Release Notes

End of support for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1

As we have been announcing since November 2018 in several documents (Installation Procedures and texts on the Web sites), as well as in the e-mails sent on September 3 and December 3, 2019, our software applications ended support of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 in November 2019.

For more information, consult our Knowledge Base article End of support for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1.

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Try our Knowledge Base!

Consult our Knowledge Base to quickly find the information you need!

Our Knowledge Base contains an array of articles answering technical and tax questions most frequently asked to Support Centre agents. All you need to do is enter a few key words and the articles display in order of relevance to provide you with valuable information that will accurately answer your questions.

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About

Personal Taxprep 2019 v.5.0 contains the forms released by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and Revenu Québec for the 2019 taxation year.

The modifications made to version 5.0 only relate to tax rates and the addition of extra calculations. The 2020 federal and provincial government tax rates which were known at the time of this release have been incorporated to help you forecast your clients’ tax situation for the next taxation year (with the Planner mode).

This version is approved for:

• Paper filing;
• EFILE;
• Electronic filing of Form AUTHORIZATION;
• Electronic filing of Form T1135;
• Using the Auto-fill T1 return (AFR) service (TaxprepConnect functionality);
• The ReFILE service;
• The transmission of returns for taxpayers in multiple-jurisdiction situations;
• The PAD (Pre-authorized debit);
• The Express NOA (Notice of Assessment);
• Printing the 2D bar code on the federal and Québec returns;
• Electronic filing via NetFile Québec.

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Training

To familiarize yourself with functionalities of the new enhanced Taxprep interface, consult the different videos available in the Personal Taxprep Help Centre.

To consult the other training options available regarding Personal Taxprep (seminars, Webinars, tutorials and more), access the "Training" section of the Taxprep Web site. You can also access it from the program, by selecting Get Taxprep Training in the Help menu.

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Rolling Forward Preparer Profiles

Once your preparer profiles from last year are rolled forward to the current year, it is important to verify that the options defined with respect to the returns of your clients and to the electronic filing of data (EFILE) still correspond to your situation for the current season. For more information on the new options offered in the preparer profiles of the current version, please refer to the “Modifications Made to Forms” section.

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TaxprepConnect for the 2019 tax season

Important dates

Federal

February 10, 2020 – The Auto-fill T1 return service opened. The CRA tax data can be downloaded using TaxprepConnect commencing with version 4.0 of Personal Taxprep 2019. This year, the list of information relating to income tax will be enhanced to include the T2202 slips.

Québec 

March 2, 2020 – The Tax Data Download service opened. The Revenu Québec tax data can be downloaded using TaxprepConnect with version 4.0 of Personal Taxprep 2019.

 

Auto-fill T1 return – Downloading prior-year data

You can download tax data from the previous three years (2016, 2017 and 2018). To download data of a given year, you will have to use the Personal Taxprep program of the year in question. Ensure that your EFILE password is updated.

Note that only data on slips of prior years will be available; data that does not relate to a specific year, such as carried forward balances, will not be available.

Tax Data Download of Revenu Québec

You will now be able to download prior-year tax data (2018). To download data for 2018, you must use Personal Taxprep 2018 and have a valid Form MR-69 with Revenu Québec.

Since the 2018 taxation year, tax preparers have been able to download a taxpayer’s data without having to use a download code. To do so, a valid MR-69 form will have to be sent beforehand to Revenu Québec.

Note that you can still get a download code with Revenu Québec, as in the past, and use it to download a taxpayer’s tax data, but for the current year only.

T3 Slips Reconciliation (Jump Code: CONNECT T3 REC)

You can now modify the content of a reconciled copy already transferred to the TaxprepConnect Download form.

TaxprepConnect Download (Jump Code: CONNECT)

To facilitate the matching of the downloaded T5 slips, RL-3 slips and copies of the T5 form in the return, boxes 15 and 16 of the T5 slip as well as the equivalent boxes F and G of the RL-3 slip were added to the TaxprepConnect Download form. In addition, the matching of T5 slips with RL-3 slips, which is done automatically by the program, has been enhanced.

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What’s New?

Federal

New numbering of federal lines

This year, the CRA made an important change relating to the numbering of federal lines. Most lines were renumbered to adopt 5-digit numbers. For example, in the T1 return, line 101 becomes line 10100. Generally, this change consists in adding 00 at the end of the existing number, but certain line numbers completely changed. The update of the line numbers in forms, diagnostics and the program Help began in version 1 and will continue in the next versions.

Jump code – Modification made to the lines in the federal return

The letter J has been removed from the jump codes on the lines of the federal return. For example, Jump Code J115 is now 11500. be aware that you can always use the search field (or press Ctrl+F) from the Form Manager to facilitate your search for forms.

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Modifications Made to Version 5.0

Modifications Made to Forms

Scenarios form – Planning tool that allows you to evaluate the current and future tax situation of your clients (Jump Code: SCENARIOS)

The Scenarios form has been enhanced to increase your productivity when you plan the tax situations of your clients for this year or the next.

Form the Scenarios form, you can now create different scenarios by either entering data in the current return’s forms or by directly entering data in the Scenarios form without impacting data in the return.

In addition, you can choose to use the current-year rates or the subsequent-year rates. As a result, you can now create different planner scenarios from the Scenarios form directly in the current return without using the Planner mode. The purpose of this enhancement is to provide you with more flexibility when preparing tax planning for your clients.

Federal

On December 16, 2019, the Department of Finance Canada announced the following measures, which have been integrated in the current version of the program, but only in Planner mode or for early-filed returns for the 2020 taxation year (pre-bankruptcy and deceased returns).

• Increase in the basic personal amount and the basic amount used to calculate the spouse or common-law partner amount and amount for an eligible dependant:

  This amount increases to $13,229 in 2020 for taxpayers with a net income equal to or less than $150,473. It is gradually reduced to $12,298 for taxpayers with a net income greater than $150,473 and less than $214,368. For taxpayers with a net income equal to or greater than $214 368 $, it is set to $12,298.

  Note that the different optimization calculations (RRSP, losses, Canada caregiver amount for other infirm dependants age 18 or older, tuition fees transferred from a child, etc.) do not take into account the modifications made to the basic personal amount and the basic amount used to calculate the spouse or common-law partner amount and amount for an eligible dependant.

• Increase in the income amount used to determine the eligibility of a child for the childcare expenses deduction:

  One of the criteria used to determine the eligibility of a child for the childcare expenses deduction is that they are the child of the taxpayer or the common-law partner or they are dependent on the taxpayer or the common-law partner and their net income does not exceed the basic personal amount. The basic personal amount used to determine the eligibility of a child for the childcare expenses deduction is set to $13,329 for the 2020 taxation year. This amount is used to generate a diagnostic advising you that a child for whom childcare expenses have been entered in Form CARE, Child Care Expenses (Jump Code: CARE) is not eligible for the childcare expenses deduction.

T1 General, Income Tax and Benefit Return (Jump Code: J)

The digital news subscription tax credit is a new non-refundable tax credit available to individuals in respect of an amount paid for a digital news subscription with a qualified Canadian journalism organization. It equals 15% of the lesser of $500 and the total of all amounts paid by the taxpayer for a qualifying subscription expense for the year. As such, the maximum amount of the federal credit is $75 per year. This credit is available for the taxation years 2020 through 2024. This new credit will be integrated in Personal Taxprep 2020 v.1.0.

Canada Training Credit (Jump Code: CTC)

The Canada training credit, which has already been discussed in the Modifications Made to Version 1.0 section of the current Release Notes, can be claimed as of the 2020 taxation year. The calculation of this refundable tax credit will be integrated in Personal Taxprep 2020 v.1.0.

Québec 

Dividend Tax Credit

In its Information Bulletin 2019-11, published on December 16, 2019, the Government of Québec is restricting the eligibility for the dividend tax credit for dividends received or deemed received after December 31, 2019. Only an individual resident in Québec on the last day of a taxation year will benefit from the dividend tax credit. In addition, the individual will be entitled to the full amount of the credit; the amount will no longer be prorated based on income earned in Québec, elsewhere and in Canada.

Following the publication of Information Bulletin 2019-11, individuals who could previously qualify for the dividend tax credit will no longer qualify for it in 2020:

• an individual resident in Canada outside Québec on the last day of a taxation year who has, at any time in the year, carried on a business in Québec;
• an individual who was not resident in Canada at any time in a taxation year and who, during the year, was employed in Québec, carried on a business in Québec or disposed of taxable Québec property.

These modifications will be integrated in Personal Taxprep 2020 v.1.0.

