5 rules to pay less tax

Do you plan to be wealthy? Then it’s time to go to tax school. As your kids head back to the classroom to learn to read and write, you can learn basic taxation principles that will help you build wealth faster.

There’s a reason why those who have more, care more about taxes. They know that what’s truly important is your “real net worth”—the net value of assets after taxes, inflation and accumulation costs such as interest on debt and professional fees. It’s all about what you keep and what it’s worth when you need it. Learn these five important tax principles, and you’ll have a more enlightened view of what wealth is, and how to build it faster.

1. Understand what income is. Make it your business to understand tax jargon. Start by learning the definitions of income: total income, net income, taxable income, earned income for RRSP purposes—they all have different meanings. The most important of these is “net income,” because that’s the figure used in many federal and provincial tax credit calculations. When you know how to reduce your effective net income through deductions like RRSP contributions or investment carrying charges, you will tap into the most government benefits and pay the least federal and provincial taxes.

2. Don’t pay before you have to. One of the best ways to turn the tables in your favour is to refuse to overpay your taxes throughout the year. Think differently about your tax refund: it’s an interest-free loan you give to government. Instead, focus on reducing it and your taxes at the same time. Consider asking CRA to permit your employer to reduce tax withheld to take your RRSP contribution into account, thereby receiving your refund every two weeks, instead of next April.

3. Offset bracket creep. If you can take control over your pre-tax earnings so you can invest more sooner, you’ll have an important hedge against inflation­—a formidable foe that reduces future purchasing power. Governments can use inflation in their favour as a powerful tax collector. One way is through “bracket creep.”

The table above explains how this works against Aaron, a high income earner in Ontario. His salary is $140,000 and it’s indexed to inflation, plus he has $10,000 in investment income. The rate of tax he pays to the Ontario government on his next taxable dollar is 11.16%. Ontario recently introduced a new 12.16% rate, but right now, Aaron’s income is below the threshold. Unfortunately, not for long: as his income rises due to inflation, he will have to pay tax at a higher rate because of bracket creep.

Luckily there are three ways for astute savers like Aaron to fight back: With good tax planning, you can eliminate the tax on investment income using a TFSA (Tax-Free Savings Account), defer tax on employment income with an RRSP (Registered Retirement Savings Plan), and diversify and split income sources by transferring investment income to your spouse.

4. Reduce taxes as a family. Because we have a progressive tax system, the more you earn the more you pay. As well, different income sources attract different marginal tax rates. But when multiple income sources are earned by several taxpayers in the family, instead of just one, the household can successfully average taxes downward. Family income splitting is an important principle in tax-efficient wealth management—so do your tax planning as a family to fund important family milestones. An RESP (Registered Education Savings Plan) can be helpful here in transferring investment earnings to the university-bound.

5. Borrow wisely. When it comes to interest, you’ll be richer if you earn it, instead of paying it. But, if you must pay interest, make sure it’s deductible. Arrange your affairs to pay off non-deductible debt, like consumer credit cards and home mortgages. Then use your stronger cash flow position to invest in income-producing assets, like securities held in non-registered accounts, a rental property, or a business.

Remember, time is your most precious resource in beating wealth eroders like taxes, inflation, and non-deductible interest costs. Learning more about taxes will help you understand and execute your investment goals and tap into the wealth of knowledge your professional advisory team has. The best news? Those professional fees could be tax-deductible, too.

Evelyn Jacks is president of Knowledge Bureau, which offers e-learning at knowledgebureau.com. Evelyn tweets @evelynjacks and blogs at evelynjacks.com.

About Evelyn Jacks, RWM, MFA, MFA-P, FDFS

Evelyn Jacks is the best-selling tax author of 55 books, an award-winning business leader and the Founder and President of Knowledge Bureau, an online financial education institute.

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