5 BULLET FRIDAYS - Tax Mechanic News, Tips & Strategies

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The CRA is sitting on $1.75B in uncashed cheques. Here’s how to see if any are yours

Unclaimed money isn’t a scammy headline this time, it’s a real CRA issue affecting millions of Canadians. If you ever received a refund or benefit payment by cheque (even years ago), you could have money waiting. The best part: government cheques don’t expire, so it’s still yours to claim.

Why this happens more than you think

Cheques go uncashed for practical reasons:

• mailed to an old address

• lost in transit or tossed with junk mail

• misplaced at home

• issued before you set up direct deposit

How much money is on the table?

The fastest way to check (online)

Log into CRA My Account and look for “Uncashed cheques” on the Overview page. If something is listed, you can download a pre-filled request form to get a replacement payment.

If you can’t use My Account

You may need to contact the CRA directly if:

• it’s a business/trust payment

• the payment is recent

• you don’t have online access

Callout: This is a 2-minute check that could unlock money you already earned. Don’t skip it just because you “probably have nothing.”

Sources: CRA

The Richest People I Know Do One Thing: They Stay Consistent

Most people chase momentum. The wealthiest people build it through durable focus and long time horizons. In Episode 785, Shaan Puri and Nick Huber unpack how wealth is often the result of staying disciplined, avoiding avoidable mistakes, and sticking with a proven lane long enough for compounding to work.

What they emphasize:

• prioritize cash-flowing businesses

• reinvest profits instead of inflating lifestyle

• concentrate effort on one meaningful bet

Common missteps:

• expensive distractions (including a $400K domain mistake)

• signaling strategies too early and attracting competition

• overcorrecting due to “new owner syndrome”

Callout: Consistency is not boring, it’s the advantage.

Source: Episode 785, My First Million.

2026 Is a Reset Year, Not a Rebound: Why GTA Buyers Finally Have Breathing Room

If you’re shopping for a home in the GTA, 2026 isn’t about chasing a “boom.” It’s about buying smart in a calmer, more balanced market. A reset year gives buyers something the last few years didn’t: time to think, compare, and negotiate.

More listings and softer competition mean fewer emotional decisions and more strategic ones. That’s the real opportunity.

What a “Reset Market” Looks Like

Expect conditions that reward preparation over panic:

• More homes to choose from

• Less pressure to overbid

• Better negotiating power

• Clearer planning windows

Bold takeaway: A slow market isn’t a bad market. It’s a buyer advantage if you’re ready.

The Buyer’s Edge in 2026

In a reset year, strong buyers win by being organized:

• Know your real monthly comfort zone

• Get pre-approved early

• Understand your down payment options

• Build a clean, realistic timeline

Quick Comparison: Then vs. Now

The Right Way to Approach 2026

• Shop with rules, not emotions

• Move quickly only on “right-fit” homes

• Protect your financing flexibility

✨ Contact Genelle Today

Canada’s 2026 Federal Tax Brackets: What Changed and Why It Matters

Canada’s federal tax system is quietly shifting in 2026, and it’s good news for most households. The lowest federal tax rate is now fully reduced, and brackets are indexed upward, meaning more of your income may be taxed at lower rates. This is one of the cleanest “inflation offsets” we’ve seen in years.

Two Key Changes for 2026

The 2026 update is built on two moves:

• Bracket indexation rises by 2%, lifting income thresholds slightly

• The lowest rate drops to 14%, after averaging 14.5% in 2025 due to the mid-year change

2026 vs. 2025: Federal Bracket Snapshot

Basic Personal Amount (BPA) Boost

The BPA also rises, meaning more income gets sheltered from tax:

• 2026 minimum: $14,829

• 2026 maximum: $16,452

What You Should Do With This

• Update your pay and withholding expectations

• Recheck your tax credits (they’re applied at the new rates)

• Plan RRSP/TFSA contributions with fresh bracket thresholds

Callout: A “small” rate drop and indexing bump can meaningfully reduce tax drag over a full year.

Source: TaxTips.ca

Most Canadians Miss These Tax Claims Every Year

In our latest TikTok video, we covered one key point: most Canadians miss tax claims every year, and it adds up fast. This isn’t about complicated strategies or “tax hacks.” It’s simply about understanding what the CRA already allows and making sure you don’t leave money behind.

@taxmechanic

Most Canadians miss these tax claims every year. This is straight from CRA rules. Save this before tax season. #canadiantaxes #taxseason #... See more

The simple takeaway

Tax season rewards preparation. The more organized you are, the easier it becomes to claim what you’re entitled to and avoid paying more than you should.

Callout: If you don’t claim it, the CRA won’t apply it for you.

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Here’s an un-boring way to invest that billionaires have quietly leveraged for decades

If you have enough money that you think about buckets for your capital…

Ever invest in something you know will have low returns—just for the sake of diversifying?

CDs… Bonds… REITs… :(

Sure, these “boring” investments have some merits. But you probably overlooked one historically exclusive asset class:

It’s been famously leveraged by billionaires like Bezos and Gates, but just never been widely accessible until now.

It outpaced the S&P 500 (!) overall WITH low correlation to stocks, 1995 to 2025.*

It’s not private equity or real estate. Surprisingly, it’s postwar and contemporary art.

And since 2019, over 70,000 people have started investing in SHARES of artworks featuring legends like Banksy, Basquiat, and Picasso through a platform called Masterworks.

• 23 exits to date

• $1,245,000,000+ invested

• Annualized net returns like 17.6%, 17.8%, and 21.5%

My subscribers can SKIP their waitlist and invest in blue-chip art.

Just click this link

_{Investing involves risk. Past performance not indicative of future returns. Reg A disclosures at masterworks.com/cd}