Social Development Canada to triple funding for the Enabling Accessibility Fund, helping to offset costs of renovations, retrofits, and accessible technologies in the workplace.

Mental Health

Budget 2021 proposes to provide $45 million over two years, starting in 2021-22, to Health Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada, and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research to help develop national mental health service standards, in collaboration with provinces and territories, health organizations, and key stakeholders.

An additional $150 million will be invested starting in the 2021-22 year to support populations disproportionally impacted by COVID-19, including health care workers, front-line workers, youth, seniors, Indigenous people, racialized and Black Canadians, and those exposed to various trauma brought about by COVID-19.

Supporting Safe Air Travel

To facilitate the safe restart of air travel that limits transmission of COVID-19 and protects travellers, Budget 2021 proposes: 

• To provide $82.5 million in 2021-22 to Transport Canada to support major Canadian airports in making investments in COVID-19 testing infrastructure.

• To provide $105.3 million over five years, starting in 2021-22, with $28.7 million in remaining amortization and $10.2 million per year ongoing to Transport Canada to collaborate with international partners to further advance the Known Traveller Digital Identity pilot project.

• To provide $6.7 million in 2021-22 to the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority to acquire and operate sanitization equipment.

Student Debt Relief

To ensure that the cost of post-secondary education in Canada remains predictable and affordable for everyone, the government proposes to:

• Extend the waiver of interest accrual on Canada Student Loans and Canada Apprentice Loans until March 31, 2023;

• Increase the threshold for repayment assistance to $40,000 for borrowers living alone, so that nobody earning $40,000 per year or less will need to make any payments on their student loans; and

• extend the doubling of the Canada Student Grants until the end of July 2023.

Investing in Job Opportunities for Students and Youth

To ensure youth and students can access valuable job skills and experience, Budget 2021 is proposing to invest $721 million in the next two years to help connect them with employers and provide them with quality job opportunities through the investment of:

• $239.8 million in the Student Work Placement Program in 2021-22 to support work-integrated learning opportunities for post-secondary students. This funding would increase the wage subsidy available for employers to 75%, up to $7,500 per student, while also increasing employers’ ability to access the program.

• $109.3 million in 2022-23 for the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy to better meet the needs of vulnerable youth facing multiple barriers to employment, while also supporting over 7,000 additional job placements for youth.

• $371.8 million in new funding for Canada Summer Jobs in 2022-23 to support approximately 75,000 new job placements in the summer of 2022. 

To improve the administration of, and compliance with, the tax system, Budget 2021 proposes various measures to improve the CRA’s ability to operate digitally, resulting in faster, more convenient and accurate services, while also enhancing security.

Notice of Assessment

Budget 2021 proposes to provide the CRA with the ability to send certain notices of assessment electronically without the taxpayer having to authorize the CRA to do so. This proposal would apply in respect of individuals who file their income tax return electronically and those who employ the services of a tax preparer that files their income tax return electronically.

Correspondence with Businesses

The Budget proposes to change the default method of correspondence for businesses that use the CRA’s My Business Account portal to electronic only. However, businesses could still choose to also receive paper correspondence.

Information Returns

Budget 2021 also proposes to allow issuers of T4A and T5 information returns to provide them electronically without having to also issue a paper copy and without the taxpayer having to authorize the issuer to do so.

Tax Preparers

Budget 2021 proposes to require professional preparers where they prepare more than 5 corporate income tax returns or 5 personal income tax returns to be required to file electronically. It’s also proposed to limit the number of paper-filed returns to be filed by a tax preparer to a maximum of five income tax returns for corporations and five income tax returns for individuals.

Handwritten Signatures

Budget 2021 proposes to eliminate the requirement that signatures be in writing on certain prescribed forms, as follows:

• T183, Information Return for Electronic Filing of an Individual’s Income Tax and Benefit Return;

• T183CORP, Information Return for Corporations Filing Electronically;

• T2200, Declaration of Conditions of Employment;

• RC71, Statement of Discounting Transaction; and

• RC72, Notice of the Actual Amount of the Refund of Tax.