52 — Wednesday, November 22, 2989 - North Shore News 1989 INCOME TAX Revenue Canada tries to simplify return {F YOU find the 1989 income tax return just a little easier to understand and complete when you do the deed early next year, you can thank some of your feliow taxpayers. Last May, when filing season had ended, I interviewed Revenue Minister Otto Jelinek about the problems people have each year dollars and sense Michael Grenby Pe] working through their returns. He said while he couldn't promise a simple tax return, at least he would do his best to provide a simpler return. Vax tips popular “FREE” continues to prove popu- lar! “Our phone fines have been completely jammed since Mike Grenby wrote in his column about the free issue of The Canadian Taxpayer we are offering to North Shore News readers,’’ said Mike Moore, circulation manager of Richard De Boo Publishers. ‘tin the first three days alone after the column appeared, we had more than 1,000 calis. And those were the people who got through!"* So if you have trouble getting through on the toll-free line, you can write te Moore at De Boo Publishers, 8! Curlew Drive, Don Milis, Ontario M3A 3P7 for your free copy of the newsletter, which contains year-end tax planning and other tips. , * Typesetting ® Graphic Design * Camera Service ERCK Gay (PPibitins McKim Frinting (1988) Ltd. “Where you get a good deal and a good deal more” He specifically invited Cana- dians to write to him with any suggestions they had to help with the simplification process. “We always have had that in- vitation on the last page of the tax guide,’’ said George Venner, dizec- tor-general of Revenue Canada Taxation’s assessing and inquiries directorate, when | called him to find out what response Jelinek’s invitation had geverated. “Usually, we get two or three dozen letters a year. But because the minister made a special point of this issue, we received 250 sug- gestions.’* Venner said there weren't too many humorous ones. *‘E guess at that time cf the year, after you have completed your tax return, you don’t feel like making too many jokes."" Revenue Canada did receive ‘‘a couple of rather strongly worded letters, suggesting what we could do with the guide and tax return — “a but out of 18 million taxpayers, | you expect one or two wouldn't be happy,’’ Venner said. Most letters were handwritten and io the point. “One fellow challenged us to use more common words,’’ said Ven- ner. ‘He cited our use of the word ‘rollover,’ as in a pension rollover toan RRSP. “Ia my business,’ he wrote, ‘a rollover is when your truck rolls over and its wheels are up in the air." So we looked for alternative wording like ‘transfer of moncy from a pension to an RRSP.’ It’s difficult to find words that will be taken the same way by all tax- payers,”’ Another person weete: ‘Listen, when you put an index in the tax guide, why not put it in the back of the guide where you normally find an index in a book?”’ Venner said the index in the 1989 return will be just inside the back cover, instead of 14 to 15 pages into the guide sandwiched between the narrative section and the tax tables, where it has been in the past. “People like shorter paragraphs and sentences, so that’s the direc- tion we are taking,” he said. ‘‘And they like our examples, so we are going to use more of them. “Some of our schedules get used more often than others. Since we ¢ Business Cards * Stationery * Flyers * Brochures 985-0607 126 WEST 15th ST., NORTH VANCOUVER _ My Child Is Brighi, Why Is She Having Problems In Schooi? 1S YOUR CHILD FRUSTRATED WITH DIFFICULTIES SUCH AS: Learning ta read — foliowing instructions — spelling, writing aud other language related skills? “Kenneth Gordon School provides a remedial education in an emotionaily supportive atmosphere for children 6-13 years old.” The program is individuatized and offers: full curriculum — individual daily tutoring ~— small classes ~ specifically trained qualified staff. Our goal is to nurture and draw from within the very best of @ chi! returned to public school. Jd. Ma hundreds of our students have able to cope with well developed socia) and academic skolls. KENNETH | GORDON SCHOOL 524-5224 7855 Meadow Avenue, Burnaoy, B.C. V3N 2V8 BUSINESS tween the fines on which medical expenses had to be recorded. See Minister Page 53 schedules so the high- use ones are on separate sheets.” Venner said people complained that there wasn’t enough space be- use both sides of a shect, having these returns on opposite sides of the same page was sometimes a nuisance. We reorganized the | The Hon. Kim Campbell p.c..M-p. Minister of State (Indian Affairs and Northern Development) ‘Straight Talk on the G.S.T.’ Monday, December 4, 1989 Hotel Vancouver, Paciiic Ballroom 11:45 am Registration + 12:15 pm Lunch $32.00 VRI/WTC members ¢ $47.00 Prospective members. Reserved tables of 8: $375.00 am Sponsored by: 7 43] THE PROGRESSIVE GROUP Youre invited to a free matinee Whether you are already retired, or approaching retirement. you can benefit from Royal Trust's “Retirement “,, Planning ana Income Options” Seminar. Our feature presentation includes a new video entitled al “Timely Advice on RRIFs”, with advice from Gordon Pa pe, Financia! Author. Our Account Managers can answer these questions for you: (J How do! protect my retirement income against inflation? Cj RRIFs and Annuities — How do they compare? (-] Which is the best RRSP maturity option for me? Why not join us for this special matinee on: Date: Wednesday, November 29, 1989 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm Park Royal Hotel Clyde Room RSVP to: Marlena or Pam — 922-3276 Nofee. Noobhgnor. Feeltree tobriaciinend Ketrestments will Ge served Time: yan ROVAL aye 1g @ fare PReLST Where Ad Vice Comes First A** Credit Rating Location: