• RQFTCI98 Game 10 Rounds 2-3: income tax, border towns

    From Mark Brader@21:1/5 to All on Tue Jun 29 00:26:16 2021
    These questions were written to be asked in Toronto on 1998-04-06, and
    should be interpreted accordingly. All questions were written by
    members of the Usual Suspects, but have been reformatted and may have
    been retyped and/or edited by me. I will reveal the correct answers in
    about 3 days.

    For further information, including an explanation of the """ notation
    that may appear in these rounds, see my 2020-06-23 companion posting on "Reposted Questions from the Canadian Inquisition (RQFTCI*)".


    * Game 10, Round 1 - Current Events (excerpt)

    This round is based on editorial cartoons that appeared in Canadian
    newspapers """last week""" -- that is, in 1998. Answer if you like
    for fun, but for no points.

    1. http://www.eskimo.com/~scs/msb/oo10/1/A.jpg

    This cartoon refers to a debate that's been going on for decades
    about whether a certain police force should wear sidearms.
    The word we've blotted out in this cartoon appeared between
    "rotten" and "criminals" in the upper right corner: what is it?

    2. http://www.eskimo.com/~scs/msb/oo10/1/B.jpg

    This cartoon by Patrick Corrigan appeared in the "Toronto
    Star" """last Wednesday""". What reassuring quip was written,
    upside-down, on the button that we've blotted out on the Great
    Man's lapel?


    I wrote both of these rounds.

    * Game 10, Round 2 - Canadiana - Income Tax

    All answers pertain to the 1997 tax year, i.e., the return that
    you """will probably be filing shortly""" if you haven't already
    done it. So if you were paying attention to the budget """in
    February""", you should temporarily forget everything you learned.

    *Note*: If you want to give current information, I will generously
    accept answers pertaining to either the 2019 or the 2020 tax year,
    so long as the facts stated in the question are still generally
    correct. If they aren't, you must give the originally expected
    answer. You *never* need to mention which year you are answering
    for.

    1. For what type of income is it the case that you initially report
    a so-called "grossed-up" or "taxable" amount, 25% larger than
    the actual income, but then claim on Schedule 1 a credit of
    13+1/3 % (thirteen and a third percent) of the actual amount
    of this income?

    2. Capital gains can sometimes be offset against capital losses,
    but if you have a capital gain that you cannot offset and that
    isn't exempt for another reason, in most cases what fraction
    of the gain must you count as income?

    3. The next three questions are about calculating your federal
    non-refundable tax credits, which replaced many of the
    deductions from net income """about 10 years ago""". When
    doing this calculation, most people start with a constant
    "Personal Amount", which effectively represents the amount of
    income that is always tax-free federally. Within 12% of the
    actual number, how many dollars is that?

    4. Within 25% of the actual number, how many dollars is your federal
    Spousal Amount, if you are supporting a spouse who has no income,
    but you are not a caregiver?

    5. The next step in the non-refundable credit calculation is to
    add up these and other amounts and take a certain percentage
    of the total. If you aren't claiming anything for charitable
    donations, that percentage yields the amount of your federal
    non-refundable tax credit. Within 1 percentage point, what
    percentage do you take?

    6. Several things may enter into the calculation of your RRSP
    contribution room, but the most fundamental one is a percentage
    of the previous year's earned income. Within 2 percentage
    points, what """is""" that percentage?

    7. If you have to pay income tax by installments, how often are
    they due?

    8. The basic federal tax calculation (on Schedule 1) begins
    by classifying your taxable income into one of three brackets.
    (For 2019-20: five brackets, and it's on the T1.) Within $4,000
    in either case, give the number of dollars of taxable income
    that forms (A) the top boundary of the bottom bracket, *or*
    (B) the bottom boundary of the top bracket. You *must* say
    whether you are answering question A or B, but you don't have
    to say for what year.

    9. Most taxpayers have to add a surtax that is what percentage of
    the basic federal tax?

    10. In the initial calculation of Ontario provincial income tax,
    what percentage of the basic federal tax do you take, within
    3½ percentage points?


    * Game 10, Round 3 - Geography - Border Towns

    In each case we will name a city that is on a state or national
    border, or in some cases merely close to the border, and you simply
    have to tell us what's on the other side.

    1. What other country """is""" nearest the French city of Lille?

    2. What other country """is""" nearest the Italian city of Trieste?

    3. What city or town """lies""" across a *state* boundary from
    Vancouver, Washington?

    4. What US city or town """is""" nearest Ft. Frances, Ontario?

    5. What city or town in another country """is""" nearest San Diego,
    California?

    6. What city or town in another country """is""" nearest
    Brazzaville, which """is""" in one of the two countries
    named Congo?

