T4011(E) Rev. 06
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Use this guide if you are the legal representative who has to file an income tax and benefit return for a deceased person. Use it together with the guide that came with the deceased person's return.
You can use a T1 General Income Tax and Benefit Return. However, the deceased may have received a different return in the mail based on his or her situation last year. If the return covers the types of income you want to report and the deductions and credits you want to claim, you can use it instead of a T1 General Income Tax and Benefit Return. You cannot use a T1S-C, Credit and Benefit Return, to complete a return for a deceased person.
Note
If you cannot get a return for the year of death, use a blank one from a previous year. In the top right corner of page 1, write the year for which you are filing. We will assess the return based on the legislation in effect for the year of death.
Throughout this guide, we refer to other forms and publications. If you need the General income tax package, or any other forms or publications, you can visit our Forms and publications page or order them by calling 1-800-959-2221.
Any schedules mentioned in this guide are in the General income tax package.
This guide uses plain language to explain the most common income tax situations. If you need help after reading this guide, visit our What to do when someone has died page or call 1-800-959-8281.
Transfers of fishing property - Under proposed legislation, after May 1, 2006, a tax deferral will be allowed on the transfer of fishing property used in a family fishing business from the deceased to their child or grandchild. For more information, see the section called “Farm or fishing property transferred to a child”.
Donations of publicly-listed securities and ecologically sensitive land -For gifts of publicly listed securities and ecologically sensitive land made after May 1, 2006, the capital gains inclusion rate is zero. For more information, see the section called "Line 349 - Donations and gifts".
Adjusted cost base (ACB) - usually the cost of a property, plus any expenses to acquire it, such as commissions and legal fees.
The cost of a capital property is its actual or deemed cost, depending on the type of property and how you acquired it. It also includes capital expenditures, such as the cost of additions and improvements to the property. You cannot add current expenses, such as maintenance and repair costs, to the ACB of a property.
For more information on ACB, see Interpretation Bulletin IT-456, Capital Property - Some Adjustments to Cost Base, and its Special Release.
If the deceased filed Form T664 or T664 (Seniors), Election to Report a Capital Gain on Property Owned at the End of February 22, 1994, the ACB of the property may change. For more information, see guide T4037, Capital Gains.
Advantage - see the definition of Eligible amount of the gift .
Annuitant - generally, an annuitant is the person for whom a retirement plan provides a retirement income. In certain circumstances, the surviving spouse or common-law partner may qualify as the annuitant when, because of the death, he or she becomes entitled to receive benefits out of the retirement plan.
Annuity payment - a fixed periodic payment that a person has the right to receive, either for life or for a specific number of years. These payments represent a partial recovery of financing and a return (interest) on the capital investment.
Arm's length transaction - a transaction between persons each of whom acts in his or her own self-interest. Related persons are not considered to deal with each other at arm's length. Related persons include individuals connected by a blood relationship, marriage or common-law partnership, or adoption (legal or in fact). Also, a corporation and a shareholder who controls the corporation are related.
Unrelated persons usually deal with each other at arm's length, although this might not be the case if, for example, one person is under the influence or control of the other.
For more information on arm's length, see Interpretation Bulletin IT-419, Meaning of Arm's Length.
Capital cost allowance (CCA) - in the year you buy a depreciable property , such as a building, you cannot deduct the full cost. However, since this type of property wears out or becomes obsolete over time, you can deduct its capital cost over a period of several years. This deduction is called CCA. You cannot claim it for the fiscal period that ends on the date of death.
When we talk about CCA, a reference is often made to class. You usually group depreciable properties into classes. You have to base your CCA claim on the rate assigned to each class of property.
Capital property - includes depreciable property, and any property that, if sold, would result in a capital gain or a capital loss. You usually buy it for investment purposes or to earn income. Capital property does not include the trading assets of a business, such as inventory. Some common types of capital property include cottages; securities such as stocks, bonds, and units of a mutual fund trust; and land, buildings, and equipment used in a business or rental operation.
Common-law partner - this applies to a person who is not your spouse, with whom you are living in a conjugal relationship, and to whom at least one of the following situations applies. He or she:
a) | has been living with you in a conjugal relationship for at least 12 continuous months; |
b) | is the parent of your child by birth or adoption; or |
c) | has custody and control of your child (or had custody and control immediately before the child turned 19 years of age) and your child is wholly dependent on that person for support. |
An individual immediately becomes your common-law partner if you previously lived together in a conjugal relationship for at least 12 continuous months and you have resumed living together in such a relationship. Under proposed changes, this condition will no longer exist. The effect of this proposed change is that a person (other than a person described in b) or c) above) will be your common-law partner only after your current relationship with that person has lasted at least 12 continuous months. This proposed change will apply to 2001 and later years.
Reference to "12 continuous months" in this definition includes any period that you were separated for less than 90 days because of a breakdown in the relationship.
Deemed disposition- expression used when a person is considered to have disposed of a property, even though a sale did not take place.
Deemed proceeds of disposition - expression used when a person is considered to have received an amount for the disposition of property, even though the person did not actually receive that amount.
Depreciable property - usually capital property used to earn income from a business or property. The capital cost can be written off as CCA over a number of years.
Eligible amount of the gift - under proposed legislation, this is generally the amount by which the fair market value (defined in Fair market value (FMV)) of the gifted property exceeds the amount of the advantage, if any, received for the gift.
Under proposed legislation, the advantage is generally the total value of all property, services, compensation, or other benefits to which you are entitled as partial consideration for, or in gratitude for, the gift. The advantage may be contingent or receivable in the future, and given either to you or a person not dealing at arm's length with you.
Under proposed legislation, for gifts made after February 18, 2003, the advantage also includes any limited-recourse debt in respect of the gift at the time it was made. For example, there may be a limited-recourse debt if the property was acquired through a tax shelter that is a gifting arrangement. In this case, the eligible amount of the gift will be reported in box 13 of Form T5003, Statement of Tax Shelter Information. For more information on gifting arrangements and tax shelters, see T4068, Guide for the Partnership Information Return.
Fair market value (FMV) - usually the highest dollar value that you can get for your property in an open and unrestricted market between a willing buyer and a willing seller who are acting independently of each other.
Locked-in - in this guide, locked-in means that the beneficiary who is to receive the property has a right to absolute ownership of it. No future event or development can take this right away. In order for a property to be locked-in:
Non-arm's length transaction - a transaction between persons who were not dealing with each other at arm's length at the time of the transaction.
