Save on Your Taxes in Canada - Educate Yourself and Don't Rely on the CRA to Help Save

So is the greatest personal finance myth out there thatAlthough the CRA does advertise some tax
the Canadian Revenue Agency will help you savedeductions, the most efficient tax avoidance strategies
money on your Income Tax...perhaps.(to legally pay the least tax possible), can only be
Although the CRA are very helpful when it comes tofound through solid due diligence research.
educating you on the ways to pay tax; evidenced byMy wife and I investigated ways to reduce our tax
their recent bout of 'tips', they will not show you theburden a few years ago and discovered donation tax
best ways for you to save money.shelters.
This is for a number of reasons:Tax shelters are a legal way to make the Income Tax
Act work for you. For every one dollar you put into
1. The CRA are collectors not financial educatorsthe program you should expect to see a return of one
2. The CRA's mandate is to collect as much tax asdollar or more in tax credit. Although there are many
possible from Canadian income tax payersdifferent types of shelters, my wife and I participated in
3. The CRA will re-assess you and demand morea donation program which allowed us to save money
money for your tax liabilities, if it will make them moreon our taxes and donate life-saving drugs to Africa.
money.So, as you can see the CRA is playing aSo, before you accept the income tax advice of the
numbers game, so cannot be relied on to have yourCRA on available tax credits and other Income Tax
best interests at heart. So you have to rely on theDeductions, do some research and look into tax
person who has always had your best interests atavoidance programs. Take control of your tax money
heart...you...and take control of your tax money.and create tax benefits.
Educate yourself