    7. What US city or town """is""" nearest St. Stephen, New Brunswick?

    8. What city or town """lies""" across a *state* boundary from
    Camden, New Jersey?

    9. What other *country* """is""" nearest to the French city of Nice?

    10. What *two other countries* """are""" adjacent to the Swiss
    city of Basel?

    --
    Mark Brader, Toronto | "Anyone who can handle a needle convincingly can make msb@vex.net | us see a thread which is not there." --E.H. Gombrich

    My text in this article is in the public domain.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From bbowler@21:1/5 to Mark Brader on Tue Jun 29 13:32:12 2021
    On Tue, 29 Jun 2021 00:26:16 -0500, Mark Brader wrote:

    These questions were written to be asked in Toronto on 1998-04-06, and
    should be interpreted accordingly. All questions were written by
    members of the Usual Suspects, but have been reformatted and may have
    been retyped and/or edited by me. I will reveal the correct answers in
    about 3 days.

    For further information, including an explanation of the """ notation
    that may appear in these rounds, see my 2020-06-23 companion posting on "Reposted Questions from the Canadian Inquisition (RQFTCI*)".

    * Game 10, Round 2 - Canadiana - Income Tax

    Not sure I could answer these for US taxes, let alone Canadian taxes.

    * Game 10, Round 3 - Geography - Border Towns

    In each case we will name a city that is on a state or national border,
    or in some cases merely close to the border, and you simply have to tell
    us what's on the other side.

    1. What other country """is""" nearest the French city of Lille?

    Belgium

    2. What other country """is""" nearest the Italian city of Trieste?

    Croatia; Slovenia

    3. What city or town """lies""" across a *state* boundary from
    Vancouver, Washington?

    Portland, OR

    4. What US city or town """is""" nearest Ft. Frances, Ontario?

    5. What city or town in another country """is""" nearest San Diego,
    California?

    Tijuana

    6. What city or town in another country """is""" nearest
    Brazzaville, which """is""" in one of the two countries named Congo?

    7. What US city or town """is""" nearest St. Stephen, New Brunswick?

    Calais, Maine

    8. What city or town """lies""" across a *state* boundary from
    Camden, New Jersey?

    Philadelphia, PA

    9. What other *country* """is""" nearest to the French city of Nice?

    Monaco

    10. What *two other countries* """are""" adjacent to the Swiss
    city of Basel?

    France&Germany

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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  • From Erland Sommarskog@21:1/5 to Mark Brader on Tue Jun 29 20:18:24 2021
    Mark Brader (msb@vex.net) writes:
    I wrote both of these rounds.

    * Game 10, Round 2 - Canadiana - Income Tax

    Do you excuse me if I don't even read the questions and jump to the
    next round?

    * Game 10, Round 3 - Geography - Border Towns

    In each case we will name a city that is on a state or national
    border, or in some cases merely close to the border, and you simply
    have to tell us what's on the other side.

    1. What other country """is""" nearest the French city of Lille?

    Belgium

    2. What other country """is""" nearest the Italian city of Trieste?

    Slovenia

    3. What city or town """lies""" across a *state* boundary from
    Vancouver, Washington?

    Portland, OR

    5. What city or town in another country """is""" nearest San Diego,
    California?

    Tijuana

    6. What city or town in another country """is""" nearest
    Brazzaville, which """is""" in one of the two countries
    named Congo?

    Kinshasa

    7. What US city or town """is""" nearest St. Stephen, New Brunswick?

    Frankfort

    8. What city or town """lies""" across a *state* boundary from
    Camden, New Jersey?

    New York, NY

    9. What other *country* """is""" nearest to the French city of Nice?

    Monaco

    10. What *two other countries* """are""" adjacent to the Swiss
    city of Basel?

    Germany and France

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Mark Brader@21:1/5 to All on Tue Jun 29 13:58:34 2021
    Erland Sommarskog:
    Do you excuse me if I don't even read the questions and jump to the
    next round?

    As I told you when you did that in 2009, some of them were guessable.
    6 people scored points on the round then and I doubt if any of them
    were Canadian. But suit yourself.
    --
    Mark Brader | "To call the characters cardboard is
    Toronto | to insult a useful packing material."
    msb@vex.net | --Roger Ebert

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Mark Brader@21:1/5 to All on Tue Jun 29 17:57:58 2021
    This message keeps disappearing and reappearing from Giganews.
    A couple of people have already answered it, so I know it's
    propagated at least partially off-site, but I'm reposting it in
    a new thread anyway. Please post answers in either thread.
    If anyone indicates that they didn't see the first posting, then
    I'll accept answers until 3 days after this one.

