• Welcome and introduction 
• Purpose and relevance of the certificate in current practices 
• Overview of key topics and modules 
• Program Expectations – self-study, office hours, homework cases, materials 
• Discuss other compliance related issues

Assessment at the end must be completed before proceeding to Module 2 

1.1 Practice Exercises – Residency

• Income sourcing, foreign tax credits (FTCs)
• Factual Residents, Part Year Residents, Deemed Residents, Non-Residents, and Deemed Non-Residents (treaty tiebreaker)
• Quebec residency considerations

1.2 Tax Treatment of Equity Income – Stock Options and RSUs

1.3 Payroll Process Overview

• Tax residency and Province of employment – withholding and reporting
• Considerations for remote workers
• Common compensation items, their sourcing and tax treatment
• Non-Resident Employer certification
• Shadow payroll and other concepts

1.4 Individual Taxpayers

• Employees - Assignees, Transfers, Business travelers and Treaty exempt individuals
• Business owners – Unincorporated and Incorporated business owners

Assessment at the end of module to ensure participants are prepared for advanced modules.

Must be completed prior to attending Module 3

2.1 Best Practices – Review and Sign-off

2.2 Advanced Considerations – Non-Resident Returns

• Business income, Taxable Canadian Property, 232 and 256 deductions, Part XIII scenarios, Rental tax return (s216), s217 overview
• Sale of real property by a non-resident - Certificate of Compliance (T2062)

2.3 Advanced Considerations – Resident (Full Year and Part Year) Returns

• T1135 - Advanced reporting considerations
• Overview of Forms T1134, T1141 and T1142
• Short-term assignees and commuters to US – Forms RC 267 and RC 268
• T1213 Waiver
• ACB considerations for securities
• Crypto and Other Digital Assets Reporting
• Unwinding of departure taxes
• Foreign tax credits – pro-ration vs full amount, FTC on business income, calendar vs fiscal year, subsections 20(11) & 20(12) etc.
• Multi-jurisdictional filings

Activity: Class exercises
Homework: Mini-cases

3.1 Employment Income and Benefits

• Reporting Non-Cash Benefits and Allowances
  • Common benefits – taxable and non-taxable, including low-interest and interest-free loans, employee deductions (Home office, operating a car, legal fees etc.)
  • Employee vs independent contractor
  • Incorporated employee
  • Other credits and deductions
• Stock Options and their Tax Implications
  • CCPCs vs non-CCPCs
  • Risk management

3.2 Self-Employed (Unincorporated Business)

• Self-Employed (Unincorporated Business)
  • Detailed reporting of income and expenses. (Form T2125) e.g., home office expenses, CCA claims, private health care premiums, Canada training credit etc.

3.3 Investment Income

• Reporting complex equity income such as stock options, RSUs, and non-qualified stock options
• Handling significant investment income and capital gains – linked notes, ABIL, superficial losses, prior years’ losses etc.
• Handling complex investment structures such as private equity, hedge funds, and real estate investments

Activity: Class exercises
Homework: Review of Resident Tax Returns 
Asynchronous video will cover the practice cases debrief.

4.1 International Tax Issues

• Managing cross-border income and reporting
• Application of US-Canada tax treaty and foreign tax credits
  • Key provisions of the treaty impacting individual taxpayers
  • Application of treaty benefits to various income types
  • How treaties affect tax obligations and planning
  • Case studies on treaty application and problem-solving

4.2 Rental Income

• Dealing with complex rental situations and depreciation e.g., recaptured depreciation in the year of sale, recurring rental losses, renting to relatives at below market rates etc.

4.3 Principal Residence

• Common types of properties that qualify
• Residential property flipping rules
• Change in use rules & elections - 45(2) and 45(3)
• Advanced issues – duplex units, partial rental, use of trusts, Marital breakdown etc.

4.4 Advanced Deductions and Credits

• Navigating and optimizing use of federal and provincial tax credits
• Strategic use of deductions such as charitable donations, medical expenses, home office deductions
• Leveraging credits related to education, disability, family benefits, and long-term elder care
• Other considerations - Home Buyers’ Plan (HBP), Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP) and Canada Learning Bond (CLB)

Activity: Class exercises
Homework: Review of Part Year Arrival & Departure Tax Returns
Asynchronous video will cover the practice cases debrief.

