May the 4th be with you!

Time to take advantage of income splitting by having higher income taxpayers loan funds to lower income Spouses/Minor Children. The Prescribed rate of interest will fall to 1% on July 1, 2020. This low interest rate means that loans to lower income spouses and minor children for their investment portfolio will only incur 1% income to the higher income transferor, but the investment income (which hopefully exceeds the 1%) can then be reported on the Spouse/Minor Child’s tax return!

When non-arm’s length parties transfer property to each other, the Income Tax Act prevents income splitting by sometimes causing the income from the property to be attributed back to the property transferor. For instance, if an individual transfers property to a spouse under a spousal rollover, all future realized property income and capital gains from that property is attributed back to the transferor spouse pursuant to sections 74.1 and 74.2 of the Income Tax Act. Similarly, property income (but not capital gains) is attributed back to a parent for transfers to a minor child. However, the Income Tax Act recognizes that an individual can sometimes enter into bona fide sale with a close family member, and in such cases, the attribution rules should not apply. How does it draws the line as to whether a sale is bona fide: when a sale is transacted at fair market value and no tax rollover is relied on so that the transferor reports whatever gains arises on the transfer. What if the transferee has no cash to satisfy the purchase? Then the transferor can receive as consideration a promissory note owing from the transferee. As long as at least the prescribed rate of interest applicable at the time of the arrangement is charged on the note and such interest is paid on or before January 30th of each year, the Tax Act will not apply the attribution rules.

In other words, the prescribed rate of interest is the price to pay to avoid attribution and split income with family members. The transferor has to report the interest income. The lower the prescribed rate, the lower the tax cost of the arrangement. As long as the transferee is using the property to earn income, the transferee should be able to deduct the interest expense. Properly structured, a prescribed rate loan arrangement may be used to income split with multiple family members, including minors, without the dreaded tax-on-split-income (TOSI) applying.
Careful planning and advice should be sought before implementing such a plan!

Yours truly,

ROMANOVSKY & ASSOCIATES LLP
CHARTERED PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANTS

Keith M.J. Anderson* BCom, CPA, CA-IT, CITP

Chartered Professional Accountant and Chartered Accountant (Canada)
CA-Designated Information Technology Specialist (Canada)
Certified Information Technology Professional (US)
* Professional Corporation

Web: www.AlbertaCPA.com
Email: keith@albertacpa.com
Phone: 780 447 5830
Fax: 780 451 6291
Cell: 780 906 2223

Disclaimer:
This information is provided for general information purposes only. As legislation changes frequently, certain information may be out of date periodically. The complexity of the Law and the varied circumstances of each taxpayer dictates that the information provided may not be suitable in all circumstances. Readers must not rely on any information provided without first obtaining direct and competent professional advice. The information provided is not intended to replace or serve as substitute for any audit, advisory, tax or other professional advice, consultation or service. Therefore, the information is provided “as is” without warranties of any kind, express or implied, including accuracy, timeliness and completeness. In no event shall and associated parties to this information be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, exemplary, punitive, consequential or other damages whatsoever.

The post MoneyMatters Newsletter Issue 31 appeared first on AndersonBronsch Team, CPA.

Do you know your RRSP Contribution Limit?

As we are coming up to the end of the year, many people are considering topping off their RRSP’s to maximize their 2019 tax deductions. However, we continually see some people who over contribute. In that case what happens?

The Penalty

For every dollar the RRSP is overcontributed (over the $2,000 overcontribution cushion), the CRA will charge you 1% per month as a penalty. That works out to 12% per year if overcontributed over a full year which is most likely way over any RRSP earnings in that period. This is designed as a penalty tax to discourage taxpayers who over contribute.

The Contribution Limit

RRSP contribution room for the current calendar period is calculated based on the prior years’ earned income X 18% less RRSP contributions already made less any “pension adjustment” which is a grind on RRSP limits due to registered pension plan contributions. In other words, it’s a retroactive calculation. Keeping track of the limit, contributions made, and “pension adjustments“ is extremely complex. Even relying on the CRA Notice of Assessment can be misleading as the contribution limit they report is not inclusive of previous excess RRSP contributions.

Due to the complexities, mistakes often occur. What happens when they do?

No Mercy

Generally, taxpayers can plead with CRA to reduce or eliminate penalties in cases of honest mistakes or reasonable errors. However, in a recent tax case, the taxpayer pleaded with CRA for “discretionary relief” on over contributions due to the fact that the taxpayer did not file several years of tax returns based on his accountants advice (as there would have been no taxes owing). The court ruled that this does not satisfy the requirement of a “honest mistake or reasonable error”. The taxpayer was therefore subject to over $62,000 in penalties and interest (plus court costs).

The Takeaway

Taxpayers need to monitor their RRSP contribution limits and ensure their investment advisors are competent and aware of this requirement. Taxpayers need to file all their tax returns and information returns on time so that they can keep track of running balances such as RRSP Contribution Room. In our firm, we communicate to our clients the RRSP limits to mitigate these types of issues.

ANDERSONBRONSCH TEAM
ROMANOVSKY & ASSOCIATES LLP
CHARTERED PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANTS

Keith M.J. Anderson* BCom, CPA, CA-IT, CITP

Chartered Professional Accountant and Chartered Accountant (Canada)
CA-Designated Information Technology Specialist (Canada)
Certified Information Technology Professional (US)
* Professional Corporation

Web: www.AlbertaCPA.com
Email: keith@albertacpa.com
Phone: 780 447 5830
Fax: 780 451 6291
Cell: 780 906 2223

Disclaimer:
This information is provided for general information purposes only. As legislation changes frequently, certain information may be out of date periodically. The complexity of the Law and the varied circumstances of each taxpayer dictates that the information provided may not be suitable in all circumstances. Readers must not rely on any information provided without first obtaining direct and competent professional advice. The information provided is not intended to replace or serve as substitute for any audit, advisory, tax or other professional advice, consultation or service. Therefore, the information is provided “as is” without warranties of any kind, express or implied, including accuracy, timeliness and completeness. In no event shall and associated parties to this information be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, exemplary, punitive, consequential or other damages whatsoever.

The post MoneyMatters Newsletter Issue 30 appeared first on AndersonBronsch Team, CPA.