General Ledger

A tax deduction is an amount subtracted from your income before tax is worked out, so it reduces the income being taxed rather than the tax bill directly. Its worth depends on your marginal rate: the higher the rate, the more the deduction saves. Common examples are RRSP contributions, child care costs, union dues, moving expenses and business expenses. Credits work the other way, reducing the tax calculated on that income.

Multiply the assessed value of the property by the tax rate for its property class. Assessment is set by a provincial assessment authority on its own cycle and increases are often phased in, so the value lags the market. The rate is set each year by the municipality out of its budget, with an education portion added by the province. Both figures appear on your notice, which is why identical homes in different municipalities carry different bills.

Tax exempt describes an amount or a transaction that tax does not apply to at all, which is different from a deduction or credit that merely reduces tax. Common examples are supplies that are exempt or zero-rated for GST/HST, investment income earned inside a TFSA, and specific receipts Parliament has excluded from income. Registered charities and non-profits can be exempt from income tax while still carrying filing duties. Exemption is never automatic; the rule must fit your facts.

Tax break is informal shorthand for anything that lowers your tax: a deduction, a credit, an exemption or a deferral. A deduction reduces the income you are taxed on, so it is worth your marginal rate. A credit reduces the tax itself, and a refundable credit can be paid out even when no tax is owing. A deferral, such as an RRSP contribution or a rollover on incorporating, delays the tax rather than removing it.