Both alter ego and joint partner trusts (the trust) allow a settlor to transfer capital assets into the trust on a tax-deferred basis if the following conditions are met: The trust is created after 1999. The settlor is at least 65 at the time of creation. In the case of…
Derek de Gannes
Derek A. de Gannes: Senior Director, Private Client Services of RSM Canada. RSM Canada is committed to the highest level of integrity, quality and professionalism and provides clients with solutions in the area of Audit, Tax and Transaction Services. Email: derek.degannes@rsmcanada.com
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) was asked to consider allowing more time to allow for the application of a common post-mortem planning rule in those situations where delays in the probate process have caused a delay in the timing of the disposition of the properties of an estate. The request concerns…
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…
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) was asked whether a Canadian-resident individual is required to file Form T1135 (Foreign Income Verification Statement) in respect of their interest in a US pension plan. The foreign property reporting rules are in section 233.3 of the Income Tax Act (ITA). Generally, these rules require…
The pension splitting exception will allow a spouse who is 65 years of age to split income with his or her spouse or common law partner if the split income would be an excluded amount of the spouse who is 65 years old. These deeming provisions provide an opportunity to…
Since 2018, the tax on split income (TOSI) rules have impacted common estate planning practices. While much of the TOSI focus is on planning during one’s lifetime, post-mortem planning strategies have also been affected. It follows that a post-mortem planning strategy must now be considered in light of TOSI, as…
At a recent tax conference, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) shared its view on reporting a post-mortem loss incurred by a trust in the first year following the death of the last life interest beneficiary (the settlor in the case of an alter ego trust, and the last to die…
A recent letter from officials of Tax Legislation Division provides hope for trusts established for an individual eligible for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) to qualify for the principal residence exemption. Specifically, the letter addressed concerns raised by an adviser in respect of her client regarding the benefit of the…
A recently released letter from the Department of Finance to the Joint Committee on Taxation recommends changes to enacted tax rules that would provide relief from Canadian withholding tax on estate distributions to non-resident beneficiaries of a graduated rate estate. Budget 2018 included a widened surplus stripping rule applicable to…
Qualifying for support under various government disability programs in the form of cash payments or benefits often means that a recipient must have income and assets below a certain level. Without careful planning an intended inheritance may unintentionally serve to cut off a beneficiary’s government support. A Henson Trust allows…