Qualified donee - generally includes:
Spouse - this applies only to a person to whom you are legally married.
Testamentary spousal or common-law partner trust - a trust created by the deceased's will, or a court order in relation to the deceased's estate made under any law of a province or territory that provides for the relief or support of dependants. The surviving spouse or common-law partner is entitled to all the income of the trust that arises before he or she dies. No one else can receive or use the trust's income or capital before the surviving spouse's or common-law partner's death.
For more information, see Interpretation Bulletin IT-305, Testamentary Spouse Trusts.
Testamentary debts - debts or liabilities of all kinds that an individual incurred and did not pay before death. It also includes amounts payable by the estate because of death.
Undepreciated capital cost (UCC) - generally, UCC is equal to the total capital cost of all the properties of a class minus any capital cost allowance claimed in previous years. When property of the class is disposed of, you also have to subtract from the UCC one of the following two amounts, whichever is less:
If you are an executor, an administrator, or a liquidator, you are the legal representative of a deceased person.
Executor - This is someone a will names to act as the legal representative to handle a deceased's estate.
Administrator - There may not be a will, or the will may not name an executor. In this case, a court will appoint an administrator to handle the deceased's estate. An administrator is often the spouse, common-law partner, or the next of kin.
Liquidator - In Quebec, the liquidator is responsible for distributing assets of all estates. For estates with a will, the liquidator's role is similar to an executor's. For estates without a will, the liquidator acts as the administrator of the estate.
As the legal representative, you should provide us with the deceased's date of death as soon as possible. To keep our records up to date, send us the following information:
Include this information with the final return if you did not send it right after the deceased's death.
Note
Human Resources and Social Development Canada (formerly Human Resources Development Canada) should also be advised of the deceased's date of death. You can find the phone number in the government section of your telephone book.
This guide deals only with your responsibilities under the Income Tax Act (the Act). Under the Act, as the legal representative, it is your responsibility to:
As the legal representative, you are responsible for filing a return for the deceased for the year of death. This return is called the final return. See Chapter 2, for more information.
You also have to file any returns for previous years that the deceased person did not file. If the person did not leave records about these returns, or if you cannot tell from existing records whether or not the returns were filed, contact us. If you have to file a return for a year before the year of death, use a T1 General Income Tax and Benefit Return for that year. Previous year returns are available from our Forms and publications Web page or by calling 1-800-959-2221.
You have to file a T3 Trust Income Tax and Information Return, for income the estate earned after the date of death. If the terms of a trust were established by the will or a court order in relation to the deceased individual's estate under provincial or territorial dependant relief or support law, you also have to file a T3 Trust Income Tax and Information Return for that trust. However, you may not have to file a T3 return (not to be confused with the final return, which always has to be filed) if the estate is distributed immediately after the person dies, or if the estate did not earn income before the distribution. In these cases, you should give each beneficiary a statement showing his or her share of the estate. See the T4013, T3 Trust Guide, for more information and, where a trust is created, to determine whether that return has to be filed. See Chart 2 to find out what income to report on the T3 return.
You can contact us for information from the deceased's tax records. When you write for such information, include the words "The Estate of the Late" in front of the deceased person's name. Include your address so we can reply directly to you. Before we can give you information from the deceased's records, we need the following:
If you visit us to get information from the tax records of the deceased, you also have to show us one piece of identification with your picture and signature on it, or two pieces with your signature on them.
Generally, GST/HST credit payments are issued on the fifth day of the month in July, October, January, and April. If the deceased was receiving GST/HST credit payments, we may still send out a payment after the date of death because we are not aware of the death. If this happens, you must return the payment to us.
Note
If the deceased was receiving the Newfoundland Harmonized Sales Tax Credit (NHSTC) or the Saskatchewan Sales Tax Credit (SSTC), which we administer, you do not need to take any further action. We will use the information provided for the GST/HST credit payments to adjust the NHSTC or the SSTC.
If a single person dies in a month before we send a quarterly GST/HST credit payment, no one else can receive the payment. We cannot make any more payments either in that person's name or to the estate.
If a single person dies during or after a month in which we issue the credit and the payment has not been cashed, return it to us so that we can send the payment to the person's estate.
If the deceased had children for whom he or she was receiving the GST/HST credit, the new caregiver should contact us as he or she may qualify to receive GST/HST credit payments for these children.
If the deceased had a spouse or common-law partner, that person may be eligible to receive the GST/HST credit payments based on his or her net income alone. If the deceased's GST/HST credit included a claim for that spouse or common-law partner, he or she should:
If the surviving spouse's or common-law partner's GST/HST credit included an amount for the deceased, the payments will be recalculated based on his or her net income alone and will only include a claim for himself or herself and any children, if applicable.
Entitlement to GST/HST credit payments for a deceased child stops the quarter after the child's date of death. You should notify us of the date of death so that we can update our records.
For more information on what steps to take regarding receipt of the GST/HST credit or the Canada Child Tax Benefit, see Information Sheet RC4111, What to Do Following a Death.
As the legal representative, you may want to get a clearance certificate before you distribute any property under your control. A clearance certificate certifies that all amounts for which the deceased is liable to us have been paid, or that we have accepted security for the payment. If you do not get a certificate, you can be liable for any amount the deceased owes. A certificate covers all tax years to the date of death. It is not a clearance for any amounts a trust owes. If there is a trust, a separate clearance certificate is needed for the trust.
To request a certificate, complete Form TX19, Asking for a Clearance Certificate, and send it to the Assistant Director, Audit, at your tax services office. Do not include Form TX19 with a return. Send it only after you have received the notices of assessment for all the returns filed and paid or secured all amounts owing.
If you need more information about clearance certificates, call 1-800-959-8281. You can also see Information Circular IC82-6, Clearance Certificate.
This section covers the information you may need to prepare the return.
Even if you cannot get the slips, you still have to report the income from all sources on either the final or the optional returns. We explain optional returns in Chapter 3. You can also claim any related deductions as outlined in Chart 1. If a slip is not available, ask the payer to give you a note that shows the income and deductions. Attach this note to the return. If you cannot get a note from the payer, estimate the income and deduction amounts. For example, you can use pay stubs to estimate employment income and the amounts deducted for Canada Pension Plan or Quebec Pension Plan contributions, registered pension plan contributions, Employment Insurance premiums, union dues, and income tax. Attach a note to the return giving the amounts and the payer's name and address. If possible, also attach a photocopy of the pay stubs.
