What about some tax-saving tips as the year is going to culminate in three weeks’ time.
Here are some tips compiled by David Steinberg, Ernst&Young Canadian Tax Leader, Private Client Services.
- Know the rule changes in 2018?
Rules on three aspects changed during the year:
- Income-splitting private corporation business earnings with adult family members: New rules may limit income splitting opportunities with certain adult family members through the use of private corporations in 2018 and later years.
- Holding passive investments in your private corporation: If you’re considering realizing accrued gains in your company’s investment portfolio before its 2018 taxation year end and the company is likely to cross the $50,000 income threshold by doing so, consider deferring the gains to the following year so that the 2019 taxation year is not impacted by the new rules.
- Receiving non-eligible dividend income: The tax rate applicable to non-eligible dividend income will be increasing for dividends received on or after 1 January 2019.
- Income-splitting options
Check out these techniques. You could find some of these useful:
- Income-splitting loans: You can loan funds to a family member at the current prescribed interest rate of 2%. The family member can invest the money and the investment income will not be “attributed” to you, as long as the interest for each calendar year is paid no later than 30 January each subsequent year. Make sure you pay the interest before 30 January 2019 for loans made in 2018 or earlier years.
- Reasonable salaries to family members: If you have a business, consider employing your spouse or partner and/or your children to take advantage of income-splitting opportunities. This planning may be more important this year than in the past, due to other income splitting opportunities becoming more limited in 2018 onward.
- Spousal RRSPs: In addition to splitting income in retirement years, these may be used to split income before retirement. The higher-income spouse or partner can get the benefit of making contributions to a spousal plan at a high tax rate and, after a three-year non-contribution period, the lower- or no-income spouse can withdraw funds at a reduced tax rate.
- Dealing with non-deductible interest?
Interest on funds borrowed for personal purposes is not deductible: Where possible, consider using available cash to repay personal debt before repaying loans for investment or business purposes on which interest may be deductible.
- Keep an eye on investment portfolio?
Using accrued losses against realized gains: While taxes should not drive your investment decisions, it may make sense to sell loss securities to reduce capital gains realized earlier in the year.
Carrying forward realized losses: If you have capital loss carry forwards from prior years, consider cashing in on some of the winners in your portfolio. Be aware of the 27 December 2018 deadline for selling securities listed on a Canadian or US stock exchange to ensure that the trade is settled in 2018.
- Improving the cash flow impact of your income taxes
Making a 15 December instalment payment: If you expect your 2018 final tax liability to be significantly lower than your 2017 liability, you may have already paid enough in instalments.