Tax Credit for Caregivers

Starting in 2020, a new refundable tax credit will replace the four existing components of the tax credit for caregivers. Although the name of the credit is being renamed in French, it will remain unchanged in English. This new credit will present the following two components:

• component 1: universal basic tax assistance of $1,250 (in the case of co-residency) and reducible assistance of $1,250 (no co-residency requirement) for a caregiver providing care to a person aged 18 or older who has a severe and prolonged impairment and requires assistance in carrying out a basic activity of daily living;
• component 2: universal tax assistance of $1,250 for a caregiver who supports and co-resides with a relative aged 70 or older.

In addition, the term “eligible relative” will be changed for “eligible care receiver.” The term “caregiver” will remain unchanged in English but will be changed in French.

The introduction of this new credit will allow a greater number of people to benefit from this tax assistance, such as caregivers having no family relationship with the person receiving assistance and caregivers taking care of their spouse under age 70. Under the old credit, these people did not qualify for the tax credit for caregivers.

These modifications will be integrated in Personal Taxprep 2020 v.1.0.

British Columbia

BC428, British Columbia Tax (Jump Code: BC 428)

The following measures were announced in the British Columbia Budget 2020 and were integrated to the current version of the program, but only in Planner mode or for early-filed returns:

• Addition of a new tax bracket: The Government of British Columbia proposes to add a new tax bracket of 20.5% for income over $220,000 for a total of seven brackets. This new bracket is now integrated in the program calculation.
• Increase in the British Columbia Charitable Donations Tax Credit that applies to charitable donations over $200: The Government of British Columbia proposes to increase the credit rate from 16.8% to 20.5% on the portion of donations over $200. The rate changes are now integrated to the program calculation.

Alberta

AB428, Alberta Investor Tax Credit (Jump Code: AB 428)

In the October 24, 2019 Budget, the Government of Alberta announced that the Alberta Investor Tax Credit program would be phased out in 2020. Therefore, the tax credit certificates are only available on eligible investments made between April 14, 2016, and December 31, 2019. In addition, all previously issued tax credit certificates remain valid while unused tax credits can still be carried forward up to four additional years. This measure has been integrated in the current version of the program and will apply to early-filed returns in client files, and client files created using the Planner mode.

AB(11), Tuition and Education Amounts (Jump Code: AB S11)

In the October 24, 2019 Budget, the Government of Alberta announced that the tuition and education tax credit would be eliminated for the 2020 taxation year. This measure has been integrated in the current version of the program and will apply to early-filed returns in client files, and client files created using the Planner mode.

Saskatchewan

SK428, Saskatchewan Tax and Credits (Jump Code: SK 428)

Starting January 1, 2020, three new non-refundable tax credits will be available for volunteer firefighters, volunteer emergency medical first responders and search and rescue volunteers. These individuals will be able to claim a $3,000 non-refundable tax credit if they perform at least 200 hours of volunteer service in the year. The 200 hours requirement can be reached in combining volunteer firefighting services, volunteer emergency medical first responder services and volunteer search and rescue services, but only one of the three credits may be claimed. These three new credits will be integrated in Personal Taxprep 2020 v.1.0.

Manitoba

Provincial sales tax

Manitoba – Decrease in the provincial sales tax rate to 6% on July 1, 2020

On July 1, 2020, the Manitoba provincial sales tax rate will decrease to 6% from 7%.

In addition, on October 1, 2020, Manitoba will eliminate the provincial sales tax on personal income tax return preparation.

The rate used to calculate the leasing costs for a motor vehicle in the AUTO form for businesses as well as in the T777 AUTO and Partner forms was updated. For a Manitoba resident, if the acquisition date of the motor vehicle is on or after July 1, 2020, the PST rate on the date the lease began will be 6%.

Furthermore, for a Manitoba resident, if the date indicated on the invoice is on or after October 1, 2020, the PST will not be taken into account in computing the invoice’s total.

Yukon

Basic personal amount (Jump Code: YT 428)

In its 2020-2021 Budget, tabled on March 5, 2020, the Government of Yukon announced that the federal modifications to the basic personal amount and the basic amount used to calculate the spouse or common-law partner amount and the amount for an eligible dependant would also be applicable to the Yukon Territory. These measures have been integrated in the current version of the program, but only in Planner mode or for early-filed returns for the 2020 taxation year (pre-bankruptcy and deceased returns).

YT479, Yukon Credits (Jump Code: YT 479)

Effective for the 2020 taxation year, modifications will be made to the small business investment tax credit to allow for investments in medium businesses. As a result, definitions relating to this credit in the Yukon Income Tax Act will be reviewed. In addition, the credit will be renamed “business investment tax credit” to reflect the eligibility of medium businesses. As only the text in the form is affected by these changes, it will be modified in Personal Taxprep 2020 v.1.0.

Newfoundland and Labrador

NL428, Newfoundland and Labrador Tax and Credits (Jump Code: NL 428)

Effective for the 2020 taxation year, the deduction amount entered on line 23200 of the individual’s T1 return in respect of their split income will be added to their net income for the purpose of calculating the age amount on line 58080 of Form NL428. This modification will be integrated in Personal Taxprep 2020 v.1.0.

Volunteer firefighters’ amount, search and rescue volunteers’ amount and childcare amount (Jump Code: NL 428)

Starting in 2020, only individuals who reside in Newfoundland and Labrador at the end of the taxation year will be able to claim the volunteer firefighters’ amount (line 58315 of Form NL 428), the search and rescue volunteers’ amount (line 58316 of Form NL 428) and the childcare amount (line 58320 of Form NL 428). These modifications will be integrated in Personal Taxprep 2020 v.1.0.

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Corrected Calculations

The following problems have been corrected in version 2019 5.0:

Québec 

• Estimated income calculated when the business ceases carrying on its business in the fiscal period.
• Accelerated refund not claimed in a taxpayer’s income tax return filed after April 30, 2020.
• The program does not claim the maximum amount of alternative minimum tax carry-over that can be used to reduce Québec tax payable.

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Information about EFILE

AUTHORIZATION, Authorizing or Cancelling a Representative (formerly T1013) (Jump Code: AUTHORIZATION)

Important changes to the CRA authorization process for representatives

Form T1013 giving online access has been discontinued by the CRA since mid-February.

Although the electronic service for authorization requests is still available in the program as in the past, the CRA no longer wants personal income tax programs to allow printing of Form T1013.

Note that the 1013 jump code has been replaced by AUTHORIZATION in the Form Manager and in the entire program, for example, in the Transmission menu, EFILE Log, EFILE status, etc.

As a replacement to Form T1013, a new signature page generated by the program using data available in the AUTHORIZATION form must now be printed.

As with prior-year T1013 forms, this new signature page must be duly completed and signed by the client prior to transmission and kept on file by the preparer for a 6-year period.

To verify that the taxpayer did give consent, the CRA may ask you to provide them with copies of the duly completed and signed signature pages. However, you are not required to file the hard copy of the signature page if the CRA has not requested it.

As mentioned above, the CRA no longer allows the printing of Form T1013 from a personal income tax program. Since mid-February, the CRA has made available on its Web site the new combined Form AUT-01 that only grants off-line access. This new form groups three authorization forms, i.e. Forms T1013, RC59 and NR95. Therefore, if you want to file a hard copy of the combined Form AUT-01, you can use our Taxprep Forms program, or get the new printable version of the form from the CRA and complete it manually. Note that this new printable version of Form AUT-01 can only be used to ask for off-line access that will grant the right to contact the CRA by phone, letter or in person. No online access can be granted through this printable version.

Remember that online access is required to use certain of the CRA services, for example, Auto-fill my return (TaxprepConnect) and Express Notice of Assessment. For that reason, we do not recommend that you use this new version of Form AUT-01 with off-line access.

Important
It will be very important not to file a hard copy of the new Form AUT-01 to the CRA by mail, fax or by downloading a scanned document if you are already authorized by your client.
Any new Forms AUT-01 received in the mail, by fax or download will be treated as a new request for off-line access, which will cancel any online access requests already processed.

In case of death

Existing authorization for individuals (those already in the CRA system) will no longer be cancelled on the taxpayer’s date of death. This way, no new authorization request will have to be made to authorize once more the same representative after the date of death. This new feature will be applicable as of mid-February, which means that if the taxpayer’s date of death is after mid-February 2020 your existing authorization will not be cancelled.

Form RC-59

The printable Form RC-59 has also been discontinued by the CRA since mid-February.It is combined with the new printable Form AUT-01 only giving off-line access. As mentioned above, this new version of Form T1013 is not printable from a personal income tax program. As a result, none of the forms equivalent to former Form RC-59 are available in Personal Taxprep 2019.