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------

    These questions were written to be asked in Toronto on 1998-04-06, and
    should be interpreted accordingly. All questions were written by
    members of the Usual Suspects, but have been reformatted and may have
    been retyped and/or edited by me. I will reveal the correct answers in
    about 3 days.

    For further information, including an explanation of the """ notation
    that may appear in these rounds, see my 2020-06-23 companion posting on "Reposted Questions from the Canadian Inquisition (RQFTCI*)".


    * Game 10, Round 1 - Current Events (excerpt)

    This round is based on editorial cartoons that appeared in Canadian
    newspapers """last week""" -- that is, in 1998. Answer if you like
    for fun, but for no points.

    1. http://www.eskimo.com/~scs/msb/oo10/1/A.jpg

    This cartoon refers to a debate that's been going on for decades
    about whether a certain police force should wear sidearms.
    The word we've blotted out in this cartoon appeared between
    "rotten" and "criminals" in the upper right corner: what is it?

    2. http://www.eskimo.com/~scs/msb/oo10/1/B.jpg

    This cartoon by Patrick Corrigan appeared in the "Toronto
    Star" """last Wednesday""". What reassuring quip was written,
    upside-down, on the button that we've blotted out on the Great
    Man's lapel?


    I wrote both of these rounds.

    * Game 10, Round 2 - Canadiana - Income Tax

    All answers pertain to the 1997 tax year, i.e., the return that
    you """will probably be filing shortly""" if you haven't already
    done it. So if you were paying attention to the budget """in
    February""", you should temporarily forget everything you learned.

    *Note*: If you want to give current information, I will generously
    accept answers pertaining to either the 2019 or the 2020 tax year,
    so long as the facts stated in the question are still generally
    correct. If they aren't, you must give the originally expected
    answer. You *never* need to mention which year you are answering
    for.

    1. For what type of income is it the case that you initially report
    a so-called "grossed-up" or "taxable" amount, 25% larger than
    the actual income, but then claim on Schedule 1 a credit of
    13+1/3 % (thirteen and a third percent) of the actual amount
    of this income?

    2. Capital gains can sometimes be offset against capital losses,
    but if you have a capital gain that you cannot offset and that
    isn't exempt for another reason, in most cases what fraction
    of the gain must you count as income?

    3. The next three questions are about calculating your federal
    non-refundable tax credits, which replaced many of the
    deductions from net income """about 10 years ago""". When
    doing this calculation, most people start with a constant
    "Personal Amount", which effectively represents the amount of
    income that is always tax-free federally. Within 12% of the
    actual number, how many dollars is that?

    4. Within 25% of the actual number, how many dollars is your federal
    Spousal Amount, if you are supporting a spouse who has no income,
    but you are not a caregiver?

    5. The next step in the non-refundable credit calculation is to
    add up these and other amounts and take a certain percentage
    of the total. If you aren't claiming anything for charitable
    donations, that percentage yields the amount of your federal
    non-refundable tax credit. Within 1 percentage point, what
    percentage do you take?

    6. Several things may enter into the calculation of your RRSP
    contribution room, but the most fundamental one is a percentage
    of the previous year's earned income. Within 2 percentage
    points, what """is""" that percentage?

    7. If you have to pay income tax by installments, how often are
    they due?

    8. The basic federal tax calculation (on Schedule 1) begins
    by classifying your taxable income into one of three brackets.
    (For 2019-20: five brackets, and it's on the T1.) Within $4,000
    in either case, give the number of dollars of taxable income
    that forms (A) the top boundary of the bottom bracket, *or*
    (B) the bottom boundary of the top bracket. You *must* say
    whether you are answering question A or B, but you don't have
    to say for what year.

    9. Most taxpayers have to add a surtax that is what percentage of
    the basic federal tax?

    10. In the initial calculation of Ontario provincial income tax,
    what percentage of the basic federal tax do you take, within
    3½ percentage points?


    * Game 10, Round 3 - Geography - Border Towns

    In each case we will name a city that is on a state or national
    border, or in some cases merely close to the border, and you simply
    have to tell us what's on the other side.

    1. What other country """is""" nearest the French city of Lille?

    2. What other country """is""" nearest the Italian city of Trieste?

    3. What city or town """lies""" across a *state* boundary from
    Vancouver, Washington?

    4. What US city or town """is""" nearest Ft. Frances, Ontario?

    5. What city or town in another country """is""" nearest San Diego,
    California?

    6. What city or town in another country """is""" nearest
    Brazzaville, which """is""" in one of the two countries
    named Congo?