5.1 Retirement Savings, Income and Other Registered Plans

• Taxation of pensions and retirement accounts (RRSPs, RRIFs); other important considerations e.g., contributing qualified investments, investing in shares of private Canadian corps, attribution rules, transfers between plans
• Retirement compensation arrangement (RCA)
• Tax treaties' impact on retirement income
• Strategies for tax-efficient withdrawals and conversions
• Spousal RRSP
• Sharing of CPP and QPP retirement payments with spouse
• Pension income splitting
• Advanced considerations for TFSAs and similar vehicles such as FHSAs
• Gifting to spouses and children
• Taxability and other implications related to RPPs, DPSPs, RDSPs and RESPs
• Other considerations e.g., Postpone the beginning of OAS benefits and CPP/QPP retirement pension

5.2 Cross-border Considerations

• Rollover of a US retirement plan (401k or IRA) to Canada
• Taxation of cross-border pensions (US and Canada)
• Tax implications of employment abroad, including social security contributions
• Understanding and applying social security agreements
• Social security credits in both USA and Canada

Activity: Class exercises
Homework: Review of Non-Resident Tax Returns
Asynchronous video will cover the practice cases debrief.

6.1 Incorporated Businesses (focus on CCPCs) Taxability

• Small Business Deduction (SBD)
• Lifetime Capital Gains Exemption (LCGE), Income deferral, income splitting, attribution rules, TOSI rules, trapped losses, CCPCs and control
• Taxability of CCPCs vs non-CCPCs
• Understanding taxability of ABI vs non-ABI income

6.2 Distribution of Income from Corporation

• Optimal strategies for taking out funds
• Common owner-manager compensation structures
• Tax efficient investments

Activity: Class exercises
Homework: Mini-cases

7.1 Business Exit & Succession Planning

• Sale or gift of shares
• Discontinue the company
• Estate freeze
• Suitability of estate freeze
• Common tax structures to maximize after-tax proceeds e.g., family trusts and multiplication of LCGEs e.g., inter vivos, alter ego, joint partner
• QSBC qualification and purification
• Other related considerations e.g., new income sprinkling rules, wills, probate, privacy, POAs

7.2 Estate Planning and Wealth Transfer

• Estate Plan – Overview of key stages; Accumulation, Preservation, Realization and Transfer
• Preparing returns for deceased Individuals
• Types of tax returns that may be filed
• Identify and address issues – death year filings
• Planning for the deemed disposition at death
• Tax implications of gifting and receiving inheritances
• Use of trusts, foundations, and gifting strategies to manage wealth transfers
• Tax reporting for different types of trusts (e.g., family trusts, charitable trusts), to enhance understanding from an individual tax perspective
• Structuring family trusts and holding companies

7.3 Post-Mortem Planning

• Common strategies - Loss carry-back, Pipeline and Bump.
• Other related considerations

Activity: Class exercises
Homework: Mini-cases

8.1 Tax Research

• Research Tools and Resources
• Online databases and research platforms
• Government publications and CRA resources
• Professional tax research guides and commentaries

8.2 Understanding the ITA

• Research Tools and Resources
• Online databases and research platforms
• Government publications and CRA resources
• Professional tax research guides and commentaries
• Interpretation of ITA Provisions
• Researching Specific Tax Issues in ITA

8.3 Understanding the GAAR

• Definition and purpose of GAAR
• Key sections of the ITA related to GAAR
• Relationship between GAAR and other anti-avoidance provisions
• GAAR Framework
• Practical Application for Individual Tax Practitioners

8.4 Recent Legislative Updates

• Impact of recent updates and changes in tax laws and regulations

8.5 Compliance and Risk Management

• Identifying and mitigating risks related to tax planning and compliance
• Implementing strategies for audit prevention and response
• Managing Tax Audits
• Preparing for and responding to tax audits
• Addressing reassessments and appeals

Activity: Class exercises
Homework: Integrated Case (Tax Planning & Review of Tax Returns)
Asynchronous video will cover the practice cases debrief.

This will be the final question and answer session, and wrap-up.

Office hours are optional, but the instructor will be available during these times to provide additional support and to answer any questions regarding the course material.