Federal

Important dates

• February 24, 2020 The EFILE On-Line transmission system opened.
• January 15, 2021 The CRA will stop accepting electronically filed T1 returns.

Registration and Renewal On-line

To renew your EFILE privileges for this year’s tax season, you must follow the instructions provided on the "Renewal" page on the CRA Web site at http://www.efile.cra.gc.ca/l-rnwl-eng.html.

To register as a new electronic filer, you must register online by completing the EFILE Registration On-Line form on the CRA Web site at http://www.efile.cra.gc.ca/l-rgstr-eng.html.

You will find more information concerning renewals and new applications at http://www.efile.cra.gc.ca/.

In order to be able to electronically file Form AUTHORIZATION (formerly Form T1013), you must meet the following two criteria:

1. Have a valid EFILE number and password; and
2. Be a registered representative (online access).

A registered representative is a person who is registered with the CRA’s Represent a Client service. To register with the service, go to http://www.cra.gc.ca/representatives

Québec 

Important dates

• February 24, 2020 – The NetFile Québec system opened.
• February 24, 2020 – The Refund Info-line system opened.
• January 15, 2021 – The NetFile Québec system will shut down.

NetFile Québec

• Tax preparers must register for “My Account for professional representatives” (available in French only), a secure space on RQ’s Web site, if they have not already done so in the past.
  Note that renewal is automatic for persons who registered for this space in the past.
• Consult the page “À qui s'adresse Mon dossier” (available in French only) to see which profile applies to you and what actions you can perform online on behalf of a business or an individual.

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Roll Forward

Rolling forward 2018 client files

Your 2018 client files must be rolled forward using the Roll Forward command on the File menu, or from the Client Manager, if you want to do a batch roll forward, before you can access them with this version.

Planner Files

You can import client files created in Planner Mode in version 2018.

Slips

The roll forward is performed only for copies of slips in which amounts were entered last year as well as for copies including balances to carry forward, or attached notes or schedules to roll forward.

Attached notes

The attached notes are rolled forward, except if this option is cleared in the roll forward data options.

Rolling Forward ProFile, DT Max and TaxCycle client files (competitor products)

Make sure that the workstation’s regional settings are set to “English (Canada or United-States)” before rolling forward.

Notes – Attached Notes Summary (Jump Code: ATTN)

Schedule – Attached Schedule with Total (Jump Code: ATTS)

When rolling forward client files, the attached notes or schedules attached to fields in the comparative summaries are retained.

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Modifications Made to Version 4.1

The modifications made to version 4.1 correct these problems that were identified in version 4.0:

• Crash occurring when navigating in the CCH Scan pane where a page added to the PDF was not previously linked to a bookmark.

• Tax Credit for the Treatment of Infertility (Québec) – The rate corresponding to your family situation and family income on line 15 of Form TP-1029.8.66.2 might be incorrect.

• Form T777, Capital Cost Allowance – The amount of recapture of capital cost allowance updated to line 10400 of the T1 return is incorrect.

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Modifications Made to Version 4.0

Modifications Made to Forms

COVID-19 –The filing deadline for income tax returns, balance-due day and the June 15, 2020 instalment payment dates have been postponed – Special Goods and services tax credit (GSTC) payment and increase in the Canada Child Benefit (CCB)

On March 18, 2020, the Minister of Finance of Canada published its Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan. Here are some of those measures:

• the April 30, 2020 filing deadline for 2019 income tax returns is postponed to June 1, 2020;
• the balance-due day of income tax payable for the 2019 income tax return is postponed to September 1, 2020;
• the June 15, 2020 instalment payment date has been postponed to September 1, 2020;
• the maximum annual GST amount is doubled for the 2019-2020 benefit year: A special one-time payment will be paid in that respect no later than beginning of May; and
• the maximum CCB benefits will be increased by $300 per child: The May payment will include this amount.

The Economic Response Plan has been posted on the Department of Finance Canada Web site at: https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/economic-response-plan.html.

The Ministère des finances du Québec announced measures that harmonize with the federal measures with respect to postponement of the filing, balance-due day and the June 15, 2020 instalment payment dates. Therefore, the above-mentioned dates also apply to the Québec income tax return.

The different announcements were made in the 2020-3 and 2020-4 Information Bulletins which were published on March 17 and 18, 2020 respectively and in the March 17, 18 and 19, 2020 Press Releases:

http://www.finances.gouv.qc.ca/index_en.asp.

Note that the March 19, 2020 Press Release sets the balance-due day and the June 15, 2020 instalment payment dates to September 1, 2020.

In this version of the program, the general filing deadline and the balance-due day dates have been modified in the CLIENT LETTER tab of the preparer profile. The modified dates apply to all returns and display in the Taxation years and filing date section of the LW form. The modified dates have been inserted in the paragraphs relating to the filing deadline as well as the interest and late-filing penalty in the client letter.

Interests and late-filing penalty:

The modifications made to the filing deadline and balance-due day dates are automatically taken into account in the calculations in the Interest and QC Interest forms.

June 15, 2020 instalment:

The postponement of the June 15, 2020 instalment payment to September 1, 2020, has no impact on the calculation of this payment. A note to the effect that the June 15, 2020, payment is now only required on September 1, 2020, has been added to the federal Instalments form, the TP-1026 form and in the federal and Québec instalments tables included in the LW form.

Goods and services tax credit (GSTC) and Canada Child Benefit (CCB)

The calculation of the estimated GSTC and CCB payments for the 2019-2020 benefit year was performed in the 2018 versions of our programs and will not be modified to take these new measures into account. In addition, because the additional payments intended for May 2020 will be based on the 2018 income tax return, no changes can be made in the 2019 versions with respect to this measure.

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Corrected Calculations

The following problems have been corrected in version 2019 4.0:

• COVID-19 –The filing deadline for income tax returns, balance-due day and the June 15, 2020 instalment payment dates have been postponed – Special GSTC payment and increase in the CCB
• Forms T776, TP-80, TP-128, Q2121 and Q2042 – CCA classes 54 and 55 – The capital cost allowance (CCA) amount is incorrect when it relates to personal use of motor vehicles

Federal

• Area A of Forms T2125, T2121, T2042, T1163, T1273, T776 and Resource – CCA other than classes 10.1 and 13 – Problem concerning the calculation of the adjustment for current-year additions subject to the half-year rule

Alberta

• Schedule 6 – The base amount on line 24 of Schedule 6 is incorrect for Alberta residents

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Modifications Made to Version 3.0

Modifications Made to Forms

Federal

T1244, Election, Under Subsection 220(4.5) of the Income Tax Act, to Defer the Payment of Tax on Income Relating to the Deemed Disposition of Property (Jump Code: 1244)

The Details of property to which this election applies section was added to the form to enter property for which the taxpayer elected to defer the payment of federal and/or provincial or territorial income tax.

When a departure date is entered in the Identification form, you can choose, from the Transfer drop-down list in each sections of Schedule 3, to transfer the property disposed of for which the taxpayer made the election to defer income tax to Form T1244.

TaxprepConnect, TaxprepConnect Download (Jump Code: CONNECT)

In addition to displaying the HBP and/or LLP required repayment amount, the TaxprepConnect form now displays a new line entitled 2019 required repayment remaining. Normally, the amounts displayed on the lines 2019 required repayment and 2019 required repayment remaining amounts are identical. However, where a repayment was made before the beginning of the repayment period, the amount on the line 2019 required repayment remaining will be less than the amount on the line 2019 Required repayment. A diagnostic will warn you when this situation applies to a taxpayer so that you can make the required changes.

Québec 

TP-766.3.4, Tax on Split Income – Québec (Jump Code: Q766.3.4)

Revenu Québec has created a new form this year, i.e. the TP-766.3.4 form, in order to calculate the tax on split income (TOSI). This form replaces the QC 1206 custom calculation workchart previously used to calculate the TOSI for Québec purposes.

T5013/RL-15, Statement of Partnership Income (Jump Code: T5013)

In the RL-15 slip, the following boxes were removed because they can no longer be used for a fiscal period that ends in 2019:

• box 32-1, Québec exploration expenses that qualify for the additional deduction of 10%;
• box 32-2, Québec exploration expenses that qualify for the additional deduction of 25%;
• box 33-1, Québec surface mining and oil and gas exploration expenses that qualify for the additional deduction of 10%;
• box 33-2, Québec surface mining and oil and gas exploration expenses that qualify for the additional deduction of 25%;
• box 62-1, Québec exploration expenses that qualify for the additional deduction of 10%;
• box 62-2, Québec exploration expenses that qualify for the additional deduction of 25%;
• box 63-1, Québec surface mining and oil and gas exploration expenses that qualify for the additional deduction of 10%;
• box 63-2, Québec surface mining and oil and gas exploration expenses that qualify for the additional deduction of 25%.”