Here are some common questions and answers you may want to look at before you read this guide.
Q. Can I deduct funeral expenses, probate fees, or fees to administer the estate?
A. No. These are personal expenses and cannot be deducted.
Q. Who reports a death benefit that an employer pays?
A. That depends on who received the death benefit. A death benefit is income of either the estate or beneficiary that receives it. Up to $10,000 of the total of all death benefits paid (other than CPP or QPP death benefits) is not taxable. If the beneficiary received the death benefit, see line 130 in the General Income Tax and Benefit Guide or the guide that came with the beneficiary’s return. If the estate received the death benefit, see the T4013, T3 Trust Guide.
A. A CPP or QPP death benefit can be reported either on the tax return of the recipient beneficiary of the deceased person’s estate, or on a T3 Trust Income Tax and Information Return, for the estate of the deceased. If the estate then pays the death benefit to the beneficiary, a T3 slip will be issued in the beneficiary’s name. The amount of the CPP or QPP death benefit is shown in box 18 of Form T4A(P), Statement of Canada Pension Plan Benefits. Do not report the amount on the deceased’s return. Unlike a death benefit that an employer may pay to the estate or to a named beneficiary, this benefit is not eligible for the $10,000 death benefit exemption. You have to report all other CPP or QPP benefits on the deceased’s return. For details see line 114.
Q. Who reports amounts an employer pays for vacation and unused sick leave?
A. Vacation pay is income of the deceased person and can be reported on a return for rights or things. Payment for unused sick leave is considered a death benefit and is income of the estate or beneficiary that receives it. For details, see Interpretation Bulletin IT-508, Death Benefits.
A. No. The only instalments we require are those that were due before the date of death but not paid.
Q. Why do I have to return the deceased person's GST/HST credit?
A. The amount of the GST/HST credit payment is based on the previous year’s return. Since the payments are an advance on purchases for the current year, you have to return GST/HST credit payments that were paid to the deceased after his or her death. If the deceased was single and the estate is entitled to the payment, another cheque payable to the estate will be issued.
A. Contact us and provide us with the date of death. If the deceased person was receiving CCTB and/or UCCB payments (which could include payments from related provincial or territorial child benefit and credit programs) for a child and the surviving spouse or common-law partner is the child’s parent we will usually transfer the CCTB and/or UCCB payments to that person. If anyone else, other than the parent, is now primarily responsible for the child, they will have to complete and submit Form RC66, Canada Child Tax Benefit Application, to request CCTB payments for the child.
This chapter explains how to complete and file the final return.
On the final return, report all of the deceased's income from January 1 of the year of death, up to and including the date of death. Report income earned after the date of death on a T3 Trust Income Tax and Information Return. To find out what income to report on the T3 return, see Chart 2. For more information, see the T4013, T3 Trust Guide.
You do not have to file any of the optional returns. However, by filing one or more of the returns, you may reduce or eliminate tax that you would otherwise have to pay for the deceased.
You do not report the same income on both the final and an optional return. However, you can claim certain credits and deductions on more than one return. There may be a tax advantage if you file one or more of the optional returns in addition to the final return.
For more details, see "Chapter 3 - Optional returns," and Chart 1.
Generally, the final return is due on or before the following dates:
Period when death occurred | Due date for the return |
---|---|
January 1 to October 31 | April 30 of the following year |
November 1 to December 31 | Six months after the date of death |
If the deceased or the deceased's spouse or common-law partner was carrying on a business in 2006 (unless the expenditures of the business are mainly in connection with a tax shelter), the following due dates apply:
Period when death occurred | Due date for the return |
---|---|
January 1 to December 15 | June 15 of the following year |
December 16 to December 31 | Six months after the date of death |
The deceased's will or a court order may set up a testamentary spousal or common-law partner trust. When testamentary debts of the deceased or the estate are being handled through the trust, the due date for the final return is extended to 18 months after the date of death. However, you have to pay any taxes owing on the final return by the due date shown in the section called "What is the due date for a balance owing?".
Note
If a person dies in 2007, the legal representative may choose to file the final return at any time after the date of death and the returns will generally be processed at that time as a service to the estate. In these cases, the returns will generally be processed using tax legislation applicable to the 2006 tax year. The legal representative can then request a reassessment of the return in the following year (2008) to apply any tax changes introduced for the 2007 tax year.
If you file the final return late and there is a balance owing, we will charge a late-filing penalty. We will also charge you interest on both the balance owing and any penalty. The penalty is 5% of any balance owing, plus 1% of the balance owing for each full month that the return is late, to a maximum of 12 months. The late-filing penalty may be higher if we charged a late-filing penalty on a return for any of the three previous years.
In certain situations, we may cancel this penalty and interest if you file the return late because of circumstances beyond your control. If this happens, include a letter with the return explaining why you filed the return late. For more information, see Information Circular 92-2, Guidelines for the Cancellation and Waiver of Interest and Penalties.
The due date for a balance owing on a final return depends on the date of death.
Period when death occurred | Due date for the amount owing |
---|---|
January 1 to October 31 | April 30 of the following year |
November 1 to December 31 | Six months after the date of death |
If you do not pay the amount in full, we will charge compound daily interest on the unpaid amount from the day after the due date to the date you pay the amount owing.
In some cases, you can delay paying part of the amount due. For instance, you can delay paying part of the amount owing from rights or things and the deemed disposition of capital property.
In this section, we cover the most common lines on a deceased person's return. For more information on these and other lines on a return, see the guide that came with the deceased's return. If the types of income you want to report, or the deductions or credits you want to claim, are not on the return that you have, get a General income tax and benefit package. You cannot use a T1S-C, Credit and Benefit Return, to complete a return for a deceased person.
In this area of the return:
If you use the personal label provided with the return, make sure the information on the label is correct. Attach the label to the return.
Since there is no GST/HST credit based on the year of death, do not complete the GST/HST credit area when you file the final return.
If the deceased earned foreign income or owned or held foreign property at any time in 2006, see the "Foreign income" section in the guide that came with the deceased's return.
