Real Estate

Total 97 Posts

GIFTS – Some Additional Thougths

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Recently, I wrote about the gifting of cash or assets during one’s lifetime as an alternative method of distributing your wealth (beyond what you need to live on comfortably) and possibly avoid taxes (probate, income etc.) at time of death. I suggested that your heirs could use the funds in a manner that will likely cost less tax: For example pay down some personal debt, apply it as a deposit….

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Canada Revenue Agency, Charitable Giving, Estate Litigation, Estate Planning, Family Conflict, Investments, Joint Tenancy, Loans, Philanthropy/Charitable Giving, Probate Tax, Property, Real Estate, Tax Issues, Trusts, Uncategorized

Principal residence exemption and fire loss

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The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) was asked to comment on the availability of the principal residence exemption (PRE) when a previously occupied property is destroyed by fire and a decision is made to sell the property in a later year. The taxpayer purchased a house in 2010 which was ordinarily inhabited as a principal residence.  In 2016, the house was completely destroyed by a fire and the taxpayer decided to move….

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Canada Revenue Agency, Cottage, Executors, Property, Real Estate, Tax Issues, Uncategorized

The Principal Residence Exemption: Can you Divide and Conquer?

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Recently, the Canada Revenue Agency (‘CRA”) was asked for its opinion on a fact situation with implications on the availability of the principal residence exemption for tax purposes, that I think also has applicability to estate planning in general and to some of the issues one can encounter when trying to divide interests in a property for estate planning purposes in particular. The CRA was provided with the following scenario…..

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

Ontario’s Non-Resident Speculation Tax

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Recently the Government of Ontario followed the heels of the British Columbia Government by introducing a “non-resident speculation tax” (“NRST”). The NRST will apply to the purchase or acquisition of an interest in residential property located in the Greater Golden Horseshoe (the “GGH”) by individuals who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents or by foreign corporations or taxable trustees.  The quantum of tax is equal to 15% and it….

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Canada Revenue Agency, Costs, Liability, Property, Real Estate, Tax Issues

The Prescribed Rate is About to Change – for Real this Time?

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The prescribed rate is the minimum interest rate prescribed by the Canada Revenue Agency (“CRA”) that should be charged on various non-arm’s loans such as those made by you to your spouse or child (through a family trust). Such loans are a common device to split income with others in your family. The money is often used to invest in income-producing properties and the income is taxable in the hands….

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

JOINT TENANCY AND PROBATE AVOIDANCE – A QUICK REVISIT

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When developing estate plans for clients with property of a capital nature (real estate, marketable securities being a couple of examples), one of the questions I get asked more often than not is: How can I avoid probate? Can I just put someone else’s name on a document so it transfers to that person when I pass away? Are there any implications? Technically speaking, “putting someone else’s name on a….

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Business Succession Planning, Canada Revenue Agency, Estate Administration, Estate Administration and Probate Applications, Estate Planning, In the News, Interest, Investments, Joint Tenancy, Probate Tax, Property, Real Estate, Resulting Trust, Tax Issues, Trusts, Uncategorized, Wills
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