Creating a will means making big decisions that will impact your family for years after you’ve gone. While divvying up assets, assigning care for dependants and tax planning will take up most of your will-creating conversation, you’ll also have to consider who should be the executor of your will (or the liquidator in Quebec).
When it comes to insurance, there are some types that we automatically take out. Car insurance, home insurance and life insurance are often considered non-negotiable essentials.
The 2024 federal budget proposed an increase in the capital gains inclusion rate for corporations, trusts and individuals from one-half (50%) to two-thirds (66.67%). This change comes into effect for capital gains realized after June 24, 2024, so some taxpayers may want to consider whether it’s beneficial to trigger unrealized capital gains before June 25, 2024.
Many of us understand the value of the Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP): almost six million Canadians make RRSP contributions every year.1 Most of us also know about the tax benefits of RRSP contributions and that it’s an extremely versatile and effective retirement planning tool.
As you begin to get ready to prepare your 2023 tax return, we want to ensure you’re aware of important upcoming dates and deadlines so you have everything you need to file your return with minimal hassle.
When most of us think of year-end tax planning, we typically consider our personal situation. Yet, there are many tax-opportunities for business owners to explore as we near the end of another calendar year.
As we wave goodbye to 2023, we can also expect to bid adieu to some of the key events of the year that made it especially challenging for the markets. The central bank interest rate rises, which brought about a mini banking collapse early in the year, appear to have come to an end, while inflation is moving toward target levels.
Most people think of life insurance as a necessary expense. It’s something that you almost begrudgingly pay for, in the hope that you’ll never need it, but with the expectation that it will protect your family’s finances, should the worst happen.
In the third quarter of the year, higher interest rates and U.S. Treasury yields had a significant impact on U.S., Canadian and international equities.
Many Canadians designate a direct beneficiary on their RRSP, RRIF, TFSA or insurance policies without giving it a second thought (although in Quebec, beneficiary designations are only effective on insurance policies). However, designating a direct beneficiary is not recommended for many plan/policy owners, where they have non-traditional or unique family situations, as it can lead to unfavourable tax implications for beneficiaries.
Did you know that many Canadians are not adequately prepared to pass on or inherit family wealth? This is often due to a lack of communication and planning. The good news is that it’s never too early or too late to start. Planning helps you identify tax saving opportunities, mitigate potential financial gaps and maximize your current lifestyle.
The lifetime capital gains exemption (LCGE) is one of the key tax planning advantages available to small business owners, farmers, and fishers. In 2021, it can exempt from tax up to $892,218 of capital gains realized on the sale of shares of a qualified small business corporation and up to $1 million of capital gains realized on the sale of shares of a family farm or fishing corporation.