    7. What US city or town """is""" nearest St. Stephen, New Brunswick?

    8. What city or town """lies""" across a *state* boundary from
    Camden, New Jersey?

    9. What other *country* """is""" nearest to the French city of Nice?

    10. What *two other countries* """are""" adjacent to the Swiss
    city of Basel?

    --
    Mark Brader, Toronto | "Anyone who can handle a needle convincingly can make msb@vex.net | us see a thread which is not there." --E.H. Gombrich

    My text in this article is in the public domain.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Dan Blum@21:1/5 to Mark Brader on Tue Jun 29 23:54:57 2021
    Mark Brader <msb@vex.net> wrote:

    * Game 10, Round 1 - Current Events (excerpt)

    * Game 10, Round 2 - Canadiana - Income Tax

    1. For what type of income is it the case that you initially report
    a so-called "grossed-up" or "taxable" amount, 25% larger than
    the actual income, but then claim on Schedule 1 a credit of
    13+1/3 % (thirteen and a third percent) of the actual amount
    of this income?

    interest; dividends

    2. Capital gains can sometimes be offset against capital losses,
    but if you have a capital gain that you cannot offset and that
    isn't exempt for another reason, in most cases what fraction
    of the gain must you count as income?

    50%; 100%

    3. The next three questions are about calculating your federal
    non-refundable tax credits, which replaced many of the
    deductions from net income """about 10 years ago""". When
    doing this calculation, most people start with a constant
    "Personal Amount", which effectively represents the amount of
    income that is always tax-free federally. Within 12% of the
    actual number, how many dollars is that?

    $25,000; $35,000

    4. Within 25% of the actual number, how many dollars is your federal
    Spousal Amount, if you are supporting a spouse who has no income,
    but you are not a caregiver?

    $20,000; $10,000

    5. The next step in the non-refundable credit calculation is to
    add up these and other amounts and take a certain percentage
    of the total. If you aren't claiming anything for charitable
    donations, that percentage yields the amount of your federal
    non-refundable tax credit. Within 1 percentage point, what
    percentage do you take?

    50%; 67%

    6. Several things may enter into the calculation of your RRSP
    contribution room, but the most fundamental one is a percentage
    of the previous year's earned income. Within 2 percentage
    points, what """is""" that percentage?

    90%; 80%

    7. If you have to pay income tax by installments, how often are
    they due?

    quarterly

    8. The basic federal tax calculation (on Schedule 1) begins
    by classifying your taxable income into one of three brackets.
    (For 2019-20: five brackets, and it's on the T1.) Within $4,000
    in either case, give the number of dollars of taxable income
    that forms (A) the top boundary of the bottom bracket, *or*
    (B) the bottom boundary of the top bracket. You *must* say
    whether you are answering question A or B, but you don't have
    to say for what year.

    B: $150,000; B: $200,000

    9. Most taxpayers have to add a surtax that is what percentage of
    the basic federal tax?

    5%; 7%

    10. In the initial calculation of Ontario provincial income tax,
    what percentage of the basic federal tax do you take, within
    3? percentage points?

    25%; 35%

    * Game 10, Round 3 - Geography - Border Towns

    1. What other country """is""" nearest the French city of Lille?

    Belgium

    2. What other country """is""" nearest the Italian city of Trieste?

    Croatia

    5. What city or town in another country """is""" nearest San Diego,
    California?

    Tijuana

    6. What city or town in another country """is""" nearest
    Brazzaville, which """is""" in one of the two countries
    named Congo?

    Kinshasa

    7. What US city or town """is""" nearest St. Stephen, New Brunswick?

    Caribou

    8. What city or town """lies""" across a *state* boundary from
    Camden, New Jersey?

    Philadelphia

    9. What other *country* """is""" nearest to the French city of Nice?

    Monaco

    10. What *two other countries* """are""" adjacent to the Swiss
    city of Basel?

    Austria and Liechtenstein

    --
    _______________________________________________________________________
    Dan Blum tool@panix.com
    "I wouldn't have believed it myself if I hadn't just made it up."

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Pete Gayde@21:1/5 to Mark Brader on Tue Jun 29 20:59:58 2021
    Mark Brader wrote:
    These questions were written to be asked in Toronto on 1998-04-06, and
    should be interpreted accordingly. All questions were written by
    members of the Usual Suspects, but have been reformatted and may have
    been retyped and/or edited by me. I will reveal the correct answers in
    about 3 days.

    For further information, including an explanation of the """ notation
    that may appear in these rounds, see my 2020-06-23 companion posting on "Reposted Questions from the Canadian Inquisition (RQFTCI*)".


    * Game 10, Round 1 - Current Events (excerpt)

    This round is based on editorial cartoons that appeared in Canadian newspapers """last week""" -- that is, in 1998. Answer if you like
    for fun, but for no points.

