Charitable Remainder Trusts

Residual Interest Gifts of Homes

Can you donate the residual interest of a principal residence to charity?  Absolutely!  The question, however, is not can it be done, but should it be done.  In most cases, the answer is no – especially for the charity. Structuring Options Let me address the structuring options first.  It is possible to donate a home to charity with an intervening life (or term) interest.  This means one or more persons….

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Estate Planning, Philanthropy/Charitable Giving, Trusts, Uncategorized

Advantages and Disadvantages of Charitable Remainder Trusts[1]

A charitable remainder trust is an underutilized philanthropic tool where a charity is given a future monetary benefit, while the donor receives immediate tax relief in respect of the charitable contribution. Typically, a donor irrevocably contributes property to a trust for the lifetime of a beneficiary, with a charity being the residual capital beneficiary upon the death of the lifetime beneficiary. The lifetime beneficiary has the right to the income….

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Charitable Giving, Trusts

Rethinking Testamentary Charitable Remainder Trusts

The tax treatment in Canada of testamentary charitable remainder trusts (CRT) has long been an exercise of metaphysical complexity. Although a charity may receive property from a trust established by will, tax receipts are rare. What looks like a gift isn’t for tax purposes. The new “estate donation” rules in sub-section 118.1(5) that became effective in 2016 have quietly changed this reality, but it may take a while for CRA….

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Estate Planning, Philanthropy/Charitable Giving
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