Report amounts that are paid regularly, even if the person did not receive them before he or she died. Some examples of these amounts are salary, interest, rent, royalties, and most annuities. These amounts usually accumulate in equal daily amounts for the time they are payable. For more information, see Interpretation Bulletin IT-210, Income of Deceased Persons - Periodic Payments and Investment Tax Credit.
There are two types of amounts that do not accumulate in equal daily amounts:
For more information about amounts receivable on or before the date of death, see the section called "Return for rights or things".
There may be amounts that an employer will pay to a deceased employee's estate. For these amounts, an employer will usually complete a T4 or T4A slip.
Some of the amounts an employer pays will be part of the deceased's employment income for the year of death. Report these amounts on the final return. The amounts are employment income for the year of death even if they are received in a year after the year of death. Box 14 of the T4 slip should include the following amounts:
The employer may change any of these amounts later because of an agreement or promotion. If the document that allows the change was signed before the date of death, report these additional amounts on the final return. However, if the document was signed after the date of death, the additional amounts are not taxable (see Chart 3).
Some of these amounts may be rights or things, and you may be able to report them on an optional return. For details, see the section called "Return for rights or things". Some of the amounts an employer pays are income for the estate and should be reported on a T3 Trust Income Tax and Information Return. See Chart 2 for details.
Report all salary, wages, or commissions received from January 1 to the date of death. Also include amounts that accumulate from the start of the pay period in which the employee died to the date of death.
If the commissions are for a self-employed salesperson, see guide T4002, Business and Professional Income, to determine how to report the commission income and claim expenses.
Report the amounts from box 18 of the deceased's T4A(OAS) slip. A payment received after the date of death for the month in which the individual died may be reported on the final return or on a rights or things return.
Do not report on line 113 the amount in box 21 of the T4A(OAS) slip. Report this amount on "Line 146 - Net federal supplements." You may be able to claim a deduction for this amount on "Line 250 - Other payments deduction."
Note
If the deceased's net income before adjustments (line 234) is more than $62,144, all or part of the OAS benefits may have to be repaid. For details, see line 235 in the General Income Tax and Benefit Guide, or the Special Income Tax and Benefit Guide.
Report the total Canada Pension Plan (CPP) or Quebec Pension Plan (QPP) benefits in box 20 of the deceased's T4A(P) slip, minus any amount in box 18. The amount in box 20 is the total of the amounts in boxes 14 to 18. A payment received after the date of death for the month in which the individual died may be reported on the final return or on a rights and things return.
Do not report a CPP or QPP death benefit shown in box 18 on the final return. This amount will be reported either by the recipient beneficiary of the deceased person's estate on his or her return, or on a T3 Trust Income Tax and Information Return for the estate. If the deceased received a lump-sum CPP or QPP benefit, or a CPP or QPP disability benefit, see line 114 in the General Income Tax and Benefit Guide, or the Special Income Tax and Benefit Guide.
Report any other pensions or superannuation the deceased received from January 1 to the date of death (box 16 on T4A slips and box 31 on T3 slips).
If the deceased received annuity or registered retirement income fund (RRIF) payments, including life income fund (LIF) payments, for the period from January 1 to the date of death, report that income on the final return. If the deceased was 65 or older, report the RRIF income on line 115. Also report the RRIF income on line 115 if the deceased was under 65 but received the RRIF payments because his or her spouse or common-law partner died. In all other cases, report the RRIF income on line 130 of the return. For more information, see the section called "Income from a registered retirement income fund (RRIF)".
If there is a lump-sum amount shown in box 18 of the T4A slip or box 22 of the T3 slip, report it on line 130.
Report any Employment Insurance (EI) benefits the deceased received from January 1 to the date of death (box 14 of the T4E slip). If the deceased's net income before adjustments (line 234) is more than $48,750, part of these benefits may have to be repaid. For details, see line 235 in the General Income Tax and Benefit Guide, or the Special Income Tax and Benefit Guide. If the deceased repaid any EI benefits to Human Resources and Social Development Canada, he or she may be entitled to a deduction. For details, see line 232 in the General Income Tax and Benefit Guide.
Report investment income received from January 1 to the date of death. This type of income includes dividends (line 120) and interest (line 121). Also include the following:
You can report some types of investment income as rights or things. For details, see the section called "Return for rights or things". Report interest that accumulates after the date of death on a T3 Trust Income Tax and Information Return.
For information about this type of income, see Chapter 4.
At the time of death, a person may have a registered retirement savings plan (RRSP). The RRSP may or may not have matured. Depending on the situation, the amount you include in the deceased's income can vary.
Payments from a matured RRSP - A matured RRSP is one that is paying retirement income, usually in monthly payments. Report the RRSP payments the deceased received from January 1 to the date of death on line 129.
If the surviving spouse or common-law partner is the beneficiary of the RRSP, as specified in the RRSP contract, he or she begins receiving the remaining annuity payments from the plan. The surviving spouse or common-law partner has to report the remaining payments as income on his or her return.
If the surviving spouse or common-law partner is the beneficiary of the estate, that person and the legal representative can jointly elect, in writing, to treat the amounts the RRSP paid to the estate as being paid to the spouse or common-law partner. Attach a copy of the written election to the return of the surviving spouse or common-law partner. The election has to specify that this person is electing to become the annuitant of the RRSP.
If the amounts from the RRSP are paid to a beneficiary other than the deceased's spouse or common-law partner, see guide T4040, RRSPs and Other Registered Plans for Retirement.
Payments from an unmatured RRSP - Generally, an unmatured RRSP is one that does not yet pay retirement income.
Generally, we consider a deceased RRSP annuitant to have received, immediately before death, an amount equal to the fair market value (FMV) of all the property of the unmatured plan at the time of death. The FMV of the property is shown in box 34 of the T4RSP slip issued to the deceased person. You have to include this amount in the deceased's income for the year of death.
If a T4RSP slip showing the FMV of the plan at the time of death is issued in the deceased's name, you may be able to reduce the amount you include in the deceased's income. For details, see Information Sheet RC4177, Death of an RRSP Annuitant, and guide T4040, RRSPs and Other Registered Plans for Retirement.
If all of the property held in the RRSP is to be paid to the surviving spouse or common-law partner, and that payment is directly transferred to his or her RRSP, RRIF, or to an issuer to buy the surviving spouse or common-law partner an eligible annuity (as specified in the RRSP contract) before the end of the year following the year of death, a T4RSP slip will not be issued in the deceased's name. In this case, the surviving spouse or common-law partner has to report the payment on his or her return and claim a deduction equal to the amount transferred.