However, the taxpayer can continue to include 10% of the amount in boxes 32, 33, 62 and/or 63 in their exploration base relating to certain exploration expenses incurred in Québec and deduct up to 100% of the balance at the end of the taxation year, if it is positive. Therefore, the program calculates 10% of the total of the amounts in these boxes to calculate the additional deduction relating to Québec resources which can be claimed on line 287 of the income tax return.

T101/RL-11, Statement of Resource Expenses (Jump Code: T101)

In the RL-11 slip, the following boxes were removed because they can no longer be used:

• box D-1, Québec exploration expenses that qualify for the additional deduction of 10%;
• box D-2, Québec exploration expenses that qualify for the additional deduction of 25%;
• box E-1, Québec surface mining and oil and gas exploration expenses that qualify for the additional deduction of 10%;
• box E-2, Québec surface mining and oil and gas exploration expenses that qualify for the additional deduction of 25%.

However, the taxpayer can continue to include 10% of the amount in boxes D and/or E in their exploration base relating to certain exploration expenses incurred in Québec and deduct up to 100% of the balance at the end of the taxation year, if it is positive. Therefore, the program calculates 10% of the total of the amounts in these boxes to calculate the additional deduction relating to Québec resources which can be claimed on line 287 of the income tax return.

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Modifications Made to Version 2.0

Modifications Made to Forms

Federal

CLE letter and Form T183 – Changes to the customized letters

The paragraph related to Form T183 was updated in version 2 of the program. The following modifications were made:

• The signature line: reference to Part D was replaced by Part G;
• The pre-authorized debit: reference to Part G was replaced by Part C.

If you are using customized letters, make sure to apply these modifications.

Preparer Profile

CLIENT LETTER tab

The option includes the paragraph relating to the training amount limit of the Canada training credit was added to point 6, Regular letter options, in the Client letter information section. This option allows you to include a new paragraph in the letters to indicate the amount of training expenses for 2020. Note that the amount limit will also be communicated by the CRA on the Notice of Assessment.

T3, Statement of Trust Income (Jump Code: T3)

A new box 26 was added to enter the income of a member of a communal organization. Because this type of income should be transferred to a T2042, T2121 or T2125 statement, select, in the T3 slip, the statement to which the income should be transferred.

Schedule 3, Summary of Dispositions – Capital Gains (or Losses) (Jump Code: 3)

Line 50410 was added to enter taxable capital gains at the inclusion rate of 100% on disposition of an interest in a partnership under subsection 100(1). If an amount is entered on this line, it will be added to line 19900.

T1139, Alternative method – Death of a partner or proprietor (Jump Code: 1139)

In the case of a death that occurred after the end of the fiscal period of the business, if a partner or a proprietor had already chosen an accounting period not ending on December 31, the taxpayer's legal representative can elect to prepare an optional income tax and benefit return.

As a result, the legal representative is required to complete two sets of returns and Forms T1139 for 2019:

• The final income tax and benefit return and a T1139 form to report business income, as well as all other income, for the regular fiscal period.
• The optional income tax and benefit return and a T1139 form to report business income from the short fiscal period, i.e., the period that starts immediately after the end of the regular fiscal period and ends on the date of death of the partner or proprietor.

A section has been added to the T1139 form to calculate both the additional income to report on the final income tax and benefit return and the income to be taxed in the optional return when the election has been made to prepare an optional income tax and benefit return for the short fiscal period.

In addition, modifications were made to the Income calculation on a calendar-year basis (alternative method) section of statements T2042, T2125, T2121, T1163 and T1273 in order to reflect the changes made to Form T1139.

Deceased, Income Tax Return for Deceased Persons (Jump Code: DECEASED)

The Canada workers benefit (CWB), calculated in Schedule 6, can be claimed for a taxpayer who died in the year, but only if the death occurred after June 30. The CWB is then claimed on line 45300 in the final return but the calculations in Schedule 6 must take into account the working income, the tax-exempt working income and the adjusted family net income entered in the income tax returns prepared for this taxpayer for the year.

Boxes were added to the Deceased form to enter the following income from optional returns that must be taken into account in the CWB calculation:

• Working income for purposes of calculating the Canada workers benefit (Schedule 6, total of lines 3, 4 and 5)
• Tax-exempt income for emergency services volunteers (T1, line 10105).

Québec 

TP-1029.SA, Senior Assistance Tax Credit (Jump Code: Q1029.SA)

Because Form TP-1029.SA must now be signed by both members of the couple when they split the senior assistance tax credit, we added Form TP-1029.SA EFILE, Senior Assistance Tax Credit, which is only visible in the print formats. This new form is identical to the regular TP 1029.SA form but is only applicable when the credit is split between spouses.

Form TP-1029.SA EFILE is only used in the EFILE print format, in which it was configured in If Applicable mode. This way, a copy to be signed and kept on file of Form TP-1029.SA prints with the EFILE print format only when the credit is split between spouses.

If you created customized print formats in version 1.0 using the EFILE print format, it is important to configure Form TP-1029.SA EFILE in If Applicable mode in those print formats.

British Columbia

Provincial Benefits, British Columbia Early Childhood Tax Benefit and Child Opportunity Benefit (Jump Code: PROVBEN)

Effective October 1, 2020, the current child benefit in British Columbia, i.e. the BC Early Childhood Tax Benefit, will be replaced with a new B.C. Child Opportunity Benefit (BCCOB) to provide an enhanced monthly benefit to parents of children under the age of 18.

From July to September 2020, the existing B.C Early Childhood Tax Benefit will continue to be paid out monthly. For October 2020 to June 2021, families may be eligible to receive 1/12 of the annual benefit each month.

The B.C. Child Opportunity Benefit provides a tax-free monthly payment to families with children under the age of 18.

The maximum B.C. Child Opportunity Benefit is:

• $1,600 for a family’s first child;
• $1,000 for a second child;
• $800 for each subsequent child under the age of 18.

If the family net income is more than $25,000 but less than $80,000, the B.C. Child Opportunity Benefit is reduced by 4% of the portion of family net income over $25,000. However, the B.C. Child Opportunity Benefit for a family with family net income between $25,000 and $80,000 is not less than:

• $700 for the first child;
• $680 for the second child;
• $660 for each subsequent child under the age of 18.

For families with a family net income of $80,000 or more, the remaining B.C. Child Opportunity Benefit is reduced by 4% of the portion of family net income over $80,000 until it is reduced to zero.

New Brunswick

Schedule 14 – Removal of the climate action incentive for residents of New Brunswick and amount changes for Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan residents

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) announced that the federal fuel charge will no longer apply to New Brunswick, as the province will introduce its own carbon pricing starting in April 2020. As a result, Schedule 14 is no longer applicable for this province. The CRA also modified the amounts used to calculate the climate action incentive amount for Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan residents.

For more details, consult Troubleshooting T12019-001.

Northwest Territories

GSTC, Goods and Services Tax Credit (Jump Code: GSTC) - Northwest Territories Cost of Living Offset

The Northwest Territories (NWT) Cost of Living Offset (COLO) is a tax-free benefit paid to individuals and families living in the NWT to help offset the cost of the territorial carbon tax that became effective September 1, 2019. During the first year of the carbon tax (2019-2020), NWT residents will receive the annual COLO benefit in two equal payments: the first issued in October 2019 and the second in April 2020.

Starting in July 2020, the annual COLO benefit will be paid in equal payments and issued quarterly: July, October, January and April.

The amounts allocated for this tax credit for 2020-2021 will be:

• $104 for an individual;
• $104 for the spouse or common-law partner (or qualified dependant);
• $120 per child.

The COLO benefit is not based on family income.

Yukon

GSTC, Goods and Services Tax Credit (Jump Code: GSTC) - Yukon Government Carbon Price Rebate

A new individual carbon price rebate has been introduced by the Government of Yukon to offset the cost of carbon. The first payment for individuals was made in October 2019, and the second payment will be made in April 2020.

From July 2020, rebates will be paid in four equal payments and issued quarterly: July, October, January and April and include a remote supplement for individuals living in remote areas.

