- December payroll liabilities due January 15.

- Have books audited and prepared for the Annual General Meeting if you have a December 31 year end.

- Begin processing 2019 charitable tax receipts for donors.

- Apply for your HST Rebate if you are in a participating province and for all other provinces apply for your GST Rebate.

(Participating provinces are Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Ontario.)

The Department of Finance Canada announced on December 19, 2019 the income tax deduction limits and expense benefit rates that will apply in 2020 when using an automobile for business purposes.

The limit on the deduction of tax-exempt allowances paid by employers to employees using their personal vehicle for business purposes during 2020 will be increased by one cent to 59 cents per kilometre for the first 5,000 kilometres driven and to 53 cents for each additional kilometre.

The rates for the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon are traditionally set 4 cents higher and they will be increased to 63 cents per kilometre for the first 5,000 kilometres driven and 57 cents for each additional kilometre.

While the above information will be sufficient for most churches, additional details for specific situations including standby charges for the personal use of an employer provided vehicle, capital cost allowance, leasing costs, interest costs, etc. may be viewed on the Department of Finance Canada website.

- November payroll liabilities due December 15. Since this date falls on a Sunday, the due date shifts to the next business day which is Monday December 16.

- Distribute 2020 offering envelopes.

- Ensure you are up-to-date on all financial records, donation records, and other items needed for year-end. If this can be done early in the month you will be able to enjoy the Christmas season knowing that you are ready for January.

- Arrange January appointments with accountant or auditors and begin preparation of as many items as possible.

(These last two items with the exception of donation records are assuming that you are working with a fiscal year that ends on December 31. Donation records and charitable receipts are always based on the calendar year which makes it easier for churches with a fiscal year end of December 31.)

Register for the Fall Payroll Seminar being held at several locations in Southern and Central Ontario by either:

(1) Emailing us at [email protected] and we will send you a registration form, OR

(2) Sending us your name, position in your church or charity, the name of your church or charity, address, contact information, and which location you will be attending.

Please register beforehand to make arriving at the seminar more efficient.

Prices:

(1) $199 plus HST for members of Church Treasurers of Canada Inc., and

(2) $249.00 Plus HST for non-members.

Seminar Dates and Locations:

Barrie - (Wed Dec 18) Holiday Inn Barrie Hotel & Conference Centre, 20 Fairview Road.

Brantford - (Mon Dec 02) Best Western Brantford Hotel & Conference Centre, 19 Holiday Drive.

Burlington - (Tues Dec 03) Holiday Inn Hotel & Conference Centre, 3063 South Service Road.

Kitchener - (Fri Dec 13) Holiday Inn Kitchener-Waterloo, 30 Fairway Road South.

Richmond Hill - (Thur Nov 28) Sheraton Parkway Toronto North, 600 Highway 7 East.

London - (Mon Nov 25) Four Points by Sheraton London, 1150 Wellington Road South.

Mississauga - (Mon Dec 09) Four Points by Sheraton Mississauga-Meadowvale, 2501 Argentia Road.

Owen Sound - (Mon Dec 16) Best Western Inn On The Bay, 1800 2nd Avenue East.

Scarborough - (Thur Dec 05) Delta Hotels Toronto East, 2035 Kennedy Road.

St. Catharines - (Wed Dec 11) Holiday Inn Parkway Conference Centre, 327 Ontario Street.

Windsor - (Tue Nov 26) Holiday Inn & Suites Windsor, 1855 Huron Church Road.

On October 31, 2018 the Canada Revenue Agency released a document outlining what we can expect for the future of the Canada Pension Plan and the expected rate increases for contributions from employees and employers. The rate of 4.95% has been constant for several years and on Januray 1, 2019 we will see an increase of 0.15% to bring the new rate to 5.1%. There will be additional increases each year for at least the next seven years.

Full particulars, including the future rate increases, may be viewed on the CRA website at: The Canada Pension Plan Enhancement.