    1. http://www.eskimo.com/~scs/msb/oo10/1/A.jpg

    This cartoon refers to a debate that's been going on for decades
    about whether a certain police force should wear sidearms.
    The word we've blotted out in this cartoon appeared between
    "rotten" and "criminals" in the upper right corner: what is it?

    2. http://www.eskimo.com/~scs/msb/oo10/1/B.jpg

    This cartoon by Patrick Corrigan appeared in the "Toronto
    Star" """last Wednesday""". What reassuring quip was written,
    upside-down, on the button that we've blotted out on the Great
    Man's lapel?


    I wrote both of these rounds.

    * Game 10, Round 2 - Canadiana - Income Tax

    All answers pertain to the 1997 tax year, i.e., the return that
    you """will probably be filing shortly""" if you haven't already
    done it. So if you were paying attention to the budget """in
    February""", you should temporarily forget everything you learned.

    *Note*: If you want to give current information, I will generously
    accept answers pertaining to either the 2019 or the 2020 tax year,
    so long as the facts stated in the question are still generally
    correct. If they aren't, you must give the originally expected
    answer. You *never* need to mention which year you are answering
    for.

    1. For what type of income is it the case that you initially report
    a so-called "grossed-up" or "taxable" amount, 25% larger than
    the actual income, but then claim on Schedule 1 a credit of
    13+1/3 % (thirteen and a third percent) of the actual amount
    of this income?

    2. Capital gains can sometimes be offset against capital losses,
    but if you have a capital gain that you cannot offset and that
    isn't exempt for another reason, in most cases what fraction
    of the gain must you count as income?

    3. The next three questions are about calculating your federal
    non-refundable tax credits, which replaced many of the
    deductions from net income """about 10 years ago""". When
    doing this calculation, most people start with a constant
    "Personal Amount", which effectively represents the amount of
    income that is always tax-free federally. Within 12% of the
    actual number, how many dollars is that?

    4. Within 25% of the actual number, how many dollars is your federal
    Spousal Amount, if you are supporting a spouse who has no income,
    but you are not a caregiver?

    5. The next step in the non-refundable credit calculation is to
    add up these and other amounts and take a certain percentage
    of the total. If you aren't claiming anything for charitable
    donations, that percentage yields the amount of your federal
    non-refundable tax credit. Within 1 percentage point, what
    percentage do you take?

    6. Several things may enter into the calculation of your RRSP
    contribution room, but the most fundamental one is a percentage
    of the previous year's earned income. Within 2 percentage
    points, what """is""" that percentage?

    7. If you have to pay income tax by installments, how often are
    they due?

    8. The basic federal tax calculation (on Schedule 1) begins
    by classifying your taxable income into one of three brackets.
    (For 2019-20: five brackets, and it's on the T1.) Within $4,000
    in either case, give the number of dollars of taxable income
    that forms (A) the top boundary of the bottom bracket, *or*
    (B) the bottom boundary of the top bracket. You *must* say
    whether you are answering question A or B, but you don't have
    to say for what year.

    9. Most taxpayers have to add a surtax that is what percentage of
    the basic federal tax?

    10. In the initial calculation of Ontario provincial income tax,
    what percentage of the basic federal tax do you take, within
    3Ā½ percentage points?


    * Game 10, Round 3 - Geography - Border Towns

    In each case we will name a city that is on a state or national
    border, or in some cases merely close to the border, and you simply
    have to tell us what's on the other side.

    1. What other country """is""" nearest the French city of Lille?

    Belgium; Spain


    2. What other country """is""" nearest the Italian city of Trieste?

    Croatia; Slovenia


    3. What city or town """lies""" across a *state* boundary from
    Vancouver, Washington?

    Portland, Oregon


    4. What US city or town """is""" nearest Ft. Frances, Ontario?

    Buffalo


    5. What city or town in another country """is""" nearest San Diego,
    California?

    Tijuana, Mexico


    6. What city or town in another country """is""" nearest
    Brazzaville, which """is""" in one of the two countries
    named Congo?

    Kinshasa


    7. What US city or town """is""" nearest St. Stephen, New Brunswick?

    8. What city or town """lies""" across a *state* boundary from
    Camden, New Jersey?

    Philadelphia, PA


    9. What other *country* """is""" nearest to the French city of Nice?

    Monaco


    10. What *two other countries* """are""" adjacent to the Swiss
    city of Basel?

    France and Germany



    Pete Gayde

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Dan Tilque@21:1/5 to Mark Brader on Wed Jun 30 17:58:03 2021
    On 6/28/21 10:26 PM, Mark Brader wrote:


    * Game 10, Round 1 - Current Events (excerpt)

    This round is based on editorial cartoons that appeared in Canadian newspapers """last week""" -- that is, in 1998. Answer if you like
    for fun, but for no points.

