Finance

What’s changing for personal finance in 2025, from capital gains to tax brackets

Published

12 months ago

December 31, 2024

What’s changing for personal finance in 2025, from capital gains to tax brackets

We have reached the end of a year of change, in which our leaders turned their attention from tamping down inflation to spurring a lagging economy. It also saw the federal government releasing a host of new policies, as it prepared for an election in 2025.

We outline some of the biggest changes in personal finance coming in the new year.

Capital-gains inclusion rate

The federal government’s move to raise the capital-gains inclusion rate was the headline policy in its 2024 budget. Canadians will feel its impact for the first time when filing their taxes in 2025.

As of June 25, the capital-gains inclusion rate of 50 per cent for individuals only applies to profits under $250,000. All profits above $250,000 will face a 66.7-per-cent inclusion rate.

Since most Canadians invest in tax-sheltered accounts such as tax-free savings accounts, the majority of people will be shielded from any tax changes. But anyone selling a secondary home or significant non-sheltered investments could pay thousands more in taxes in a given year.

Public dental care opens to all eligible people

The Canadian Dental Care Plan, which helps cover costs at the dentist’s office for Canadians without insurance, started rolling out in 2024 for seniors and people under 18.

In 2025, Ottawa will open the program to the remaining eligible Canadians. Eligibility requirements include a net family income under $90,000, being a Canadian resident for tax purposes, and having filed a tax return in the previous year.

Between 40 per cent and 100 per cent of eligible costs will be covered, depending on income.

Tax bracket adjustments

As inflation slows down, so does the increase in federal tax brackets. All five brackets will rise by 2.7 per cent for 2025, compared with an increase of 4.7 per cent for 2024.

GST holiday and rebate cheques

Two spending incentives unveiled by Ottawa in November will have a large part of their impact in 2025.

First, a federal sales-tax holiday on specific goods that started mid-December will last until Feb. 15. In some provinces, consumers will also be exempt from paying the provincial portion of sales tax. Exempted purchases include restaurant meals, books, beer and wine.

The government also said it would send $250 rebate cheques to Canadians in April. However, that program wasn’t included in the GST holiday legislation or the fall economic statement in December, as the Liberals did not anticipate enough support for the measure in Parliament. The cheques were to be sent to Canadians who worked in 2023 and made under $150,000 in net individual income.

B.C. introduces anti-home-flipping tax

A tax meant to prevent the short-term holding of homes for profit will go into effect on Jan. 1 in British Columbia.

Anyone selling a home that they have owned for less than 730 days will be subject to a 20-per-cent tax on any profit.

The tax is distinct from the federal government’s rules to discourage property flipping, which treat profits as fully taxable on an individual’s income-tax return.

New rules for down payments and mortgages

New mortgage rules will allow Canadians to make smaller down payments on properties valued at more than $1-million. Previously, buyers had to have a down payment of at least 5 per cent for homes valued under $500,000, 10 per cent for every dollar between $500,000 and $1-million, and 20 per cent of every dollar over $1-million.

As of mid-December, buyers now have to have a 5-per-cent down payment up to $500,000, and 10 per cent between $500,000 and $1.5-million. The 20-per-cent minimum now starts at $1.5-million.

Insured mortgages will also be allowed on homes of up to $1.5-million, up from a $1-million cap previously. Insured mortgages come with lower interest rates when purchasing a home with a down payment below 20 per cent, but they require the purchase of an insurance premium that is rolled into the mortgage.

First-time buyers and buyers of new builds will also have access to 30-year mortgages, up from the previous cap of 25 years.

Easing loan access for building secondary suites

The federal government is adding two new ways to make it easier to finance a secondary suite, such as a basement rental unit, for an existing home.

The first is the Canada Secondary Suite Loan Program, which will give homeowners access to a low-cost loan of up to $80,000 to build a suite. It is expected to launch in early January, with 15-year terms and an interest rate of 2 per cent.

Homeowners will now also be able to refinance their insured mortgages if they use the equity to build secondary suites, up to a limit of $2-million. This will allow them to retain the lower rates that come with an insured mortgage when refinancing.

Government sets lower limit on interest rates for lenders

New loans starting from Jan. 1 will be subject to new rules that set the criminal interest rate at 35 per cent, down from the previous threshold of roughly 48 per cent. The government said the change is meant to crack down on high-interest lending from alternative lenders.

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Finance

Spanberger taps Del. Sickles to be Secretary of Finance

Published

9 hours ago

December 23, 2025

Press Room

Spanberger taps Del. Sickles to be Secretary of Finance

Republishing guidelines

by Brandon Jarvis

Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger has tapped Del. Mark Sickles, D-Fairfax, to serve as her Secretary of Finance.

Sickles has been in the House of Delegates for 22 years and is the second-highest-ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee.

“As the Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, Delegate Sickles has years of experience working with both Democrats and Republicans to pass commonsense budgets that have offered tax relief for families and helped Virginia’s economy grow,” Spanberger said in a statement Tuesday.

Sickles has been a House budget negotiator since 2018.

Del. Mark Sickles.

“We need to make sure every tax dollar is employed to its greatest effect for hard-working Virginians to keep tuition low, to build more affordable housing, to ensure teachers are properly rewarded for their work, and to make quality healthcare available and affordable for everyone,” Sickles said in a statement. “The Finance Secretariat must be a team player in helping Virginia’s government to perform to its greatest potential.”

