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How to invest with spousal loans for Canadians—and how to pay it back Sep 5th
During my working life, I transferred non-registered investment shares through a spousal loan to my wife (a stay-at-home mother). At the time of transfer, I declared the capital gain and paid the corresponding tax on the gain on the difference between the FMV (fair market value) and the ACB (adjuste.... More »
What is a line of credit and what is it best used for? We make it make sense + MORE Oct 10th
If people are interested in opening a line of credit, money expert Jessica Moorhouse emphasizes the importance of gaining a full understanding of what you are signing on to before having it set up.... More »
Canada’s 10 best Mastercard credit cards for 2021 + MORE May 16th
As one of the top credit card companies in the world, Mastercard is extremely popular and also widely accepted. For those already banking at BMO Bank of Montreal, a major Canadian bank that’s associated with Mastercard, these cards may offer all the perks you’re after, along with opportunities t.... More »
Can you file multiple years of income taxes together in Canada? + MORE Dec 26th
Tax season is approaching. Soon, more than 30 million Canadians will be filing their tax returns. Most Canadians file their taxes every year but according to a paper from Carleton University, as many as 12% of Canadians don’t, and aside from missing out on tax refunds, this is costing many low inc.... More »
Payments for the Canada Workers Benefit arriving sooner—find out why + MORE Jul 31st
If you receive the Canada Workers Benefit (CWB), you’ll notice a change to this federal tax credit as of this week, namely that you’ll get the money sooner. In the past, CWB recipients claimed the benefit for a certain year when filing their income tax return—for example, claiming the CWB for .... 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…