    1. http://www.eskimo.com/~scs/msb/oo10/1/A.jpg

    This cartoon refers to a debate that's been going on for decades
    about whether a certain police force should wear sidearms.
    The word we've blotted out in this cartoon appeared between
    "rotten" and "criminals" in the upper right corner: what is it?

    Nazi (just a wild guess, mind you)


    2. http://www.eskimo.com/~scs/msb/oo10/1/B.jpg

    This cartoon by Patrick Corrigan appeared in the "Toronto
    Star" """last Wednesday""". What reassuring quip was written,
    upside-down, on the button that we've blotted out on the Great
    Man's lapel?


    I wrote both of these rounds.

    * Game 10, Round 2 - Canadiana - Income Tax

    I ain't gonna help you do your taxes, Mark. I have enough trouble doing
    my own.


    All answers pertain to the 1997 tax year, i.e., the return that
    you """will probably be filing shortly""" if you haven't already
    done it. So if you were paying attention to the budget """in
    February""", you should temporarily forget everything you learned.

    *Note*: If you want to give current information, I will generously
    accept answers pertaining to either the 2019 or the 2020 tax year,
    so long as the facts stated in the question are still generally
    correct. If they aren't, you must give the originally expected
    answer. You *never* need to mention which year you are answering
    for.

    1. For what type of income is it the case that you initially report
    a so-called "grossed-up" or "taxable" amount, 25% larger than
    the actual income, but then claim on Schedule 1 a credit of
    13+1/3 % (thirteen and a third percent) of the actual amount
    of this income?

    2. Capital gains can sometimes be offset against capital losses,
    but if you have a capital gain that you cannot offset and that
    isn't exempt for another reason, in most cases what fraction
    of the gain must you count as income?

    3. The next three questions are about calculating your federal
    non-refundable tax credits, which replaced many of the
    deductions from net income """about 10 years ago""". When
    doing this calculation, most people start with a constant
    "Personal Amount", which effectively represents the amount of
    income that is always tax-free federally. Within 12% of the
    actual number, how many dollars is that?

    4. Within 25% of the actual number, how many dollars is your federal
    Spousal Amount, if you are supporting a spouse who has no income,
    but you are not a caregiver?

    5. The next step in the non-refundable credit calculation is to
    add up these and other amounts and take a certain percentage
    of the total. If you aren't claiming anything for charitable
    donations, that percentage yields the amount of your federal
    non-refundable tax credit. Within 1 percentage point, what
    percentage do you take?

    6. Several things may enter into the calculation of your RRSP
    contribution room, but the most fundamental one is a percentage
    of the previous year's earned income. Within 2 percentage
    points, what """is""" that percentage?

    7. If you have to pay income tax by installments, how often are
    they due?

    8. The basic federal tax calculation (on Schedule 1) begins
    by classifying your taxable income into one of three brackets.
    (For 2019-20: five brackets, and it's on the T1.) Within $4,000
    in either case, give the number of dollars of taxable income
    that forms (A) the top boundary of the bottom bracket, *or*
    (B) the bottom boundary of the top bracket. You *must* say
    whether you are answering question A or B, but you don't have
    to say for what year.

    9. Most taxpayers have to add a surtax that is what percentage of
    the basic federal tax?

    10. In the initial calculation of Ontario provincial income tax,
    what percentage of the basic federal tax do you take, within
    3Ā½ percentage points?


    * Game 10, Round 3 - Geography - Border Towns

    In each case we will name a city that is on a state or national
    border, or in some cases merely close to the border, and you simply
    have to tell us what's on the other side.

    1. What other country """is""" nearest the French city of Lille?

    Belgium


    2. What other country """is""" nearest the Italian city of Trieste?

    Slovenia


    3. What city or town """lies""" across a *state* boundary from
    Vancouver, Washington?

    Portland OR


    4. What US city or town """is""" nearest Ft. Frances, Ontario?

    Buffalo NY


    5. What city or town in another country """is""" nearest San Diego,
    California?

    Tiajuana


    6. What city or town in another country """is""" nearest
    Brazzaville, which """is""" in one of the two countries
    named Congo?

    Kinshasa


    7. What US city or town """is""" nearest St. Stephen, New Brunswick?

    Calais ME


    8. What city or town """lies""" across a *state* boundary from
    Camden, New Jersey?

    Philadelphia


    9. What other *country* """is""" nearest to the French city of Nice?

    Italy


    10. What *two other countries* """are""" adjacent to the Swiss
    city of Basel?

    Austria, Germany

    --
    Dan Tilque

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Mark Brader@21:1/5 to All on Thu Jul 1 23:44:58 2021
    Mark Brader:
    These questions were written to be asked in Toronto on 1998-04-06,
    and should be interpreted accordingly... For further information...
    see my 2020-06-23 companion posting on "Reposted Questions from the
    Canadian Inquisition (RQFTCI*)".


