Guest Post Thursday: Knowledge First Financial

Knowledge First Financial urges parents to apply for BCTESG

1 in 5 BC children have received the $1,200 education grant

Approximately 80% of eligible children have yet to receive the $1,200 British Columbia Education Savings Grant. Knowledge First Financial, a Canadian RESP Provider, is urging parents to apply now and enjoy all the benefits of an RESP including compound, tax-free growth and the Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG) of up to $7,200. That means up to $8,400 of ‘free’ money for each child to help pay for post-secondary education for BC parents.

More than ever, post-secondary students have more freedom to choose programs and schools, more time to focus on studies and explore new opportunities, less stress and less debt thanks to the savings accrued from RESPs. Knowledge First Financial supports students in their post-secondary studies – in fact, when the BCTESG was introduced in 2015, Knowledge First Financial was one of the first RESP providers to support it.

If you’re the parent of a child born in BC in 2006 or later, here are three things to know about BCTESG:

 

What is BCTESG?

The British Columbia Training and Education Savings Grant is a $1,200 grant for post-secondary education established in 2015. To be eligible, parents or guardians and children must be residents of BC, and possess a Social Insurance Number.

How do I apply?

Firstly, you will need a RESP from a provider who can access the BCTESG – a sales representative from Knowledge Financial First can help set this up for you. You will be asked for proof of residency, such as a driver’s license, BCID card, BC Service Cards or a recent utility bill upon application.

When do I apply?

You can apply for BCTESG as soon as your child turns six up until the day before your child’s ninth birthday, however Knowledge First Financial recommends that parents apply as soon as possible. Deadlines for children born before August 15, 2009 are slightly different:

• Children born in 2006: Apply between August 15, 2016 and August 14, 2019
• Children born in 2007, 2008, before August 15, 2009: Apply between August 15, 2015 and August 14, 2018

 

Source: http://www.esdc.gc.ca/en/reports/resp_promoters/infocapsules/bc.page

 

Why apply now?

You’ll receive the education grants sooner and your savings will have more time to grow.   Learn more about why an RESP is a smart way to invest in a child’s future by setting up an appointment with a Knowledge First Financial sales representative today.

 

About Knowledge First Financial Inc.

Knowledge First Financial Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Knowledge First Foundation and is the investment fund manager, administrator and distributor of the education savings plans offered by Knowledge First Foundation. For more information about education savings plans from Knowledge First Financial Inc., please visit knowledgefirstfinancial.ca or refer to our prospectus.

As of April 30, 2016, Knowledge First Financial manages $3.62 billion in assets on behalf of more than 250,000 customers.

Knowledge First Financial® is a registered trademark of Knowledge First Financial Inc.

This post was written by Daryl Shriver, and he can be found through his Twitter account.

What is an IRS Form, W8BEN?

What is a W8BEN?

The W8BEN, or Certificate of Foreign Status of Beneficial Owner for United States Tax Withholding and Reporting (Individuals) is a form which, when completed, is provided to the US income provider (Not the IRS!) in order to prevent 30% of your earnings being withheld and remitted to the IRS.

The W8BEN claims the treaty rate between Canada and the US which means you cannot be taxed by both countries on the same income, and by completing this form, you are certifying the following information to the IRS;

• I am the individual that is the beneficial owner (or am authorized to sign for the individual that is the beneficial owner) of all the income to which this form relates or am using this form to document myself as an individual that is an owner or account holder of a foreign financial institution,
• The person named on line 1 of this form is not a U.S. person
• The income to which this form relates is:
  • (a) not effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States,
  • (b) effectively connected but is not subject to tax under an applicable income tax treaty, or
  • (c) the partner’s share of a partnership’s effectively connected income,
• The person named on line 1 of this form is a resident of the treaty country (in this case, Canada) listed on line 9 of the form (if any) within the meaning of the income tax treaty between the United States and that country, and
• For broker transactions or barter exchanges, the beneficial owner is an exempt foreign person as defined in the instructions. Furthermore, I authorize this form to be provided to any withholding agent that has control, receipt, or custody of the income of which I am the beneficial owner or any withholding agent that can disburse or make payments of the income of which I am the beneficial owner.
• I agree that I will submit a new form within 30 days if any certification made on this form becomes incorrect (changes).

In a nutshell, you’re telling the IRS, you are NOT a US person, that you do not work in the US and that you will report your income to the CRA.

Otherwise, they keep 30% of it.