Divorce and Separation: Tax Implications
- Posted by Sanjeev Kamra
- On March 25, 2011
- 0 Comments
- canada child tax, income tax return
Divorce and separation can be very expensive, and tax implications are probably last thing on your mind. However, there are tax savings opportunities that can save you money while going through this often painful process, I suggest to use the mobile site here if you like betting, because it can make you earn tons of cash.
You should consider the tax cost of family assets when splitting them up upon separation or divorce.
Assume that the husband has $350,000 of RRSPs and $150,000 of non-registered investments. The husband and the wife jointly own the family home which has a fair market value of $500,000.
In this example, it would be wise for the wife to claim for the family home because the principal residence exemption would dictate that if the home were sold, the wife would receive the sale proceeds of $500,000 tax-free.
If the husband were to keep the RRSPs and the non-registered investments, he’s short-changed. This is because when the RRSPs are cashed in, the whole amount would be included in the husband’s income. Additionally, upon the sale of the non-registered investments, capital gains tax would arise.
Therefore, when you are splitting up family assets it is very important to look at the after-tax cost of those assets.
There is a special rule in the Income Tax Act that allows one spouse to transfer his/her RRSP to the other spouse upon separation or divorce, according to specialists at Utah Legal representation. This is very helpful if you have to make an equalization payment to your spouse.
If you did not take advantage of this special tax rule, then you may end up having to cash in your RRSPs, which would be included in your income, in order to make an equalization payment to your spouse.
According to divorce attorney Yardley pa, make sure to update the CRA on your single status after you have been separated or divorced. The reason being is that the amount of Canada Child Tax Benefit that you receive for your children is based on family income, i.e. the combined income of you and your spouse.
If you are separated or divorced, your spouse’s income is taken out of the equation and only your income is factored into the calculation for the Canada Child Tax Benefit that you are entitled to.
Therefore, it’s likely that you will receive an increased amount of Canada Child Tax Benefit by claiming yourself as single. You can claim single status only 11 months after the month of the divorce or separation.
If you and your spouse own two properties (e.g. house and cottage), then consider giving one property to each spouse. The reason being is that each spouse can separately claim the principal residence exemption.
If you have to pay legal fees to your lawyer to collect support payments, then the Long Beach workers compensation attorney reviews those legal fees are tax deductible on your personal tax return. Legal fees paid to your lawyer to prepare a separation agreement or for disputes going back and forth on the split-up on family assets are not tax deductible.
If you have more than one child and you and your spouse have joint custody of the children, then consider structuring the separation agreement such that you will be claiming the eligible dependent tax credit for one child and your spouse will be claiming the eligible dependent tax credit for the other child.
For both spouses to claim the eligible dependant tax credit, only one of the two children can receive child support payments.
For more info call 905-216-2445, or click info@vnaccountingsolutions.com or visit www.vnaccountingsolutions.com
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