Tax

Tackling tax-efficient investing

While tax-advantaged vehicles such as RRSPs and tax-free savings accounts are a sure bet for most investors, they are limited by the investor’s contribution room. Once that has been exhausted, investing in taxable accounts is the next step. However, at that point, the tax impact of making such a move must be investigated.

By André Fok Kam |January 1, 2011

7 min read

Tax News

Pension splitting discrimination

There are many parts of the Income Tax Act (ITA) where relevant distinctions are made as to income sources and taxpayer circumstances. Then there are the pension income splitting rules, which suffer from irrelevant source distinctions and in turn lead to discriminatory treatment of many taxpayers.

January 1, 2011

3 min read

Tax News

Taming the retirement tax bite

Tax efficiency is the key to managing portfolio volatility in retirement, Winnipeg-based financial advisor Douglas Nelson told the Distinguished Advisor Conference 2010 in Orlando, Fla.

By Vikram Barhat |January 1, 2011

2 min read

Tax News

REITs escape new tax rules

It’s 2011 and the new distributions tax relating to flow-through entities, including income trusts that existed on October 31, 2006, now applies.

By Gena Katz |January 1, 2011

3 min read

Home Buyers’ Plan troubles

The Home Buyers’ Plan (HBP) allows first-time home buyers to withdraw up to $25,000 from their RRSPs to assist them with the purchase of a home. The funds need to be paid back over a 15-year period. If payment is missed in a particular year, the amount not repaid must be included in the participant’s income for that year.

January 1, 2011

4 min read

Creating an RRSP exit strategy

As one of Canada’s best savings programs and biggest tax breaks, the Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) should be wildly popular. However, Canadians are not taking full advantage of them. Year after year, over 90% of taxpayers eligible to make RRSP contributions fail to make the maximum contribution, leaving unused contribution room on the table.

7 min read

Income trusts beyond 2011

Canada is in the midst of a bull market in yield securities. Retail and institutional investors alike are clamouring for securities generating and paying a steady cash flow. The demographics of this country provide strong evidence of why the demand for yield has seemingly accelerated in recent years.

9 min read

Tax

Tackling tax-efficient investing

Pension splitting discrimination

Taming the retirement tax bite

REITs escape new tax rules

Home Buyers’ Plan troubles

Creating an RRSP exit strategy

Income trusts beyond 2011

Up to Speed – 2010 Tax Changes

Tax tips for the business owner

Minimizing taxes on executive incomes