Steven Frye

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Baker Tilly WM LLP is a leading, independent audit, tax, and business advisory firm based in Vancouver and Toronto, serving clients across Canada. Drawing on well-trained teams across a variety of disciplines, we ensure the alignment of our professional’s skills and experience with client requirements, resulting in exceptional service and business outcomes.

DEATH BENEFITS: CAN THEY BE APPLIED TO THE INCORPORATED OWNER-OPERATOR?

A death benefit is an amount received after a person’s death for their employment service. In general, any amount up to $10,000 received is not subject to tax, pursuant to regulations contained in the Income Act (“ITA”). What if the deceased was the sole shareholder of a corporation and received a death benefit? Recently, the Canada Revenue Agency (“CRA”) was asked to consider two scenarios: 1. The sole individual shareholder….

DEATH BENEFITS: CAN THEY BE APPLIED TO THE INCORPORATED OWNER-OPERATOR? Continue Reading »

Canada Revenue Agency, Estate Administration, Estate Planning, Probate Tax, Small Business, Tax Issues, Uncategorized

OFFSHORE ESTATE PLANNING AND MONEY TRANSFERS: A WORD OF CAUTION

Just I am completing my personal income tax return and assisting many others with theirs, I continue to cling to the belief that most Canadians pay their fair shares of taxes. However, it appears many do not by “hiding” their money in offshore tax havens, sometimes under the guise of estate planning. There has been a lot of publicity in the past couple of years on how wealthy individuals around….

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Canada Revenue Agency, Canadian and US Tax Treaty, Estate Administration, Estate Planning, In the News, Investments, Tax Issues, Uncategorized

QUALIFIED DISABILITY TRUST (“QDT”): HOW TO FILE A JOINT ELECTION?

Recently, the Canada Revenue Agency (“CRA”) issued a “how to file” the joint election for a trust to be a QDT: http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pbg/tf/t3qdt/README.html From 2016 forward, this form is to be used if one or more beneficiaries are jointly electing that the trust be designated to be QDT for the year. The form should be filed with the trust return (T3) for the year. The filing of a joint election designates….

QUALIFIED DISABILITY TRUST (“QDT”): HOW TO FILE A JOINT ELECTION? Continue Reading »

Capacity Law, Disability, Estate Administration, Guardianship, Tax Issues, Testamentary Capacity, Trustee, Trusts, Uncategorized

CHARITABLE GIFTS AND GRADUATED RATE ESTATE DESIGNATIONS: CAN YOU GIFT BEFORE YOU DESIGNATE

Assume Mr. X died in early 2016. Mr. X’s estate appears to meet all of the requirements to be a graduated rate estate (“GRE”), except the 1st return has not been filed as yet to formally designate it a GRE. The estate made a charitable donation in early 2017; at the time of the donation, the estate had not met all the requirements of the GRE definition in the Income….

CHARITABLE GIFTS AND GRADUATED RATE ESTATE DESIGNATIONS: CAN YOU GIFT BEFORE YOU DESIGNATE Continue Reading »

Canada Revenue Agency, Charitable Giving, Estate Administration, Estate Donations, Estate Planning, In the News, Property, Tax Issues, Uncategorized

Unrealized Capital Gains: Take Action Now?

As we head toward another federal budget to be released on March 22, there is much speculation about a change in the capital gain inclusion rate from 50% to 66.67% or 75%. Current Capital Gain Tax As the rules are currently written, only 50% of a capital gain is subject to tax in Canada. For an Ontario resident, the combined Federal and Ontario tax rate applicable to a high rate….

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Canada Revenue Agency, Estate Administration, Estate Planning, In the News, Investments, Property, Real Estate, Tax Issues, Trusts, Uncategorized

Multiple testamentary trusts for tax purposes: Are they always treated as one?

This issue was recently tested in Court with a “bittersweet” result. Three testamentary trusts were created for 3 children in the late 2000’s. Their mother was an income beneficiary in each trust, and entitled to receive all the net income derived from each trust during her lifetime. A child and his/her children were income and capital beneficiaries of each respective trust and would be paid the net income after their….

Multiple testamentary trusts for tax purposes: Are they always treated as one? Continue Reading »

Canada Revenue Agency, Estate Administration, Investments, Property, Resulting Trust, Tax Issues, Trusts, Uncategorized
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