Fine art is an asset class of growing importance among the affluent and is beginning to be a significant part of select estate plans. A recent estimate pegged the international art market at US$57.5 billion in 2024 (a 12% decline from 2023) and Canada has seen some record prices at…
Tag: estate donations
Total 19 Posts
There is a saying among charitable gift planners: “beware of donors of in-kind property with valuations in hand.” In other words, some gifts may be too good to be true. This folk wisdom contains a serious point. Donors, executors and charities often struggle with the valuation of in-kind donation. Who…
Charities do not exclusively depend on donations, despite popular perceptions to the contrary. In Canada, government funding and earned revenue contribute more to registered charities than donations. Both these types of low-key funding are under pressure, enough so that we will soon witness some large charities shrink or even collapse….
The headline is not intended to scare you off. Admittedly, governance is a notoriously dull topic, made worse by the enthusiasm of governance wonks. Charity governance is rarely a matter considered, at least overtly, by an estate donor when planning a gift by will. But strong governance is essential to good charities….
Changes to the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) rates and rules are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2024. For the first time AMT will apply to charitable donations from high-income individuals, which is worrying for charities and donors. Simply, targeting donations is poor tax policy that will produce unintended…
Estate planning is an exercise in time travel. It is impossible to predict the future, especially when the time gap between planning and death is often decades. Fast forward 25 years, a charity may not exist when the estate is distributed. Charity law identified this problem and a solution to it over…
A direct designation gift of RRIF or life insurance proceeds is an estate donation, but lawyers and executors have little or no role to play. Normal procedural and disclosure rules don’t apply. How do charities ensure they receive their intended gift? How does the estate receive its tax receipt? Direct…
Tax relief for an estate donation cannot be claimed until the property is transferred to a charity. No tax receipt; no tax credits. If the distribution is after 60 months after death of the donor there is no tax receipt at all. But what if the estate has illiquid assets…
The 2016 introduction of the Graduated Rate Estate (GRE) regime was accompanied by the “estate donations” rules. These Income Tax Act provisions altered the administrative and tax treatment of gifts by will, as well as direct designation gifts of life insurance, RRSP/RRIFs, and TFSAs. How are charities and executors managing…
Recently I received an inquiry from a life insurance advisor about a client who wished to establish a policy and donate it to two charities. My colleague wanted to know if this was possible. In my experience it is possible, but not the best way to do it. Donation Structures…