If the amounts from the RRSP are paid to a beneficiary other than the deceased's spouse or common-law partner, see guide T4040, RRSPs and Other Registered Plans for Retirement.
Home Buyers' Plan (HBP) - The deceased may have participated in the HBP. If so, the deceased would have made a withdrawal from his or her RRSP and may have been making repayments to the RRSP. In this case, include on line 129 the total of all amounts that remain to be repaid at the time of death. Any RRSP contributions that the deceased made in the year of his or her death can be designated as a repayment.
However, you do not have to report these amounts when the legal representative and the surviving spouse or common-law partner jointly elect to have the surviving spouse or common-law partner continue to make the repayments. For more information, see guide RC4135, Home Buyers' Plan (HBP).
Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP) - The deceased may have participated in the LLP. If so, the deceased would have made a withdrawal from his or her RRSP and may have been making repayments to the RRSP. Treatment of these amounts is the same as with the Home Buyer's Plan, and a similar election is available. For more information, see guide RC4112, Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP).
Use this line to report taxable income not reported anywhere else on the return. Identify the type of income you are reporting in the space to the left of line 130. We discuss some of the types of income you report on this line below. For more information, see line 130 in the guide that came with the deceased's return.
Death benefits (other than Canada or Quebec Pension Plan death benefits) - A death benefit is an amount received after a person's death for that person's employment service. It is shown in box 28 of the T4A slip or box 26 of the T3 slip. A death benefit payable in respect of the deceased person is not reported on the final return for the deceased; rather, it is income of the estate or the beneficiary that receives it. Up to $10,000 of the total of all death benefits paid may not be taxable. For more information, see line 130 in the guide that came with the deceased's return or Interpretation Bulletin IT-508, Death Benefits.
Income from a registered retirement income fund (RRIF) -When a person dies, he or she may have a RRIF. Depending on the situation, the amount you include in the deceased's income can vary.
If the deceased received payments from a RRIF for the period from January 1 to the date of death, report that income on the final return. If the deceased was 65 or older, or if the deceased was under 65 and received the RRIF payments due to the death of his or her spouse or common-law partner, see "Line 115 - Other pensions or superannuation". In all other cases, report the RRIF income on line 130.
If the annuitant made a written election in the RRIF contract or in the will to have the RRIF payments continue to his or her spouse or common-law partner after death, that person becomes the annuitant and will start to get the RRIF payments as the new annuitant.
If the annuitant did not elect in writing to have the RRIF payments continue to his or her spouse or common-law partner, that person can still become the annuitant of the RRIF after the annuitant's death. This is the case if the legal representative consents to the deceased's spouse or common-law partner becoming the annuitant, and the RRIF carrier agrees to continue the payments under the deceased annuitant's RRIF to the surviving spouse or common-law partner.
A T4RIF slip will not be issued in the deceased person's name for the fair market value (FMV) of the property at the time of death if all of the three following conditions exist:
In this case, the surviving spouse or common-law partner will receive a T4RIF slip and has to report the payment on his or her return and is eligible to claim a deduction equal to the amount directly transferred.
For all other situations, we consider that the deceased received, immediately before death, an amount equal to the FMV of the plan at the time of death. The FMV of the property is shown in box 18 of the T4RIF slip issued in the deceased's name. Include this amount in the deceased's income for the year of death. However, you may be able to reduce the amount you include in income. For details, see Information Sheet RC4178, Death of a RRIF Annuitant, and guide T4040, RRSPs and Other Registered Plans for Retirement.
If the deceased had self-employment income, report the gross and net income or loss on the appropriate line. For more information, see lines 135 to 143 in the General Income Tax and Benefit Guide.
Reserves in the year of death - Sometimes, when a property is sold, some of the proceeds are not payable until after the year of sale. Similarly, a self-employed person may have amounts that he or she will receive in a later year for work done this year. An example is for work in progress.
Usually, a person can deduct from income the part of the proceeds that are not payable until a later year. This is called a reserve.
In most cases, you cannot deduct a reserve in the year of death. However, there may be a transfer to a spouse or common-law partner, or spousal or common-law partner trust of the right to receive the proceeds of disposition or the income owing. When this happens, the legal representative and the beneficiary can choose to claim a reserve on the deceased's return. To do this, complete Form T2069, Election in Respect of Amounts Not Deductible as Reserves for the Year of Death, and attach a copy to the deceased's return.
This choice is available only if the deceased was a resident of Canada right before death. For a transfer to a spouse or common-law partner, that person also has to have been a resident of Canada right before the deceased's death. For a transfer to a spousal or common-law partner trust, the trust has to be resident in Canada right after the proceeds or income become locked-in for the trust. We define locked-in in the Glossary.
The spouse or common-law partner, or spousal or common-law partner trust includes in income an amount equal to the reserve that is on Form T2069. This income has to be included on the return for the first tax year after death. You have to attach a copy of Form T2069 to that return.
Report the deceased's workers' compensation benefits, social assistance payments, and net federal supplements on the appropriate line. For details, see the guide that came with the deceased's return.
Use this line to deduct registered retirement savings plan (RRSP) contributions the deceased made before his or her death. These include contributions to both the deceased's RRSPs and the deceased's spouse or common-law partner's RRSPs, but do not include repayments under a Home Buyers' Plan or Lifelong Learning Plan.
After a person dies, no one can contribute to the deceased person's RRSPs. However, the deceased individual's legal representative can make contributions to the surviving spouse's or common-law partner's RRSPs in the year of death or during the first 60 days after the end of that year.
The amount you can deduct on the deceased's return for 2006 is usually based on the deceased's 2006 RRSP deduction limit. You can also deduct amounts for contributions the deceased made for certain income the deceased received and transferred to an RRSP.
For more information, see guide T4040, RRSPs and Other Registered Plans for Retirement. For information on other deductions the deceased may be entitled to (line 207 and lines 209 to 235), see the section called "Net income" in the General Income Tax and Benefit Guide, or the guide that came with the deceased's return.
For information about these losses, see Chapter 5.
For information on other deductions the deceased may be entitled to (lines 248 to 252 and lines 254 to 256), see the section called "Taxable income" in the General Income Tax and Benefit Guide, or the guide that came with the deceased's return.
