How to go about securing the best savings strategy in Canada.
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How much credit card debt does the average Canadian have? + MORE Jan 2nd
As the country re-opens after COVID-related restrictions, Canadians are faced with a worrying financial picture. Many have moved, others are looking to travel, and the cost of living is ballooning with unusual rates of inflation. Meanwhile, the Bank of Canada (BoC) rate hikes designed to curb these .... More »
The best high-interest savings accounts in Canada for 2025 + MORE Feb 11th
Savings comparison tool
Find the best and most up-to-date savings rates in Canada using the comparison tool below. Plus, use the filters to assess your estimated return based on the size of your balance.
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MoneySense is an award-winning magazine, helping Canadians navigate mo.... More »
New to Canada? A new way to transfer your credit score + MORE Oct 29th
Equifax Inc. is launching a program to allow newcomers to transfer their foreign credit history to Canada.
The credit reporting company said Thursday that the Global Consumer Credit File will make it easier for immigrants to access services like loans and cellphone plans in Canada by providing th.... More »
Best online brokers in Canada for 2020 Mar 13th
NOTE: These rankings are based on data collected before June 1, 2020 and do not reflect changes which may have taken place since then.
A penny saved, as they say, is a penny earned. That’s certainly the case for Canada’s self-directed investors, who are embracing the ultra-low fees offered by .... More »
Can you transfer a RRIF to a TFSA—and what are the tax implications? + MORE May 28th
Ask MoneySense
What is the implication of transferring money from my RRIF to TFSA on my income and taxes? Do I need to allow for a 30% deduction when I withdraw and it becomes income to be taxed at the end of the year? Or it doesn’t affect my income?
—Soheir
Transfers between registered a.... More »
TFSA vs RRSP: How to decide between the two
– moneysense.ca
One of the most common questions out there is whether to invest in a registered retirement savings plan (RRSP) or a tax-free savings account (TFSA). Both will help you save, and save on taxes, but each works in different ways. Understanding these investments will help you know when to use one or the other—and when you can use both in tandem.
What is a TFSA?
First introduced to Canadians in 2009, the TFSA has proven to be very popular. Each year, you get an allotment of $6,000 available for your TFSA, which means that you can put that amount away, plus any rollover from previous years (assuming you were 18 or older in 2009, you have a lifetime limit of $69,500 as of 2020). This money has already been taxed—you contribute to a TFSA from your net income—so there’s no tax break at the time of contribution. But any gains you earn in a TFSA—whether it’s from a savings account, a high-growth index fund or another investment product—aren’t subject to capital gains tax, so you won’t owe any tax on your earnings when you make a withdrawal…
What is a TFSA?
First introduced to Canadians in 2009, the TFSA has proven to be very popular. Each year, you get an allotment of $6,000 available for your TFSA, which means that you can put that amount away, plus any rollover from previous years (assuming you were 18 or older in 2009, you have a lifetime limit of $69,500 as of 2020). This money has already been taxed—you contribute to a TFSA from your net income—so there’s no tax break at the time of contribution. But any gains you earn in a TFSA—whether it’s from a savings account, a high-growth index fund or another investment product—aren’t subject to capital gains tax, so you won’t owe any tax on your earnings when you make a withdrawal…
Triggering losses by transferring investments to a TFSA
– moneysense.ca
Q. I just transferred 200 shares of an ETF from my margin account to my TFSA at a loss. Can I claim the loss, or does it fall into the 30-day rule?
–Stavros
A. Investments such as stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and mutual funds can generally be transferred “in-kind” between accounts, so that the investment is transferred from one account directly to the other without selling it. When an investment is transferred from a non-registered investment account, like a cash or margin account, into a tax-free savings account, the transfer is considered an eligible TFSA contribution. The contribution amount is based on the market value of the transferred investment at the time of transfer.
The “30-day rule” you are referring to, Stavros, is called the “superficial loss rule.” A superficial loss results when a capital loss is triggered in a taxable account, but the same investment is purchased in another account within 30 days before or after the loss is incurred.
The superficial loss rule applies to not only your repurchase of the investment, but also a repurchase by your spouse, a corporation you control, or a trust with you or your spouse as a beneficiary…
–Stavros
A. Investments such as stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and mutual funds can generally be transferred “in-kind” between accounts, so that the investment is transferred from one account directly to the other without selling it. When an investment is transferred from a non-registered investment account, like a cash or margin account, into a tax-free savings account, the transfer is considered an eligible TFSA contribution. The contribution amount is based on the market value of the transferred investment at the time of transfer.
The “30-day rule” you are referring to, Stavros, is called the “superficial loss rule.” A superficial loss results when a capital loss is triggered in a taxable account, but the same investment is purchased in another account within 30 days before or after the loss is incurred.
The superficial loss rule applies to not only your repurchase of the investment, but also a repurchase by your spouse, a corporation you control, or a trust with you or your spouse as a beneficiary…
