Could Ottawa Come for Your Savings? Where It Went, and What Could Change

<p>Is Ottawa coming for your TFSA, your OAS or your house? I went through the budgets in two parts.</p><p>First, what could realistically change, and what each change would cost you. CPP and your OAS cheque are the safest numbers in your plan. The changes worth watching are the quiet ones: the OAS clawback tested on household income, the age credit, and tax brackets that stop rising with inflation. Your home and your TFSA balance are the least likely targets.</p><p>Then, where Ottawa actually went for money over the last 10 years, in Finance's own numbers. Mostly high earners, private companies, trusts and banks. The biggest increase proposed, on capital gains, was cancelled within a year, and the bottom tax rate went down.</p><p>Takeaways<br>1. CPP and your OAS cheque are the safest numbers in your plan.<br>2. The realistic changes are the quiet ones: the clawback line, the age credit, and brackets and limits that stop rising.<br>3. TFSA withdrawals don't count as income, so those changes can't touch them.<br>4. Most of the last 10 years of tax increases landed on high earners, private companies, trusts and banks.<br>5. If you split pension income, run your plan once without it.</p><p>The full guides are at calmmoneycoach.com</p><p>I'm Brian Orlando, CPA, in Halifax. Advice-only planning through Calm Money Coach. No products, no commissions.</p><p>General education only. 2026 rules, today's dollars. Ontario unless stated; BC, Alberta and Nova Scotia land close.</p>