our 10th year
blog anniversary
In the world of trusts and estates law, the acronym “GRE” is a frequent visitor, and while its descriptive meaning, Graduated Rate Estate (“GRE”), may be well known, its impact perhaps less so. A testamentary trust is a trust created as a result of a person’s death. An estate is
Just when high-net-worth taxpayers thought that the amount of tax they must pay could not get any higher, the Canadian government brought in new changes to the Alternative Minimum Tax (the “AMT”) regime. Putting aside politics and the arguments for or against the changes to the AMT regime, this blog
I previously blogged about executors’ tax compliance responsibilities. In the past two plus years since that blog, there have been a number of changes of which executors and trustees should be aware. This blog provides an overview of key tax compliance responsibilities of executors and trustees and highlights some of
When we consider undertaking the estate planning process, the preparation of a Will to direct and manage the transfer of assets between a person and their beneficiaries is often the primary focus. What is not always considered by many is the role proper estate planning plays in the preservation of
There is increasing uncertainty about the future of U.S. estate tax. On the one hand, under U.S. legislation that temporarily halved the lifetime exemption amount passed during the Trump administration, the lifetime exclusion amount is set to decrease on January 1, 2026, to $5M (USD) adjusted for inflation since 2011,
Canada’s underused housing tax (UHT), which took effect on January 1, 2022, had its first filing deadline on April 30, 2023. However, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) provided transitional relief so that no penalties or interest will be applied for returns and payments received before November 1, 2023. In a
What is the current state of play when it comes to U.S. estate tax, including its impact on many Canadian tax residents and others with U.S. connections? First, an update on some key tax rates and concepts for 2023. The lifetime exclusion amount has increased substantially due to the rise
It is difficult to pick up a magazine or newspaper these days without reading an article or two which touches on the topic of wealth and income inequality and the growing concern on how best to address it. The pandemic, raging inflation and enormous government deficits have only put more
Many individuals take advantage of registered savings plans in Canada. The most commonly known plans are Tax-Free Savings Accounts (TFSAs) and Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs). There are certain rules and restrictions to be aware of for Canadians who have such plans and become non-residents for tax purposes. In a
Overused quote alert! “Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” The above statement by Benjamin Franklin in a letter to Jean-Baptiste LeRoy in 1789 is often abbreviated, but the