Sickles is the third member of the House that Spanberger has selected to serve in her administration. Del. Candi Mundon King, D-Prince William, was tapped to serve as the Secretary of the Commonwealth, and Del. David Bulova, D-Fairfax, was named Secretary of Historic and Natural Resources.

This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Stories posted on Virginiascope.com are available for publications to republish in their entirety for free.

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Finance

Bank of Korea needs to remain wary of financial stability risks, board member says

Published

21 hours ago

December 23, 2025

Press Room

Bank of Korea needs to remain wary of financial stability risks, board member says

SEOUL, Dec 23 (Reuters) – South Korea’s central bank needs to remain wary of financial stability risks, such as heightened volatility in the won currency and upward pressure on house prices, a board member said on Tuesday.

“Volatility is increasing in financial and foreign exchange markets with sharp fluctuations in stock prices and comparative weakness in the won,” said Chang Yong-sung, a member of the Bank of Korea’s seven-seat monetary policy board.

The won hit on Tuesday its weakest level since early April at 1,483.5 per dollar. It has fallen more than 8% in the second half of 2025.

Chang also warned of high credit risks for some vulnerable sectors and continuously rising house prices in his comments released with the central bank’s semiannual financial stability report.

In the report, the BOK said it would monitor risk factors within the financial system and proactively seek market stabilising measures if needed, though it noted most indicators of foreign exchange conditions remained stable.

Monetary policy would continue to be coordinated with macroprudential policies, it added.

The BOK held rates steady for the fourth straight monetary policy meeting last month and signalled it could be nearing the end of the current rate cut cycle, as currency weakness reduced scope for further easing.

Following the November meeting, it has rolled out various currency stabilisation measures.

The BOK’s next monetary policy meeting is in January.

Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Editing by Jamie Freed

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Finance

Mike Burkhold: A Blueprint for South Carolina’s Financial Future – FITSNews

Published

1 day ago

December 22, 2025

Press Room

Mike Burkhold: A Blueprint for South Carolina’s Financial Future – FITSNews

“I am running because the system needs to be fixed and I have the skills and mindset to do it…”

by MIKE BURKHOLD

***

Earlier this month, at the invitation of Virginia Secretary of Finance Steve Cummings, I spent a full day in Richmond meeting with leaders from across that state’s financial infrastructure. These were not ceremonial handshakes. These were working meetings — substantive, focused and highly instructive.

I met with teams overseeing budgeting, taxation, regulatory oversight, accounting and administration. What I found was a modern, integrated and disciplined approach to managing public money. And it made me even more certain of one thing: South Carolina is ready for change.

***

TEAMWORK AND TALENT MATTER

What stood out most in Virginia was the cohesion. From top to bottom, everyone I met shared the same mission — being responsible stewards of the taxpayers’ money. No silos. No blame games. Just a united focus on efficiency, transparency and performance.

That mindset doesn’t happen by accident. It is baked into the culture. The Secretary of Finance meets quarterly with department heads to review budgets, resolve audit findings and keep teams on track. There is accountability at every level. And it works.

That is what I want to bring to South Carolina. As Comptroller General, my job is to revitalize and modernize a critical finance function and to do it in close partnership with the legislature, the governor and the treasurer. I want to build an office that operates with precision, earns trust and gives lawmakers the clarity they need to govern wisely.

***

THIS IS BIGGER THAN ONE SEAT

I am not running for this office because I want a long political career. I am running because the system needs to be fixed and I have the skills and mindset to do it.

If part of that fix means rethinking whether this seat should remain an elected position then I welcome that conversation. In other states like Florida, voters elect a Chief Financial Officer with broad oversight. In Virginia, the Secretary of Finance is appointed by the governor and oversees all fiscal functions. Either model can work – but both reflect a commitment to modern coordinated financial management.

What matters most is that we have a structure that delivers results and earns the public’s trust. That structure needs to be part of a bigger conversation focused on delivering value to citizens – not maintaining fiefdoms or political turf.

***

RELATED | S.C. ‘REPUBLICANS’ REBUFF TRUMP ON REDISTRICTING

***

PUBLIC SERVICE STARTS WITH LEADERSHIP

One of the most inspiring parts of my trip was seeing the caliber of leaders who had left high-paying private sector roles to serve the people of Virginia. They brought with them a culture of excellence and a belief that good government is possible when the right people step forward.

We have that kind of talent in South Carolina. We just need to encourage more of it. I am stepping up because I believe in servant leadership. I see a seat that has not been led this way in a long time and there is a lot to fix. Not just the systems and operations but also the teamwork and coordination across agencies.

My goal is not what is best for Mike. It is what is best for South Carolina. I want to rebuild the Comptroller General’s office into a trusted partner, a respected institution and a model for modern financial leadership. Then I want to help figure out what structure will best serve the next generation.

***

A MOMENT OF OPPORTUNITY

The recent $3.5 billion error exposed just how outdated and fragile our current systems are. But we are not starting from scratch. We are starting from a place of strength. We have smart people, a strong economy and the will to do better.

Now we need to modernize our expectations. We need to align talent. We need to redesign the systems that manage $40 billion of taxpayer money. And we need leadership that sees the big picture, listens well and gets the details right.

South Carolina’s future is full of promise. But to get there, we need to treat government finance with the same rigor, discipline and urgency as any top-performing business.

That is why I am running. Not to keep a seat – but to serve the mission.

***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR…

Mike Burkhold is a Republican candidate for comptroller general of South Carolina.

***

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