The amounts allocated for this tax credit for 2020-2021 will be:

• $192 for an individual;
• $192 for the spouse or common-law partner (or qualified dependant);
• $192 per child.

This benefit is not based on family income.

Yukoners who resided outside Whitehorse may also qualify for a 10% remote supplement and can confirm this information by selecting check box 63790 in the new Schedule YT(S14), Yukon Government Carbon Price Rebate (Jump Code: YT S14). The program automatically selects the box when the taxpayer’s city of residence is not Whitehorse in the address indicated on the Identification form.

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Forms Removed

Federal

RC59 - Business consent for offline access

RC59X – Cancel business consent or delegated authority

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Modifications Made to Version 1.0

Forms, Schedules, and Workcharts Added to the Program

Federal

T1 General, Income Tax and Benefit Return (Jump Code: J)

Starting with the 2019 tax year, Schedule 1, Federal Tax, will be removed but the content will be integrated into pages 6 and 7 of the income tax return.

You can still access former Schedule 1 by entering the jump code 1.

T90, Income Exempt under the Indian Act (Jump Code: 90)

A new check box has been added on page 2 of the income tax return to indicate whether an individual has received exempt income under the Indian Act. If this is the case, the new T90 form will have to be completed.

This new form allows an individual who is registered as an Indian under the Indian Act to calculate their employment income and their net exempt income. Since this income is not reported on an income tax and benefit return, the Canada Revenue Agency requires this information to determine the Canada training credit limit (CTCL) as well as the Canada workers benefit (CWB) to which the individual may be entitled. This form can also be used to calculate the provincial or territorial benefits to which the individual may be entitled, depending on where they reside.

When the form is completed in the program, the check box on page 2 of the tax return will be selected automatically.

Canada training credit (Jump Code: CTC)

The Canada training credit is a refundable tax credit designed to provide financial assistance to cover up to half of the tuition and other eligible expenses associated with training. This credit can only be claimed as of the 2020 taxation year.

However, for eligible individuals to claim this credit on their tax return for the 2020 taxation year, their training amount limit must be calculated with the information from the 2019 tax return.

The amount that may be claimed for a taxation year (beginning in 2020) will be equal to the lesser of:

• half of the tuition and other eligible expenses paid for the taxation year; and
• the balance of the individual's training amount limit for the taxation year (based on the amounts used and accumulated in respect of previous years).

To accumulate the amount of $250 corresponding to the training amount limit, an individual must:

• file a tax return for the year;
• be at least 26 years old and less than 66 years old at the end of the year (as of the 2020 taxation year);
• be resident in Canada throughout the year;
• have earnings (including income from an office or employment, self-employment income, Maternity and Parental Employment Insurance benefits or benefits paid under the Act respecting parental insurance, the taxable part of scholarship income, and the tax-exempt part of earnings of status Indians and emergency service volunteers) of $10,000 or more in the year; and
• have individual net income for the year that does not exceed the top of the third tax bracket for the year ($147,667 in 2019).

The taxpayer's training amount limit will be communicated to them each year in their Notice of Assessment and will be available through the Canada Revenue Agency’s My Account portal.

Individuals will be able to accumulate up to a maximum amount of $5,000 over a lifetime.

Therefore, in the program, the training amount limit for 2020 (based on information from the 2019 tax return) will be calculated in this new form.

13010, Taxable scholarship, fellowships, bursaries, and artists’ project grants (Jump Code: 13010)

A calculation workchart has been created to compute the taxable scholarship, fellowships, bursaries, and artists’ project grants. In 2018, this amount was computed in the calculation workchart relating to line 130, Other income, and was updated to line 130 of the return. Commencing in 2019, this amount is updated to the new line 13010 of the return.

Ontario

ON428-A, Low-income individuals and families tax credit (Jump Code: ON 428 A)

A new non-refundable low-income individuals and families tax credit has been introduced on line 62140 to reduce or eliminate Ontario personal income tax for low-income individuals with employment income.

ON479-A, Childcare Access and Relief from Expenses tax credit (Jump Code: ON 479 A)

A new refundable childcare access and relief from expenses tax credit has been introduced on line 63050 for low- and middle-income families with childcare expenses.

Nova Scotia

T224, Nova Scotia Venture Capital Tax Credit (Jump Code: 224)

This form is used to calculate the Nova Scotia venture capital tax credit. This new non-refundable tax credit is for taxpayers who invest in a corporation or a venture capital fund.

Note that this will be available in version 2019 2.0.

T225, Nova Scotia Innovation Equity Tax Credit (Jump Code: 225)

This form is used to calculate the new non-refundable Nova Scotia innovation equity tax credit. This tax credit is for eligible investors that invest in an approved corporation. The maximum credit for investments in ocean technology and life sciences is $112,500 and the one for other investments is $87,500.

Note that this will be available in version 2019 2.0.

Yukon

Schedule 14 YT, Yukon Government Carbon Price Rebate (Jump Code: YT 14)

This new schedule is for Yukon residents.

Eligible taxpayers must select the check box 63790 in Part 1 to indicate that they were living outside Whitehorse on December 31, 2019, to qualify for a 10% remote supplement for the Yukon Government Carbon Price Rebate paid to individuals. This supplement will be added to the base amount and payments will be issued quarterly starting in October 2020. Note that the program will perform the calculation based on the mailing address entered in Form Identification, Identification and Other Client Information (Jump Code: ID).

Part 2 is to be completed by businesses that want to apply for the Yukon Business Carbon Price Rebate. This amount will be updated to line 63855 of Form YT479, Yukon Credits (Jump Code: YT 479).

For more information, consult the instructions on the form.

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Modifications Made to Forms

Preparer Profiles

EFILE tab

As explained in the Information about EFILE section, the only way to make an authorization request to the CRA with a personal tax program (T1) will now be electronically. Therefore, in the EFILE tab, the option allowing users to clear the electronic transmission on all Forms T1013 has been removed. The AUTHORIZATION FORMS tab contains all options available with regards to authorization requests.

Federal

Forms ID, Identification (Jump Code: ID) and T2091 – Designation of a Property as a principal residence by and Individual

To guide you in a change in the use of a principal property, we made the following changes in Part “Principal residence” of Form Identification (Jump Code: ID):

• A new box now allows you to indicate if the taxpayer has ceased living in his or her principal residence to rent it or has ceased renting a residence to live in it in the current taxation year.
• Two boxes relating to the principal residence have been added. They allow you to indicate if the taxpayer has made an election under subsection 45(2) or 45(3).

  For residents of Québec only:

  The box relating to an election made after a change in the use of a principal property has been removed from Form T2091 and replaced with these two boxes.

• A field has also been added to enter the year during which the election has been made. When the answer to one of the boxes relating to an election under subsection 45(2) or 45(3) is Yes, the default year will be the current year, but can be modified as required. If an election was made in a previous year, you can also enter the year during which it was made.

  The boxes relating to an election under subsection 45(2) or 45(3) and the box relating to the year of the election will be rolled forward to retain this data as long as the principal residence is not actually disposed of.

Diagnostics will advise you on the steps to take depending on the box or boxes you have selected.

Identification and Other Client Information (Jump Code: ID)

The CRA asked all tax software designers to include additional validations when a date of death is entered in a return, for purposes of preventing final returns from being mistakenly filed for taxpayers who are not deceased.

Therefore, when a date of death is entered in the ID form, a message will now be displayed, requesting a confirmation that the information related to the final return is correct.

T4, Statement of Remuneration Paid (Jump Code: T4)

Box 68, Indian (exempt income) – Eligible retiring allowances, have been deleted.

T4E, Statement of Employment Insurance and Other Benefits (Jump Code: T4E)

Report the amount of the employment insurance maternity and parental benefits received in 2019 on line 11905 of the return. This amount can be found on the letter sent by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). A box was added for this purpose on the T4E slip.

In addition, report on line 11905 of the return the amount of provincial parental insurance plan (PPIP) maternity and parental benefits entered in box 36 of the T4E slip. Box 36 was also added for this purpose on the T4E slip.

In both cases, these amounts are already included in the income on line 11900 of the return. Therefore, they should not be added again in the calculation of the total income on line 15000 of the return.

Line 22215 – New deduction for the CPP or QPP enhanced contributions on employment income

Starting in 2019, a new deduction is available for CPP and QPP enhanced contributions on pensionable earnings.

This new deduction corresponds to 0.15% of the total CPP or QPP contributions on employment income.

The deduction should be deducted on line 22215, and the maximum amount that can be deducted is $80.85.

Schedule 8, Schedule 8QC and Form RC381 underwent important changes and are used to calculate the deduction amount on line 22215.

