Posts

November tax news: How options are taxed, why the self-employed pay double CPP–and more

HOW OPTIONS ARE TAXED An option to purchase a property, as the term implies, provides the holder of the option an optional right to purchase the property. The option is referred to as a call option. The purchase price under the option is sometimes called the exercise price or strike price. Conversely, an option to […]

death tax

October tax news: Death, taxes and capital gains treatment for Canadian securities

DEATH AND TAXES You’ve heard the saying about this − there are two sure things in life. On top of that, when you die, there may be additional income tax payable owing to the “deemed disposition” rules and other rules that apply specifically upon death. Before we get to those issues, in the year of […]

September tax news: Share transfers to an RRSP, charitable donation receipt rules–and more

TRANSFERRING SHARES TO AN RRSP   Should you transfer shares that you already own to your RRSP? The prospect can be attractive. The shares you transfer are considered a contribution to your RRSP. If you have unused RRSP contribution room, you can thus get a substantial tax deduction for shares that you already own. If […]

intergenerational business transfer

Bill C-208 improves tax treatment on intergenerational business transfers, but changes to come

Until recently, it was more financially beneficial to sell a business to a third party in Canada, rather than passing it along to children or grandchildren through an intergenerational business transfer. This had been a longstanding bone of contention among entrepreneurs. Bill C-208, An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (transfer of small business […]

July tax news: Non-arm’s length property transfers, superficial losses–and more

NON-ARM’S LENGTH PROPERTY TRANSFERS Overview There are special rules under the Income Tax Act (the “Act”) that apply to property transfers to a non-arm’s length person. The rules, discussed below, can override the actual proceeds or sales price received on the property transfers. For most purposes, “related” persons, as defined in the Act, are non-arm’s […]

Property purchase

June tax news: Buying property from a non-resident, HST rules–and more

BUYING PROPERTY FROM A NON-RESIDENT If you are buying real estate — such as a house or condominium, or a commercial property — from a non-resident of Canada, you need to know about your obligation to withhold tax unless the vendor provides you with a “section 116 certificate” from the Canada Revenue Agency. A non-residents […]

May tax news: Estate strategies, tuition tax credits–and more

ESTATES AND THE “PIPELINE” STRATEGY When a person dies, they are deemed to dispose of most of their capital properties at fair market value. This deemed disposition may trigger capital gains or losses, depending on the tax cost of the properties relative to their current fair market value. The person who acquires the property as […]

parliament of Canada

Federal Budget 2021 extends COVID-19 supports, introduces new taxes

Federal budget 2021, the first federal budget in two years, was tabled yesterday amid doom and gloom predictions of increases in the capital gains rates, taxation on the sale of principal residences, and a range of other tax increases to pay for COVID-19 relief programs. The worry proved to be all for naught—at least for […]

Ottawa won’t require some self-employed Canadians to repay CERB

In the face of widespread confusion, complaints and a looming class action lawsuit, the federal government has changed course, cancelling plans to require some self-employed individuals to repay the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) funds they received at the height of the COVID-19 crisis. Controversy erupted late last year when the Canada Revenue Agency informed […]

February Tax News: Income splitting, car expense limits–and more

INCOME SPLITTING AND ATTRIBUTION RULES The Canadian income tax system employs a graduated tax rate system, which means that the higher your taxable income, the higher tax rate or tax bracket that applies to the income. As such, if you are in a high tax bracket and a family member is in a low tax […]