Liability

Total 35 Posts

The Importance of Fiduciary Duties

The Oxford Dictionary defines a fiduciary as a person in a position of trust, especially when it involves controlling money or property belonging to others. The law places particular emphasis on the trust relationship between a trustee and a third-party beneficiary. Among other duties, a fiduciary is required to: (1) act in the best interests of the beneficiary, (2) not put their own interests ahead of the beneficiary, and (3)….

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Elder Care, Elder Law, Fiduciary Professions, Guardianship, Liability, Passing Of Trustees’ and Executors’ Accounts, Power of Attorney, Powers Of Attorney and Guardianship Disputes, Trustee

Inheritance and Tax

There is renewed discussion on whether Canada will become another jurisdiction where specific gift or estate taxes will be imposed on inheritances. There is speculation that the discussion will lead to something concrete as early as next week’s Federal Budget. In the meantime, there are situations where inheritances can come with a tax burden, such as the one described in a recent Tax Court of Canada case (Goldman v. the….

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Attorney Compensation, Canada Revenue Agency, Compensation, Costs, Courts, Estate Administration, Estate Administration and Probate Applications, Estate Litigation, Executors, Investments, Liability, Tax Issues, Trustee, Trustee Compensation, Trusts, Uncategorized

TFSA’s and Non Resident Penalties – An Update

A couple years ago, one of my blog colleagues wrote on the residency rules regarding tax free saving accounts (TFSA’s). Generally, as an owner of TFSA, if you leave Canada, the accumulated funds may remain in the TFSA without Canadian tax consequences. You can’t make any further contributions but you can make withdrawals. The penalties for not abiding by the non-residency contribution rules are severe – essentially 1% per month….

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Canada Revenue Agency, International, Investments, Liability, Tax Issues, Uncategorized

Extended tax payment deadlines and interest relief on tax debt

Further tax payment deadline extensions and interest relief on tax debt are on offer by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) during the COVID-19 pandemic. As announced on July 27, 2020, trusts now have until September 30, 2020, to pay income tax balances and instalments that would have otherwise been due on or after March 18, 2020 and before September 30, 2020. The CRA also says that all penalties and interest….

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Canada Revenue Agency, Executors, Liability, Tax Issues

Someone else’s tax bill – Sometimes there is no getting away from it!

In Dreger et al v the Queen (2020 TCC25), the beneficiaries of an estate bequest appealed assessments for unpaid taxes by the deceased. In this case, the deceased was an annuitant of a life income fund (“LIF”) and prior to his death, he designated to each of his daughters as his beneficiaries under a beneficiary designation in respect of the LIF. In his will, the deceased named his daughters as….

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Canada Revenue Agency, Courts, Estate Administration, Estate Litigation, Executors, Investments, Liability, Tax Issues, Trustee, Trusts, Uncategorized, Wills

Secret Trusts

Secret and trusts are essentially trust arrangements made between a testator and a trustee, without written disclosure or agreement of the terms of the arrangement, but where an understanding exists between the parties. Based on precedent in case law, the essential elements of a secret trust are: • An intent by the testator to subject the trustee to an obligation in favour of a beneficiary; • Communication of that intent….

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Estate Administration, Estate Litigation, Liability, Resulting Trust, Trustee, Trusts, Uncategorized, Wills
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