New CCA class – Classes 54 and 55 – Zero-emission vehicles

At the time the March 19, 2019 Budget was tabled, the federal government proposed to grant a temporary CCA rate enhanced by 100% with respect to eligible zero-emission vehicles acquired as of the Budget date.

As a result, two CCA classes were created:

• Class 54 for zero-emission vehicles that would otherwise be included in class 10 or 10.1. This class includes zero-emission passenger vehicles for which the cost eligible for the CCA is subject to a $55,000 limit (plus sales tax).
• Class 55 for zero-emission vehicles that would otherwise be included in class 16.

Modifications were made to the following forms to calculate the new classes 54 and 55:

Forms T2042, T2121, T2125, T1163, T1273 and T776

• The AUTOS forms for these forms were modified to calculate class 54.
• The CCA CLASS forms were modified to calculate classes 54 and 55.

Forms PARTNER and T777 CCA

These CCA CLASS forms were modified to calculate classes 54 and 55.

CCA CLASS – Capital Cost Allowance (CCA) workchart – Class 50 and 53

As a result of the tabling of Bill 42, on November 7, 2019, by the Government of Québec, the following modifications have been made to the calculation of the amount on line E in subsection Qualified property that was acquired after November 20, 2018, and before December 4, 2018 of Section Additional capital cost allowance (CCA) for Québec to be compliant with section 156.7.5 TA, as proposed in section 37 of Bill 42:

• the field Amount added to UCC attributable to all qualified properties in the class has been renamed Half of the capital cost of qualified property that became available for use in the current taxation year and is equal to half of the amount entered on the new line Capital cost of qualified property that became available for use in the current taxation year before July 1, 2019.

T2202, Tuition and Enrolment Certificate (Jump Code: T2202)

The following changes have been made to the T2202 slip:

• it has been renumbered, with the result that it changed from T2202A to T2202;
• the study periods and the tuition fees entered on the slip have also been renumbered, with the result that the total number of part-time months is now entered in box 24 (previously entered in column B), the total number of full-time months is now entered in box 25 (previously entered in column C) and the total tuition fees paid is now in entered box 26 (previously entered in column A); and
• Form TL11B, Tuition Fees Certificate - Flying School or Club, has been eliminated by the CRA (it was not supported by the program), with the result that flying schools and clubs must now use T2202 Slip to report their students’ enrolment information.

Schedule 6, Canada Workers Benefit (Jump Code: 6)

The Working Income Tax Benefit has been renamed the Canada Workers Benefit.

For 2019, taxpayers can choose whether or not to include non-taxable income, such as the tax-exempt working income earned on a reserve or an allowance received as an emergency volunteer. The program will calculate the most advantageous scenario based on the data entered.

Schedule 11, Federal Tuition, Education, and Textbook Amounts (Jump Code: 11)

Line 32001 has been added to federal Schedule 11 to differentiate eligible tuition fees paid to foreign educational institutions from eligible tuition fees paid to Canadian educational institutions included on line 32000.

Schedule 14 - Climate Action Incentive (Jump Code: S14)

Commencing in 2019, this schedule applies to Alberta in addition to Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

For more information, consult the instructions on the form.

Direct Deposit Request (Jump Code: DD)

Starting with the 2019 tax year, the CRA will remove the “Direct deposit - Enrol or update” section from the Income Tax and Benefit Return (Jump Codes: J and J CONDENSED).

However, the enrolment option available in the program will now only be available via EFILE by submitting the new direct deposit fields (46000, 46100 and 46200), which will be accessible in Form Direct Deposit Request. Please note that, as per the CRA’s request, paper filed returns will not include direct deposit fields in the bar codes.

Taxpayers will still be able to register through the following methods: My Account online, MyCRA mobile application, by phone, with select financial institutions, or by completing and mailing a direct deposit enrolment form available at the following link: https://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/recgen/form/inscription-enrolment-eng.html.

If attaching an enrolment form with the paper return, a void cheque or bank stamp is required, or the form will be rejected.

T1-ADJ, T1 Adjustment Request (Jump Code: T1ADJ)

Because of the new 5-digit numbering of federal lines, Form T1-ADJ can now only be used for the 2019 tax year and adjustments of future years. If you need to adjust tax returns of prior years, you can use the 2018 version of the Taxprep program.

T657, Calculation of Capital Gains Deduction (Jump Code: 657)

Capital gains arising from the disposition of property made after 2008 and before 2014 qualify for a $375,000 cumulative deduction, which represents half of a lifetime exemption of $750,000.

Capital gains arising from the disposition of property in 2014 give rise to a $400,000 cumulative deduction, which represents half of the $800,000 lifetime exemption. The amount of this cumulative deduction has been indexed from 2015 to 2019 and will continue being indexed each year, until it reaches $500 000, which represents half of a lifetime exemption of $1,000,000.

As a result, for the gains arising from the dispositions of property in 2015, the cumulative deduction is $406,800, which represents half of a lifetime exemption of $813,600.

For gains arising from the disposition of property in 2016, the cumulative deduction is $412,088, which represents half of a lifetime exemption of $824,176.

For gains arising from the disposition of property in 2017, the cumulative deduction is $417,858, which represents half of a lifetime exemption of $835,716.

For gains arising from the disposition of property in 2018, the cumulative deduction is $424,126, which represents half of a lifetime exemption of $848,252.

For gains arising from the disposition of property in 2019, the cumulative deduction is $433 456, which represents half of a lifetime exemption of $866 912.

In addition, for dispositions of qualified farm property or qualified fishing property made after April 20, 2015, the cumulative deduction is $500,000, which represents half of the $1,000,000 lifetime exemption. The dispositions of small business corporation shares do not give rise to this additional deduction.

Home Buyers’ Plan Withdrawal (Jump Code: HBP)

For 2019 and following years, the withdrawal limit under the Home Buyers’ Plan increased to $35,000. This applies only to withdrawals made on or after March 20, 2019. Otherwise, for withdrawals prior to this date, the maximum amount that can be withdrawn is $25,000.

A diagnostic was implemented in the program and displays when the withdrawal amount is greater than $35,000.

EFILE Information (Jump Code: EFILE INFO)

Section “Electronic services statuses”, which displays the cells indicating the current statuses of all electronic services, was added to this form. These cells can be used to create new conditions in client letters. They can also be dragged in the Monitor tracking tool.

Québec 

Changes to the location of mandatory information on Québec forms

In accordance with Revenu Québec requirements, the taxpayer’s social insurance number as well as the NetFile Québec preparer number will now print at the bottom of each Revenu Québec form.

TP1 – Line 248, New deduction for contributions to pension plans  (Jump Code: Q248)

Starting in 2019, a new deduction is available for QPP and CPP enhanced contributions on pensionable earnings.

This new deduction corresponds to 0.15% of the total QPP and CPP contributions on employment income.

The deduction should be deducted on line248 of the TP1 return, and the maximum amount that can be deducted is $80.85.

Form LE-35 underwent important changes and is used to calculate the deduction amount on line 248.

TP1 – Line 289, Non-Capital Losses from Other Years (Jump Code: Q289)

Starting in 2019, a workchart has been added to specify the type of losses claimed on line 289 of the TP1 return. Based on the type of losses claimed, a code will be updated to line 289.1 of the return.

TP1 – Line 391, Tax Credit for career extension (Jump Code: Q391)

As of the 2019 taxation year, the tax credit for experienced workers is renamed tax credit for career extension. The age of eligibility for the tax credit is decreased from 61 to 60. The maximum amount of eligible work income on which the tax credit is calculated is $10,000 for workers aged 60 to 64. The maximum amount remains $11,000 for workers aged 65 or over.

The maximum amount of the tax credit for career extension is $1,500 for workers aged 60 to 64 and $1,650 for workers aged 65 or over.

RL-19 Slip, Advance payments of tax credits (Jump Code: QR19)

Box H of the RL-19 slip was removed because the tax credit for the restoration of a secondary residence was a temporary tax credit for 2017 and 2018 only. As a result, anticipated payments for the tax credit applied for 2017 and 2018 only.

MR-69, Authorization to Communicate Information or Power of Attorney (Jump Code: Q69)

As per Revenu Québec requirements, the 2D bar code is no longer generated when some minimal validations are not met. Diagnostics have been added or updated to advise the preparer that the bar code will not be generated when printing the form as long as the adjustments are not made. Please note that the absence of a 2D bar code may cause processing delays from Revenu Québec.

