Shareholder Agreement

Canada taxes income in graduated brackets, so only the income above a threshold is taxed at that bracket's higher rate and moving up a bracket never reprices the income below it. There is one federal set of brackets and a separate set for each province and territory, and the thresholds are indexed to inflation every year. Look up the current figures for your province on the CRA rate tables rather than relying on an older list.

The basic personal amount is a non-refundable credit that shelters a base level of income from federal tax, so income below it carries no federal tax. The amount is indexed every year, and the enhanced portion is phased out across the second-highest federal bracket, so taxpayers in the top bracket receive only the base amount. Each province and territory sets its own version. On Form TD1 you claim it so your employer withholds less; claim it with one employer only, or too little tax is withheld.

Deductible contributions are those to a registered retirement savings plan, a registered pension plan and a first home savings account. Contributions to a tax-free savings account, a registered education savings plan or a registered disability savings plan are not deductible, since the benefit comes from sheltered growth and government grants instead. Charitable and political contributions produce non-refundable credits rather than deductions, and amounts contributed above your available room can attract a monthly penalty tax.

No. CPP retirement, disability and survivor benefits are pension income, not employment income. They are fully taxable and reported from the annual CPP benefit slip, but they build no RRSP contribution room and attract no further CPP contributions. The distinction matters because several amounts, including RRSP room, the Canada employment amount and childcare-related deductions, are tied to employment or earned income rather than pension income.