If the deceased was a resident of Canada from January 1 to the date of death, claim the full personal amounts.
If the deceased was a resident of Canada for part of the time from January 1 to the date of death, you may have to prorate the personal amounts. To do so, multiply the personal amount by the number of days the deceased lived in Canada and divide the result by the number of days in the year. The result is the amount you can claim on the deceased's return. If the deceased immigrated to Canada in the year of death, see pamphlet T4055, Newcomers to Canada. If the deceased emigrated from Canada in the year of death, see guide T4056, Emigrants and Income Tax.
The credits we refer to in this section are federal credits, which are claimed on Schedule 1, Federal Tax. If the deceased was a resident of a province or territory other than Quebec, use the appropriate form included in the forms book to calculate his or her provincial or territorial tax credits. For more information, see the provincial or territorial pages in the deceased's forms book.
Claim the full basic personal amount for the year.
If the deceased was 65 or older, and his or her net income is less than $57,377, you can claim all or part of the age amount. The amount you can claim will depend on the deceased's net income for the year. For more information, see line 301 in the guide that came with the deceased's return.
If the net income of the spouse or common-law partner is less than the base amount for the year (see line 303 in the guide that came with the deceased’s return), you may be able to claim all or part of this amount. Use the net income of the spouse or common-law partner for the whole year, not just up to the deceased’s date of death.
If the deceased is entitled to claim this amount, use the dependant's net income for the whole year, not just up to the deceased's date of death. For more information, see line 305 in the guide that came with the deceased's return, and complete the chart for line 305 on the Federal Worksheet included in the forms book.
If the deceased is entitled to claim this amount, use the dependant's net income for the whole year, not just up to the deceased's date of death. For more information, see line 306 in the General Income Tax and Benefit Guide.
The deceased may have received eligible pension or annuity income before the date of death. If this is the case, you may be able to claim the pension income amount. Under proposed legislation, for 2006 and future tax years, the maximum amount that can be claimed has been increased to $2,000. For more information, see line 314 in the guide that came with the deceased's return, and complete the chart for line 314 on the Federal Worksheet included in the forms book.
You may be able to claim this amount if the deceased cared for certain dependants. See line 315 in the General Income Tax and Benefit Guide, and complete the chart for line 315 on the Federal Worksheet included in the forms book. For more information, see guide RC4064, Medical and Disability Related Information.
You can claim a disability amount if the deceased met certain conditions. For more information about these conditions, see line 316 in the guide that came with the deceased's return.
If the deceased had a dependant who is entitled to claim a disability amount, you may be able to claim all or a part of the dependant's disability amount. For details, see line 318 in the General Income Tax and Benefit Guide, and complete the chart for line 318 on the Federal Worksheet included in the forms book.
You can claim an amount for most of the interest paid after 1997 on loans made to the deceased under the Canada Student Loans Act, the Canada Student Financial Assistance Act, or similar provincial or territorial government laws for post-secondary education. Enter the total amount shown on the receipts. Attach the receipts to the return. For more information, see line 319 in the General Income Tax and Benefit Guide or pamphlet P105, Students and Income Tax.
Sometimes there are amounts that a spouse or common-law partner does not need to reduce his or her federal income tax to zero. In these situations, you can transfer the unneeded amounts to the deceased's final return.
Also, the deceased may have amounts that are not needed to reduce his or her federal tax to zero. If this is the case, you can transfer the unneeded amounts to the return of the spouse or common-law partner. However, before you can do this, you have to reduce the federal tax to zero on the final return you file for the deceased.
For either situation, you can transfer the following amounts:
If you do transfer any of these amounts, complete Schedule 2, Federal Amounts Transferred From Your Spouse or Common-law Partner, and attach it to the final return for the deceased.
You can claim medical expenses that are more than the lower of:
The expenses can be for any 24-month period that includes the date of death, as long as no one has claimed them on any other return.
Attach the receipts for medical expenses to the return.
Note
You may be able to claim a credit of up to $1,000 if you have an amount on line 215, "Disability supports deduction," or line 332, the allowable portion of medical expenses. Use the net income from the deceased's final return, and the spouse's or common-law partner's net income for the entire year, to calculate this credit. For details, see line 452, "Refundable medical expense supplement," in the General Income Tax and Benefit Guide, or in the Special Income Tax and Benefit Guide.
For more information on medical expenses, see line 330 in the General Income Tax and Benefit Guide, the Special Income Tax and Benefit Guide, or the T1S-A Income Tax and Benefit Guide.
Use this line to claim charitable donations the deceased, or his or her spouse or common-law partner, made before the date of death. If you are using a T1 General return, complete Schedule 9, Donations and Gifts. If you are using a T1 Special or T1S-A return, calculate the allowable amount on Schedule 1.
Support the claims for donations and gifts with official receipts that the registered charity or other qualified donee has issued, showing either the deceased's name, or the deceased's spouse's or common-law partner's name.
You can also claim charitable donations made through the will, as long as you support the donations. The type of support you have to provide depends on when the registered charity or other qualified donee will receive the gift:
You may be able to claim a charitable donations tax credit for a donation of a direct distribution of proceeds to a qualified donee from an RRSP (including a group RRSP), RRIF, or life insurance policy (including a group life insurance policy) as a result of a beneficiary designation. The above does not apply if the qualified donee is the policy holder or an assignee of the deceased person's interest in the policy.
The deceased may have donated amounts in the five years before the year of death. As long as the deceased did not claim the amounts before, you can claim them in the year of death. Where part of a donation has already been claimed, attach a note to the return giving the amounts and the year or years the donations were made. Also, attach any receipts that were not attached to previous returns.
Note
Charitable donations cannot be carried forward from a T1 return to a T3 return.
The most you can claim is the lower of:
The limitation on the eligible amount of a gift will not apply to gifts of:
If the property was acquired through a tax shelter that is a gifting arrangement, the eligible amount will be reported in box 13 of Form T5003, Statement of Tax Shelter Information.
On the return(s) for the year of death, you may not be able to claim all of the gifts the deceased made in the year of death. In that case, you can ask us to adjust the deceased's return for the preceding year to include the unused part of these gifts.
Sometimes, a capital property may be gifted. At the time the deceased gives the property, its fair market value may be more than its adjusted cost base.