TP-1029.9, Tax Credit for Taxi Drivers or Taxi Owners (Jump Code: Q1029.9)

Starting in the 2019 taxation year, the temporary increase of a maximum of $500 in the refundable tax credit for taxi driver permit holders is no longer allowed. In the 2019 version of Form TP-1029.9, lines 27b to 27f in Part 2, which are used to calculate this increase for 2017 and 2018, will still be present, but no amount on these lines will be calculated in the program.

TP-1029.SA, Senior assistance tax credit (Jump Code: Q1029.SA)

This form must now be signed by both members of a couple when they split the credit among themselves. No signature is required on the form if the credit is not split. Client letters in the program have been adjusted accordingly. In addition, this credit is now claimed on line 463 of the TP1 return.

ASSISTANCE QC, Family Assistance (Jump Code: QASSISTANCE)

Commencing on April 1, 2019, the family allowance adds a new level of assistance named “second level” which is added to the Supplement for Handicapped Children Requiring Exceptional Care (SHCREC).

This second level of the SHCREC will provide additional direct assistance to the families concerned in the amount of $652 per month, or $7,824 annually. Taking into account the amount already granted through the SHC, which amounts to $195 per month, the total financial assistance granted for handicapped children requiring exceptional care under the second level of the SHCREC will reach $10,164 annually.

For more information on the eligibility conditions of a child for the second level of SHCREC, consult the Information Bulletin 2019-6.

A box has been added to Form FAM, Family Profile (Jump Code: FAM) to determine if a child meets the criteria for the second level of the SHCREC. When this check box is selected, the calculation is triggered in the ASSISTANCE QC form and the amounts granted to the second level are therefore included in the family allowance receivable by the taxpayer.

British Columbia

BC479, British Columbia Credits (Jump Code: BC479)

The maximum credit amount that can be claimed by an individual for the venture capital tax credit has increased.

Schedule BC(S11), Provincial Tuition and Education Amounts (Jump Code: BC S11)

The British Columbia education amount has been eliminated in 2019. However, unused education amounts of prior years can still be claimed.

Alberta

PROVBEN, Provincial or Territorial Benefit Worksheet (Jump Code: PROVBEN)

The Alberta child and family benefit will replace the Alberta family employment tax credit and the Alberta child benefit effective July 1, 2020. The ACFB will focus dollars more effectively on families with lower incomes, with many lower income families receiving higher benefits compared to the old programs. Under the new ACFB, a family with two children can receive up to $593 more per year, while a family with four children can receive up to $889 more per year. This credit is a non-taxable amount paid to lower- and middle-income families with children under 18 years of age. This program is fully funded by the Province of Alberta. The annual amount is split into four payments and is paid separately from the Canada child benefit.

Saskatchewan

SK428, Saskatchewan Tax and Credits (Jump Code: SK428)

The Saskatchewan tax credit relating to the tools of an employee had been abolished for the 2017 and subsequent taxation years. Starting this year, you will no longer be able to claim an unused one-time trade entry credit amount.

Manitoba

MB479, Manitoba Credits (Jump Code: MB 479)

Beginning in 2019, the $250 deductible for the education property tax credit is eliminated and the calculation of occupancy cost is now based on school taxes paid.

Yukon

YT479, Yukon Credits (Jump Code: YT 479)

A new refundable Yukon carbon price rebate for businesses can be claimed at field 63855.

New Brunswick

Schedule NB(S11), Provincial Tuition and Education Amounts (Jump Code: NB S11)

The tax credit for New Brunswick tuition amount, which was abolished in 2017, has been re-established in 2019. In addition, any provincial tuition amounts that could have been claimed in 2017 and 2018 can be claimed in 2019 and future taxation years.

Newfoundland and Labrador

NL428, Newfoundland and Labrador Tax and Credits (Jump Code: NL428)

A new non-refundable Search and rescue volunteer tax credit is available to eligible volunteers beginning January 1, 2019. You can claim either the volunteer firefighters’ amount (VFA) or the search and rescue volunteers’ amount (SRVA) if the rules are met for claiming the amount on line 31220 or the amount on line 31240 of your return. Enter on line 58315 the VFA you claimed on line 31220 of your return, or enter on line 58316 the SRVA you claimed on line 31240 of your return.

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Forms Removed

Québec

• Schedule I – Additional subsidized educational childcare contribution
• Relevé 30 – Subsidized educational childcare

Alberta

• GST – The Alberta climate leadership adjustment rebate has been eliminated effective July 1, 2019.

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Technical Information

Technical Changes

We are proud to present the many technical changes to the enhanced version of Personal Taxprep. We are convinced that you will be pleased with these changes.

Enhancements to the user interface

The following enhancements have been made to the interface to refine the display of the many Personal Taxprep views:

• A single toolbar: The Standard and Advanced toolbars have been merged into a single toolbar that is always displayed which content adjusts according to the view selected. This new toolbar also provides new buttons with a more intuitive design.
• Access to the views: The shortcut bar that was available on the left side of the main screen of Personal Taxprep was replaced by the button. When you click this button, a menu displays to allows you to select the desired view.
• Zoom: The tool allowing you to resize the form is now available in the right corner of the status bar.
  
  To know how to use this tool, consult the page Customize Form Display.
  The selected zoom factor will apply only to the forms. The Xpress tool and the diagnostics pane possess options allowing you to apply a zoom factor different from the one set for the display of forms.
• AutoText: To facilitate the entry of data, which is sometimes repetitive, a list of AutoText suggestions in alphabetical order now displays from an alphanumeric field for which such list exists. Start entering an alphanumerical value and, when a list displays, click the value that you want to insert in the cell.
• TaxprepConnect status bar: The TaxprepConnect a status bar has been modified. The Download button allows you to download a taxpayer's data, while the icon allows you to display Form CONNECT, TaxprepConnect Download (Jump Code: CONNECT), to review the downloaded data. In addition, you can place the cursor of your mouse on the icon to display the date of the last download performed for the active client file. For more information on TaxprepConnect, consult the page How to Download Tax Data with TaxprepConnect .

Standardized presentation of information in the views

In addition to the Client Manager, Form Manager, EFILE Log view and EFILE Archives view, the following views are also presented in tables:

• Print Formats view 
• Preparer Profiles view 
• Filters and Diagnostics view 
• Letters and Labels view 
• Rate Tables view 
• Advanced Network view (available with the Advance Network version)

Therefore, the functionalities available in these views to display, order and filter the information are identical. The following enhancements have been made to certain of the functionalities:

• the search is performed from the search box or by using the Ctrl+F shortcut. For more information on this topic, consult the page Search Through Views.
  
• the grouping area located at the top of the view is no longer displayed at all times. To group the content of a view according to a column, click the Group button, and drag the column header to the grouping area displayed. To ungroup , click the Ungroup button.
• the filters available on the column headers now provide more criteria to allow you to quickly find the information you are searching for. As a result, in the Values tab, you can enter the text you are searching for in the list to find the one that you want to use as a search criterion. A second tab is also available to allow you to use advanced filter functions. For more information, consult the page Filter Based on the Content of One Column.

As mentioned above, the Print Formats, Letters and Labels and Filters and Diagnostics views are now presented in tables. In addition to taking advantage of the functionalities listed above, this new way of presenting information provides you with a way to order templates per template types, i.e. predefined or customized. As a result, the customized templates are displayed first in the view as they are the most frequently used templates.

Letter Editor: more editing tools available

The following have been enhanced in the Letter Editor used to define the content of letter templates. It also allows you to format and layout the letter.

• Tables: You can now add one or more tables in a letter template to display data on lines and in columns. For more information on tables, consult the page Add or delete a table.
• Review comments: You can now add comments to a letter template to enter any information, suggestion or question to be communicated to your colleagues responsible for updating or reviewing the letter template. For more information on review comments, consult the page Add, edit or delete comments.
• Formatting tools: For more information on the many tools provided in the Letter Editor consult the page About the Letter Editor.

Xpress and Diagnostics pane: easier-to-use tools

You can now float the Xpress tool panel or the diagnostics pane to move it. It can be moved to another screen to facilitate data entry in the main screen. To do so, in the toolbar, click the Xpress button or the Diagnostics button, then click Float and move the panel to the other screen. Consult the video for a demonstration of the floating pane.

Options to resize the text, the zoom in and the zoom out  have been added to the Xpress tool and the diagnostics pane. For more information on these options, consult the pages Customize the Xpress List Display and Customize Diagnostics Display.

In addition, as it is now possible to float the Xpress tool panel, the Browse toolbar has been removed from the Display/Toolbar menu.

