Property

Total 144 Posts

Inheritances and Taxes – Be Careful Where you Step?

Frequently, I am reminded how careful one has to be with making sure that tax-free inheritances generally maintain their status throughout all steps to liquidate and realize the proceeds. Here is a case in point. In Owen v The Queen (2018 TCC 90), the taxpayer’s father resided in the United States of America and had a US individual retirement account (“IRA”). The taxpayer’s father passed away. The taxpayer and his….

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Canada Revenue Agency, Estate Administration, Estate Planning, Investments, IRS, Property, Tax Issues, Uncategorized, United States, US Taxes

Income Splitting Loans: What’s the Use?

We have blogged about income splitting arrangements available to individuals who wish to loan funds to his/her lower income spouse or adult child, or in the case of minor children, a discretionary family trust. Such loans would be used to invest in income producing properties such marketable securities, mutual funds, real estate income trusts (to name a few). The income from these properties less the interest paid on the loans….

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Canada Revenue Agency, Estate Planning, Interest, Investments, Property, Spouse, Tax Issues, Uncategorized

The Cost of Winning, Sort of….

In my practice, I have been engaged on valuation matters which, on occasion despite the efforts of all those involved, go to trial to have a trial judge settle for the parties. Most trials are expensive and the actual outcome is not always certain, no matter how strong one side of the matter or case might be. It has been my experience that even if one happens to be on….

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Costs, Estate Administration, Estate Litigation, Executors, Joint Tenancy, Property, Uncategorized, Undue influence, Wills

A Gift is a Gift

We often write about the benefits (and some pitfalls) of gifting, before and after death. Personally, when I recommend gifting, I assume that unless there are specific outcomes required to realize on the gift, a gift is exactly that, a gift – something transferred voluntarily without expectation of getting it back because you changed your mind.  A recent court case appears to support this assumption. According to Johnston v. Song, 2018….

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Charitable Giving, Estate Planning, Family Conflict, Investments, Probate Tax, Property, Real Estate, Separation, Spouse, Uncategorized

Trust Allocations and Gifts to Family Members

A common estate planning technique is to structure a family trust which owns the shares of a small business corporation in such a way that allows each beneficiary (most commonly being members of the taxpayer’s immediate family – spouse and/or children) to participate in the sale or disposition of the business, thereby utilizing their life time capital gains exemption and potentially saving several hundred thousand dollars in taxes payable on….

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Business Succession Planning, Canada Revenue Agency, Estate Planning, Investments, Property, Small Business, Tax Issues, Trustee, Trusts, Uncategorized

Estate and Trusts with Foreign Properties and/or Transactions: Update on Reporting Implications

Sometime ago, I wrote that the Income Tax Act requires persons and partnerships to file information returns in respect of foreign property ownership (specified foreign property in excess $100,000) and transactions with non-residents . This extends to trusts and estates. Those who file such a return late or do not file one on demand are liable to a penalty or penalties. Generally speaking, a penalty starts at a minimum of….

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Canada Revenue Agency, Estate Administration, Executors, In the News, International, Investments, Property, Real Estate, Tax Issues, Trustee, Trusts, Uncategorized, United States
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