Technology makes it easy for Revenue Canada to match employees and employers through the T4 and T5 forms filed by businesses. If you don't list all income, you may have additional tax to pay, plus interest compounded daily from April 30 and perhaps other penalties as well. One step towards keeping more of your income is learning how to take advantage of available tax reduction opportunities. Professional advice may be necessary to implement specific tax strategies. Deductions tend to favor those in higher tax brackets.
Tax credits benefit all tax brackets equally.
Credits like charitable donations or property tax credits reduce the amount of tax payable. Home ownership becomes attractive, since any profit made on the sale of your home, or principal residence, is tax-free. Consider Revenue Canada a resource, not an enemy. Revenue Canada employees can't give you financial planning advice, but they can help you understand how specific tax issues apply to your situation. Ask for a copy of the information bulletin or tax form relevant to your questions.