Changes relating to diagnostics

As the information in the diagnostics pane is presented in a table, a grouping area located in the top portion of the pane, where you can group the content of the pane according to a column, is also available. To group content in the diagnostics pane according to a column (for example, the Type), click the Group  button, then drag the column header to the displayed grouping area.

Diagnostics are ordered by group and each group is presented in a separate table. The name of the group as well as the number of diagnostics are indicated on tabs:

• The Take Action tab displays the diagnostics issued by Personal Taxprep on which no action has yet been taken.
• The Reviewed tab displays the diagnostics that were reviewed during a first or second revision.
• The Ignored tab displays the diagnostics that were ignored during a first or second revision.

Precisions relating to diagnostics

• An annotated diagnostic with the or indicators which is resolved remains in the Reviewed tab; however, the colour of the indicators displayed in the Annotation column is modified ( or ).
• The diagnostic indicator for a tax cell is no longer displayed when the diagnostics issued for that cell are annotated and no other diagnostic applies to this cell. Therefore, the diagnostic(s) display before the return is printed.

Help tools: easier to access

online help centre

Personal Taxprep provides you with an online Help Centre containing tax and technical information pages that will answer your various questions and will help you efficiently use Personal Taxprep. When you consult the Help, the relevant help topic will display in your computer's default Web browser.

At any time you can use the search box located in the top right corner of the page to obtain information on a specific topic.

In addition to providing regularly updated tax and technical information, the Help Centre contains support information (such as troubleshooting memos and frequently asked questions) and provides useful links to the CRA and Revenu Québec Web sites and certain help centres of software programs integrated with Personal Taxprep.

Professional centre

The Professional Centre now displays in your computer's default Web browser. This allows you to consult the Professional Centre in another screen while continuing to work in Personal Taxprep. Make sure that you enter your CCH services username and password in the options and settings of Personal Taxprep to take advantage of the services available in the Professional Centre.

Folder location

The location of certain folders related to Personal Taxprep that were in the CCH folder is now in the Wolters Kluwer folder. As a result, during installation, Personal Taxprep will prompt you for a different location for the following:

• the Personal Taxprep installation folder,
• the database and the transmission files,
• the templates, and
• the data exported of Taxprep slips.

Notes: The location where the data exported from Taxprep slips is retained for import purposes in Personal Taxprep is now Wolters Kluwer. The default location under the Wolters Kluwer folder will be suggested. For example: C:\Users\WindowsUserName\Documents\Wolters Kluwer\Common\Taxprep Slips Integration. The folder initially suggested when opening a client file will be Wolters Kluwer. For example : C:\Users\WindowsUserName\Documents\Wolters Kluwer\T1 Taxprep 2019\Client. You can define a default folder in the Options - File Locations panel of the options and settings. The default folder suggested during roll forward of client files is the client file folder defined in Personal Taxprep 2018. For example: C:\Users\WindowsUserName\Documents\CCH\T1 Taxprep 2018\. The default folder suggested during templates conversion is the templates folder defined in Personal Taxprep 2018. For example: C:\Users\WindowsUserName\Documents\CCH\T1 Taxprep 2018\.

Enhancements to the Advanced Network view (available in the Advanced Network version)

Like the Client Manager, the Form Manager and the various templates views, the Advanced Network view is now presented in a table. You can take advantage of the different functionalities available in those views to customize the display according to your requirements and perform searches.

The Advanced Network view is split into two portions that allow you to view, add, delete and define properties for the users and groups:

• The upper portion relates to user groups.
• The lower portion relates to users: by selecting a group in the upper portion of the view, the users associated with this group are displayed in this location.

Portion relating to user groups

You can use the different commands available in the toolbar to add, copy or define properties for the groups. You can also access the different server features using the following buttons in the toolbar:

Click ...	To ...
	Retrieve the previous version configuration. For more information, consult the page Retrieve the Network Configuration (Advanced Network version)
	Define server properties
	Update the server

The On-line and Off-line columns allow you to copy the profile rights of a group to the other group profile or another group profile using the Copy Profile command. The Off-line column indicates also whether or not the group has the rights required to work in off-line mode:

• the icon indicates that the group has the rights required to work in off-line mode.
• the icon indicates that the group does not have the rights required to work in off-line mode.

To modify the rights to associate with a group, double-click the group for which you want to perform modifications. This way, you will have access to the Policies Editor to define the rights for the group profiles in off-line or on-line mode.

Note: The List of Users group allows you to view the list of all users in the lower portion of the view.

Portion relating to users

The bottom section allows you to view the users who are in the selected group. You can use the different commands available in the toolbar to:

1. add a user;
2. delete a user; or
3. set user properties.

Advanced settings

Development toolkit

The guide Taxprep Development Toolkit Instructions and Excel file Taxprep T1 Development Toolkit Demo are only available in the online Help Centre.

In addition, the following functions have been renamed:

• ITaxprepReturn becomes IT120YYTaxprepReturn
• ITaxprepCell becomes TaxprepT120YYCell
• Object becomes Taxprep20YYT1Return

To review the guide or to download the Excel file, consult the Taxprep Development Toolkit.

Silent Installation

You can now install Personal Taxprep silently using the Windows command prompt. For more information on the silent installation, consult the page Silent Installation.

Software integrations

Integration with CCH Scan

The enhancements below have been made to the CCH Scan pane:

• the list of bookmarks in the PDF file has been replaced by the Thumbnails and Bookmarks tabs.
  

  the Thumbnails tab allows you to display each page of the PDF file in miniature size; the Bookmarks allows you to display the list of bookmarks previously created in a PDF file.

• to add or search for a PDF file when no PDF file is attached to the return, you must now click the list Add or Select a PDF, then Modify or Search.
  
• In the list of files attached to the CCH Scan pane, and icon prompts you when an attached PDF is password-protected:
  

  the icon indicates that the file is password-protected and locked. When you select a locked PDF file from the drop-down list of the CCH Scan pane, you must enter the password for that file to unlock it. You must enter the password each time you open Personal Taxprep the icon indicates that the PDF file is password-protected and unlocked. You do not need to enter the password to open the PDF file.

• No CCH Scan plug-in is required in the enhanced version of Personal Taxprep.
• Adobe is no longer required for the integration with CCH Scan. However, annotation with PDFlyer is no longer possible in the CCH Scan pane. However, you can always benefit from the PDFlyer advantages when you open a PDF file from a location other than the CCH Scan pane.

other integrations

• Integration with the CCH Accountants' Suite: Integrations with the CCH Document On-Premise and CCH Scan programs are available with Personal Taxprep.

Modifications in the options and settings

The Apply button has been removed from the Options and settings dialog box. You must now make your modifications in the different panels and click the OK button.

The option to select the paper orientation when printing labels has been removed from the Labels/Format panel.

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New since the 2018 enhanced version

Enhancing the performance of Personal Taxprep

We are aware that the performance of your work tools is essential to a successful tax season. As a result, much effort was dedicated to enhancing the performance of Personal Taxprep with respect to the roll forward of client files, data recalculation and return printing.

Addition of the Forms menu in the edit templates view

The Forms menu and shortcut keys for commands of this menu are once again available in the different views to edit templates.

Retrieving the previous version configuration

The following previous version configuration items of Personal Taxprepare once again available:

• AutoText;
• Highlighted search results.

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Where to Find Help

If you have any questions regarding the installation or use of the program, there are several options for getting help. Access the Professional Centre for tips and useful information on how to use the program. If you are in the program and need help, press F1 to get help on a specific topic.

Videos available in the Professional Centre and on our Web site!

To learn more about Taxprep or to become familiar with the different features, consult the videos available in the Professional Centre.

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Taxprep e-Bulletin

For your convenience, you are automatically subscribed to the enhanced edition of the Taxprep e-Bulletin, a free e-mail service that ensures you receive up-to-date information about the latest version of Personal Taxprep. If you want to review your subscription to Taxprep e-Bulletin, visit https://wolterskluwer.ca/products/taxprep/ and, in the Existing Taxprep Customers section, click Support. In the Support menu, select Taxprep e-Bulletin. Click Newsletter Manager in the Taxprep e-Bulletin section. You can also send an e-mail to cservice@wolterskluwer.com to indicate the products for which you wish to receive general information or information on our software (Personal Taxprep, Corporate Taxprep, Taxprep for Trusts, Taxprep Forms or CCH Accountants’ Suite).

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How to Reach Us

E-mail

Customer Service:
cservice@wolterskluwer.com

Tax and Technical support:
csupport@wolterskluwer.com

Telephone

1-800-268-4522

Web Site

https://wolterskluwer.ca/products/taxprep/

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