This blog post was written by Dave Madan, Senior Manager, Scotiatrust Following President Trump’s announcement of “Liberation Day,” Canadians are contemplating the reasons behind this decision. Amidst this uncertainty, many Canadians have re-evaluated their relationships with the United States, encompassing their daily interactions, financial affairs, and future planning. The purchase…
An existing tax debt at the time of death can wreak havoc on the administration of an estate and can jeopardize the estate and insurance planning. This is because the Canada Revenue Agency (“CRA“) is not your typical creditor and has statutory powers to seize assets of the estate beyond…
This article is written by Nicole Ewing, Director, Tax & Estate Planning, TD Wealth Whether it’s a Power of Attorney (POA) for Property document, a joint account, or a bare trust relationship, if a U.S. person’s involved, things can get complicated quickly. Canadians without U.S. ties can find themselves and their…
One of the responsibilities of an executor is to deal with the final tax return of the deceased and file the tax returns for the estate. Most tax deadlines are statutory (established in the Income Tax Act) therefore, they are non-negotiable. The executor should consult a tax advisor early to…
Cross-border insurance planning is tricky but understanding the basics can go a long way in assisting clients. This short article will review some of the key questions to consider in order to avoid potential pitfalls in life insurance planning. Who is the Owner, the Insured and the Beneficiary In the…
This is Part III of a three-part blog series. Parts I & II can be found at the following respective links: https://www.allaboutestates.ca/equalizing-an-estate-where-one-of-more-children-are-u-s-persons-and-planning-strategies-where-there-are-u-s-beneficiaries-part-i/ and https://www.allaboutestates.ca/equalizing-an-estate-where-one-of-more-children-are-u-s-persons-and-planning-strategies-where-there-are-u-s-beneficiaries-part-ii/. Parts I & II discussed a few issues to consider if a client’s intention is to equalize their estate amongst their children where one or more…
An irrevocable life insurance trust (ILIT) is an estate planning vehicle worth some consideration for U.S. citizens living in Canada. Many estate advisors are unaware that U.S. citizens subscribing to life insurance on their life will have the death benefits included in the value of their taxable estate for U.S….
Canadian estate and tax advisors may want to consider the case Connelly v. Internal Revenue Service, No. 23-146[1] (U.S. 3/27/24). The U.S. Supreme Court (“SCOTUS“) issued its decision on June 6th and it serves as a good reminder of the implications of corporately-owned life insurance in the context of cross-border…
Happy Friday, everyone. As a reminder, this is Part II of a three-part blog series. Part I can be found at the following link: Equalizing an Estate Where One of More Children are U.S. Persons and Planning Strategies Where There Are U.S. Beneficiaries; Part I – All About Estates…
Canadians often misunderstand (or are unaware) that the U.S. estate tax may apply to their estate. Indeed, if a Canadian dies owning U.S. situs assets with a gross value exceeding USD $60,000, their estate will have to file a U.S. estate tax return and, depending on the worldwide fair market…