Under proposed legislation, when the fair market value is more than the adjusted cost base, you may designate an amount that is less than the FMV to be the proceeds of disposition. This may allow you to reduce the capital gain otherwise calculated. If you choose to designate an amount, you may choose the value of the donated property. You can choose an amount that is not greater than the FMV and not less than the greater of:
Treat the amount you choose as the proceeds of disposition when you calculate any capital gain. Also use this amount to determine the eligible amount of the gift which you use to calculate the tax credit.
For gifts made after May 1, 2006, of publicly-listed securities and ecologically sensitive land, the capital gains inclusion rate is zero.
For more information about charitable donations and the special rules that may apply, see the guide that came with the deceased's return, and pamphlet P113, Gifts and Income Tax.
You will find the details you need about tax and credits in the section called "Refund or Balance owing" in the guide that came with the deceased's return.
Minimum tax limits the tax advantage a person can receive in a year from certain incentives. Minimum tax does not apply to a person for the year of death. However, the deceased may have paid this tax in one or more of the seven years before the year of death. If this is the case, you may be able to deduct part or all of the minimum tax the deceased paid in those years from the tax owing for the year of death. To do this, complete Part 8 of Form T691, Alternative Minimum Tax. Include Form T691 with the return.
Use Form 428 included in the forms book to calculate the provincial or territorial tax for the province or territory where the deceased was living at the time of death. To calculate the tax for the province of Quebec, you must use a Quebec provincial return.
As the legal representative for the deceased, you have to sign the return in the area provided on the last page of the return. Sign your name and indicate your title (for example, executor or administrator).
Optional returns are returns on which you report some of the income that you would otherwise report on the final return. By filing one or more optional returns, you may reduce or eliminate tax for the deceased. This is possible because you can claim certain amounts more than once, split them between returns, or claim them against specific kinds of income.
Chart 1 summarizes the information in this chapter. You may also want to get Interpretation Bulletin IT-326, Returns of Deceased Persons as "Another Person."
You can choose to file up to three optional returns. The optional returns are for income from:
Note
Do not confuse the optional return for income from a testamentary trust with the T3 Trust Income Tax and Information Return, described in the section called "What are your responsibilities as the legal representative?" After someone dies, a will or a court order may create a trust, and the trustee, executor, or administrator may be required to file a T3 return. Also, an individual may be required to file a T3 return to report income earned after the date of death or for CPP or QPP death benefits. For more information, see Chart 2 and the T4013, T3 Trust Guide.
You have to sign the optional return in the area provided on the last page of the return. Sign your name and indicate your title (for example, executor or administrator).
Rights or things are amounts that had not been paid to the deceased at the time of his or her death and that, had the person not died, would have been included in his or her income when received. There are rights or things from employment and other sources.
You can file a return for rights or things to report the value of the rights or things at the time of death. However, if you file a return for rights or things, you have to report all rights or things on that return, except those transferred to beneficiaries. You cannot split rights or things between the final return and the return for rights or things.
If you transfer rights or things to a beneficiary, you have to do so within the time limit for filing a return for rights or things. The beneficiary must report the income from the transferred rights or things on his or her return.
Employment rights or things are salary, commissions, and vacation pay, as long as both of these conditions are met:
Other rights or things include the following:
For more information about rights or things, see Interpretation Bulletins IT-212, Income of Deceased Persons - Rights or Things, and its Special Release, IT-234, Income of Deceased Persons - Farm Crops, and IT-427, Livestock of Farmers.
Some items that are not rights or things include:
How to file - If you decide to file a return for rights or things, you will need to:
You have to file this return by the later of:
However, the due date for any balance of tax owing on a rights or things return depends on the date of death. See the section called "What is the due date for a balance owing?".
Election to delay payment of income tax
In some cases, you can delay paying part of the amount owing from rights or things. However, we still charge interest on any unpaid amount from the day after the due date to the date you pay the amount in full.
If you want to delay payment, you will have to give us security for the amount owing. You also have to complete Form T2075, Election to Defer Payment of Income Tax, Under Subsection 159(5) of the Income Tax Act by a Deceased Taxpayer's Legal Representative or Trustee. For more information, contact the Collections Division of your tax services office.
You may file a return for rights or things before the due date, but later want to cancel it. We will cancel the return if you send us a note asking us to do this. You have to send the note by the filing due date for the rights or things return.
A deceased person may have been a partner in, or the sole proprietor of, a business. The business may have a fiscal year that does not start or end on the same dates as the calendar year. If the person died after the end of the business's fiscal period but before the end of the calendar year in which the fiscal period ended, you can file an optional return for the deceased.
On this return, report the income for the time from the end of the fiscal period to the date of death. If you choose not to file this optional return, report all business income on the final return.
How to file - If you decide to file a return for a partner or proprietor, you will need to:
The due date for this optional return is the same as for the final return. The due date for a balance owing depends on the date of death. See the sections called "What date is the final return due?" and "What is the due date for a balance owing?"
For more information, see Interpretation Bulletin IT-278, Death of a Partner or of a Retired Partner.
You can file an optional return for a deceased person who received income from a testamentary trust. The trust may have a fiscal period (taxation year) that does not start or end on the same dates as the calendar year. If the person died after the end of the fiscal period of the trust, but before the end of the calendar year in which the fiscal period ended, you can file an optional return for the deceased.
On this return, report the income for the time from the end of the fiscal period to the date of death. If you choose not to file this optional return, report all income from the trust on the final return.
How to file - If you decide to file a return for income from a testamentary trust, you will need to:
You have to file this optional return and pay any amount owing by the later of:
There are three groups of amounts you can claim on the optional returns. They are amounts you can:
On each optional return and on the final return, you can claim:
There are certain amounts you cannot claim in full on the final return and optional returns. However, you can split these amounts between the returns.
When you split an amount, the total of the claims cannot be more than what would have been allowed if you were only filing the final return. Amounts you can split are:
You decide to split the $9,000 of medical expenses and claim two-thirds on the final return and one-third on the rights or things return.
2/3 of $9,000 | = | $6,000 (to claim on final return) |
1/3 of $9,000 | = | $3,000 (to claim on rights or things return) |
The medical expense reduction is the lower of $1,884 or 3% of the total net income. In this example, the reduction is $1,200 ($40,000 × 3%), which is lower than $1,884.
The medical expense reduction must also be split between the two returns in the same proportion as the medical expenses.
