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Start Saving Now for September: Your RESP Checklist Before the School Year Hits

  Canadian Money Brief · Family Finance September feels a long way off on July 1. That's exactly why now is the right time to look at your child's RESP — not in late August when the school supply list arrives and the grant math gets rushed. If you have a Registered Education Savings Plan (or you've been meaning to open one), here's what to check right now, and why the calendar year — not the school year — is what actually matters. Why July, Not August The Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG) — the government's 20% match on RESP contributions — runs on the calendar year , not the school year. Grant room for 2026 resets on a January-to-December basis, and it doesn't carry any special "back to school" deadline. But summer is genuinely the best time to check your numbers, for three reasons: You still have six full months left in the year to top up if you're behind. Contributions made now have more time to grow before your child needs the money. You av...

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Ottawa Expands Automatic Tax Filing to Simplify Tax Returns


 The federal government is taking significant steps to modernize the tax filing process for Canadians. In a recent fall economic statement, Ottawa announced plans to expand automatic tax filing services, aiming to make it easier for Canadians, especially those with simple tax situations, to file their annual returns.

The initiative, which builds on a national pilot program launched in 2023, will allow the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to automatically file tax returns on behalf of eligible lower-income Canadians starting as early as the 2025 tax year. The program has already shown promising results, with over two million eligible Canadians participating in the pilot and receiving billions in benefits and credits.

The expansion will also explore options to make free online tax software more accessible, ensuring that more Canadians can benefit from simplified tax filing. This move is part of Ottawa's broader efforts to reduce the complexity and cost of tax filing services, making them more user-friendly and efficient.

With these changes, the government hopes to increase tax compliance and ensure that more Canadians receive the benefits and credits they are entitled to. The CRA's SimpleFile service, which allows tax returns to be filed in as little as 10 minutes, will play a crucial role in this initiative.

As Ottawa continues to push for a more streamlined tax filing process, Canadians can look forward to a simpler and more efficient way to manage their taxes in the coming years.




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