    * Game 10, Round 1 - Current Events (excerpt)

    This round is based on editorial cartoons that appeared in Canadian newspapers """last week""" -- that is, in 1998. Answer if you like
    for fun, but for no points.

    1. http://www.eskimo.com/~scs/msb/oo10/1/A.jpg

    This cartoon refers to a debate that's been going on for decades
    about whether a certain police force should wear sidearms.
    The word we've blotted out in this cartoon appeared between
    "rotten" and "criminals" in the upper right corner: what is it?

    Newfoundland.

    The cartoon is by the "Evening Telegram"'s Kevin Tobin. The police
    force there is the RNC... the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary.

    2. http://www.eskimo.com/~scs/msb/oo10/1/B.jpg

    This cartoon by Patrick Corrigan appeared in the "Toronto
    Star" """last Wednesday""". What reassuring quip was written,
    upside-down, on the button that we've blotted out on the Great
    Man's lapel?

    "April Fool".

    The caricature, of course, is of Brian Mulroney.


    I wrote both of these rounds.

    * Game 10, Round 2 - Canadiana - Income Tax

    All answers pertain to the 1997 tax year, i.e., the return that
    you """will probably be filing shortly""" if you haven't already
    done it. So if you were paying attention to the budget """in
    February""", you should temporarily forget everything you learned.

    *Note*: If you want to give current information, I will generously
    accept answers pertaining to either the 2019 or the 2020 tax year,
    so long as the facts stated in the question are still generally
    correct. If they aren't, you must give the originally expected
    answer. You *never* need to mention which year you are answering
    for.

    1. For what type of income is it the case that you initially report
    a so-called "grossed-up" or "taxable" amount, 25% larger than
    the actual income, but then claim on Schedule 1 a credit of
    13+1/3 % (thirteen and a third percent) of the actual amount
    of this income?

    Dividends (from taxable Canadian corporations). 2 for Dan Blum.

    This is done as a way of correcting for the income tax that the
    corporation already paid on the money before distributing it as
    dividends.

    In 2019-20, dividends are now classified as "eligible" or "other
    than eligible", depending on which corporate tax rate was applicable.
    It's up to the organization paying you the dividends to classify them correctly, when they report the amount to you on a T3 or T5 slip.
    For eligible dividends, the old 25% gross-up is now 38% and the credit
    is 15.0198% of the grossed-up amount, or approximately 10.8839%
    of the actual amount; for other dividends the gross-up is 15% and
    the credit is 9.0301% of the grossed-up amount, or about 7.8523%
    of the actual amount. Also, there is no Schedule 1 any more; it's
    been merged into the T1 form. But none of this is important now;
    the method of reporting is still essentially as described, so the
    question stands.

    2. Capital gains can sometimes be offset against capital losses,
    but if you have a capital gain that you cannot offset and that
    isn't exempt for another reason, in most cases what fraction
    of the gain must you count as income?

    1997-98 answer: 3/4. 2019-20 answer: 1/2. 2 for Dan Blum.

    3. The next three questions are about calculating your federal
    non-refundable tax credits, which replaced many of the
    deductions from net income """about 10 years ago""". When
    doing this calculation, most people start with a constant
    "Personal Amount", which effectively represents the amount of
    income that is always tax-free federally. Within 12% of the
    actual number, how many dollars is that?

    1997-98 answer: $6,456. 2019 answer: $12,069. 2020 answer: $13,229. (Accepting $5,681-$7,231 or $10,620-$14,817.)

    In 1997-98 this would also have applied to provincial tax, but that
    now has a separate calculation of non-refundable tax credits, so
    I've reworded the question to eliminate that issue. Also, starting
    with tax year 2020, people with more than $150,473 of net income
    have their Personal Amount reduced -- it can go as low as $12,298 --
    but that's not "most people".

    4. Within 25% of the actual number, how many dollars is your federal
    Spousal Amount, if you are supporting a spouse who has no income,
    but you are not a caregiver?

    1997-98 answer: $5,380. 2019-20 answer: Same as your Personal Amount. (Accepting $4,035-$6,725 or $9,051-$16,537.) 2 for Dan Blum.

    5. The next step in the non-refundable credit calculation is to
    add up these and other amounts and take a certain percentage
    of the total. If you aren't claiming anything for charitable
    donations, that percentage yields the amount of your federal
    non-refundable tax credit. Within 1 percentage point, what
    percentage do you take?

    The same as the federal tax rate in the lowest bracket.
    1997-98 answer: 17%. 2019-20 answer: 15%. (Accepting 14%-18%.)

