Tax Issues

Total 360 Posts

To vary or not to vary

The Canada Revenue Agency recently responded to a ruling request as to whether or not a proposed amendment to a trust agreement could be so significant to cause a resettlement of the trust, or a disposition of a beneficiary’s interest in the trust Before the enactment of variation of trusts legislation, trustees were generally bound to administer the trust according to its terms.  Unless specifically allowed in the trust deed,….

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Canada Revenue Agency, Executors, Tax Issues, Trustee, Trusts

Federal Budget 2018 – Overview of Personal Income Tax Measures

On February 27, 2018 (“Budget Day”), the Federal Government tabled the third budget (“Budget 2018”). This year’s budget focuses on continuing to strengthen the middle class and economic growth.  The following are some of the notable personal income tax measures proposed in Budget 2018, which relate to qualifying plan holders for Registered Disability Savings Plans, new reporting requirements for certain trusts and favourable changes for charities. Registered Disability Savings Plan….

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Tax Issues

What to do when a loved one dies?

Believe it or not, this is the title of a recent release from the Canada Revenue Agency (“CRA”). Is there really a softer side to the CRA? Let’s face there is a lot to do after a loved one dies, and a lot of it not related to tax. But from experience, it does not take long for the subject to come up, which reminds me of the time I….

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Canada Revenue Agency, Estate Administration, Executors, In the News, Tax Issues

Death and TOSI Part 2: Spouses

My past two blogs have looked at the December 13, 2017 draft legislation that amends and expands the tax on split income (“TOSI”) rules. In my last blog I outlined some of the special rules that apply (in the context of TOSI) to income and gains on property that is acquired as a consequence of death. A further special rule relates specifically to spouses. If an amount qualifies as an….

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Canada Revenue Agency, Estate Planning, Family Conflict, Tax Issues

Safe Space: Governance in Action

For most businesses they evaluate their success by quarters or perhaps terms described as “short”, “medium” and “long”. For a family business, they measure success by ensuring the company is preserved for the next generation and beyond.  And despite the statistics which suggest that successfully transitioning a family business to the next generation is elusive, the goal for a large proportion of family businesses still is to transition the business….

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Business Succession Planning, Family Conflict, Small Business, Tax Issues

SHAREHOLDER REMUNERATION PLANNING

Business owners-managers put money in and take money out on a regular basis during the year, and at the same time often use the business bank account for what may appear to be personal expenditures. This often leads to shareholder advance balances at year end and some major bookkeeping challenges to boot. These balances are often part of the consideration to determine shareholder bonuses and dividends at year-end, the characterization….

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Canada Revenue Agency, Canadian and US Tax Treaty, Estate Planning, Investments, IRS, Small Business, Tax Issues, Uncategorized
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