    6. Several things may enter into the calculation of your RRSP
    contribution room, but the most fundamental one is a percentage
    of the previous year's earned income. Within 2 percentage
    points, what """is""" that percentage?

    18% (accepting 16%-20%).

    This is still true, but the CRA now seems to expect people to let
    them calculate it instead of providing a form to do it on.

    7. If you have to pay income tax by installments, how often are
    they due?

    Quarterly. 4 for Dan Blum.

    8. The basic federal tax calculation (on Schedule 1) begins
    by classifying your taxable income into one of three brackets.
    (For 2019-20: five brackets, and it's on the T1.) Within $4,000
    in either case, give the number of dollars of taxable income
    that forms (A) the top boundary of the bottom bracket, *or*
    (B) the bottom boundary of the top bracket. You *must* say
    whether you are answering question A or B, but you don't have
    to say for what year.

    (A): 1997-98 answer: $29,590. 2019 answer: $47,460. 2020 answer:
    $48,535. (Accepting $25,590-$33,590 or $43,460-$52,535.) (B):
    1997-98 answer: $59,180. 2019 answer: $210,371. 2020 answer:
    $214,368. (Accepting $55,180-$63,180 or $206,371-$218,368.)

    9. Most taxpayers have to add a surtax that is what percentage of
    the basic federal tax?

    3%. (This surtax no longer exists, so only the 1997-98 answer
    was acceptable.)

    10. In the initial calculation of Ontario provincial income tax,
    what percentage of the basic federal tax do you take, within
    3½ percentage points?

    48% (accepting 44½%-51½%). (This method of calculation is no longer
    used, so only the 1997-98 answer was acceptable.)

    I made the leeway 3½ percentage points because there were periods
    in the past when the percentage was in half points.

    Today the initial calculation uses a separate set of provincial
    tax brackets applied to taxable income like the federal ones, but
    determined by the province.


    * Game 10, Round 3 - Geography - Border Towns

    In each case we will name a city that is on a state or national
    border, or in some cases merely close to the border, and you simply
    have to tell us what's on the other side.

    None of these answers have changed since 1998.

    1. What other country """is""" nearest the French city of Lille?

    Belgium. 4 for Bruce, Erland, Dan Blum, and Dan Tilque. 3 for Pete.

    2. What other country """is""" nearest the Italian city of Trieste?

    Slovenia (not Croatia, which is beyond a strip of Slovenian territory;
    both countries had seceded from Yugoslavia well before 1998).
    4 for Erland and Dan Tilque. 2 for Bruce and Pete.

    3. What city or town """lies""" across a *state* boundary from
    Vancouver, Washington?

    Portland, Oregon. 4 for Bruce, Erland, Pete, and Dan Tilque.

    4. What US city or town """is""" nearest Ft. Frances, Ontario?

    International Falls, Minnesota.

    Buffalo is the US city nearest Ft. *Erie*, Ontario.

    5. What city or town in another country """is""" nearest San Diego,
    California?

    Tijuana, Mexico. 4 for everyone -- Bruce, Erland, Dan Blum, Pete,
    and Dan Tilque.

    6. What city or town in another country """is""" nearest
    Brazzaville, which """is""" in one of the two countries
    named Congo?

    Kinshasa, in the other Congo. The two cities are the respective
    national capitals. 4 for Erland, Dan Blum, Pete, and Dan Tilque.

    7. What US city or town """is""" nearest St. Stephen, New Brunswick?

    Calais ["KAL-uss"], Maine. 4 for Bruce and Dan Tilque.

    8. What city or town """lies""" across a *state* boundary from
    Camden, New Jersey?

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 4 for Bruce, Dan Blum, Pete,
    and Dan Tilque.

    9. What other *country* """is""" nearest to the French city of Nice?

    Monaco (not Italy; Nice is west of Monaco). 4 for Bruce, Erland,
    Dan Blum, and Pete.

    10. What *two other countries* """are""" adjacent to the Swiss
    city of Basel?

    France and Germany. Basel is also spelled Bāle. 4 for Bruce,
    Erland, and Pete.


    Scores, if there are no errors:

    GAME 10 ROUNDS-> 2 3 TOTALS
    TOPICS-> Can Geo
    Dan Blum 10 20 30
    Bruce Bowler 0 30 30
    Pete Gayde 0 29 29
    Dan Tilque 0 28 28
    Erland Sommarskog 0 28 28

    Entrants who scored points in 2009 on that Canadiana round, by the
    way, included Pete and Dan Tilque as well as Dan Blum.

    --
    Mark Brader | Caution
    msb@vex.net | Do not run on the stairs
    Toronto | Use the hand rail
    -- notice at British train station

    My text in this article is in the public domain.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)