2/3 of $1,200 | = | $800 |
1/3 of $1,200 | = | $400 |
Deductions for medical expenses on final return |
$6,000 | |
- |
800 |
|
= | $5,200 |
Deductions for medical expenses on rights or things return |
$3,000 | |
- |
400 |
|
= | $2,600 |
The deductions for medical expenses are $5,200 on the final return and $2,600 on the rights or things return.
There are some amounts you can only claim on those returns on which you report the related income. The amounts are:
On the final return, you report income of $29,000 and claim a CPP amount of $773. On the return for rights or things, you include income of $1,000 and claim a CPP amount of $27.
There are certain amounts you cannot normally claim on an optional return. They include:
You may be able to claim these amounts on the final return.
For more information on other credits, see Chart 1.
In this chapter, we discuss the tax treatment of capital property the deceased owned at the date of death. We deal with capital property in general, as well as the particular treatment of depreciable and farm and fishing property. We discuss only property acquired after December 31, 1971.
There are special rules for property that a deceased person owned before 1972. For details about these rules and for information about other property such as eligible capital property, resource property, or an inventory of land, contact us at 1-800-959-8281.
We define some of the terms in this chapter in the Glossary.
When a person dies, we consider that the person has disposed of all capital property right before death. We call this a deemed disposition.
Also, right before death, we consider that the person has received the deemed proceeds of disposition (throughout this chapter we will refer to this as "deemed proceeds"). Even though there was not an actual sale, there can be a capital gain or (except for depreciable property or personal-use property) a capital loss.
For depreciable property, in addition to a capital gain, there can also be a recapture of capital cost allowance. Also, for depreciable property, instead of a capital loss there may be a terminal loss. We explain these terms below.
When the proceeds or deemed proceeds of disposition of a capital property are more than its adjusted cost base, the result is a capital gain. In most cases, one-half of the capital gain is the taxable capital gain.
Use Schedule 3, Capital Gains (or Losses) in 2006, to calculate the taxable capital gain to report on the final return.
This is a deduction you can claim for the deceased person against eligible taxable capital gains from the disposition or deemed disposition of certain capital property.
You may be able to claim the capital gains deduction on taxable capital gains the deceased had in 2006 from:
For more information, see guide T4037, Capital Gains.
When the proceeds or deemed proceeds of disposition of a capital property are less than its adjusted cost base, the result is a capital loss. One-half of the capital loss is the allowable capital loss. You cannot have a capital loss on the disposition of depreciable property.
For more information on claiming a capital loss, see the section called "Net capital losses in the year of death".
For depreciable property, when the proceeds or deemed proceeds of disposition are more than the undepreciated capital cost, you will usually have a recapture of capital cost allowance. Include the recapture in income on the deceased's final return.
For depreciable property, when the proceeds or deemed proceeds of disposition are less than the undepreciated capital cost, the result is a terminal loss. Deduct the terminal loss on the deceased's final return.
Note
A terminal loss is not allowed in respect of depreciable property that was personal-use property of the deceased.
For more information about a recapture of capital cost allowance or a terminal loss, see Interpretation Bulletin IT-478, Capital Cost Allowance - Recapture and Terminal Loss.
In this section, we explain how to determine the deemed proceeds for capital property, other than depreciable property. The rules for calculating the deemed proceeds for depreciable property are explained in the section called "Depreciable property". If there is a transfer of farm or fishing property to a child, read the section called "Farm or fishing property transferred to a child".
Under proposed legislation, the rules that currently apply to farm property will also apply to fishing property transferred after May 1, 2006.
There may be a transfer of capital property (including farm property, or fishing property after May 1, 2006) from a deceased person who was a resident of Canada immediately before death to a spouse or common-law partner, or a testamentary spousal or common-law partner trust.
For a transfer to a spouse or common-law partner, the deemed proceeds are the same as the property's adjusted cost base right before death, if both of these conditions are met:
For a transfer to a testamentary spousal or common-law partner trust, the deemed proceeds are the same as the property's adjusted cost base right before death, if both of these conditions are met:
In most cases, the deceased will not have a capital gain or loss. This is because the transfer postpones any gain or loss to the date the beneficiary disposes of the property.
Tax tip
You can choose not to have the deemed proceeds equal the adjusted cost base. If you make this choice, the deemed proceeds are equal to the property's fair market value right before death. You have to make this choice when you file the final return for the deceased.
You may want to do this to use a capital gains deduction (see "What is a capital gains deduction?") or a net capital loss on the deceased's final return. It may be best to report a capital gain or loss on the final return instead of deferring it to the spouse or common-law partner, or spousal or common-law partner trust.
Deceased's deemed proceeds - All other transfers
For all other transfers, the deemed proceeds are equal to the property's fair market value right before death.
In this section, we explain how to determine the deemed proceeds for depreciable property. If there is a transfer of farm property to a child, or fishing property after May 1, 2006, see the section "Farm or fishing property transferred to a child".
Under proposed legislation, the rules that currently apply to farm property will also apply to fishing property transferred after May 1, 2006.
There may be a transfer of depreciable property (including depreciable farm property, or fishing property after May 1, 2006) to a spouse or common-law partner, or a testamentary spousal or common-law partner trust. For such transfers, you may be able to use a special amount for the deemed proceeds. When you use this special amount, the deceased will not have a capital gain, recapture of capital cost allowance, or a terminal loss. The transfer postpones any gain, recapture, or terminal loss to the date the beneficiary disposes of the property.
The conditions required to use this special amount are the same as those listed for a transfer of capital property to a spouse or common-law partner, or testamentary spousal or common-law partner trust.
The special amount (deemed proceeds) is the lower of:
( |
Capital cost of the property ÷ |
) | × |
Undepreciated capital |
You have the following details:
Undepreciated capital cost of |
$33,500 |
Capital cost of transferred truck | $22,500 |
Capital cost of the two trucks | $50,000 |
The deceased's deemed proceeds on the transferred truck are the lower of:
The deemed proceeds are $15,075.
When there is more than one property in the same class, you can choose the order in which the deceased is deemed to have disposed of the properties. When you calculate the special amount, adjust the undepreciated capital cost and the total capital cost of the properties in the class to exclude previous deemed dispositions.
Note
When determining the special amount, you will need to recalculate the capital cost of property in the class when:
For more information, contact us.
Deceased's deemed proceeds - All other transfers
For all other transfers, the deemed proceeds are equal to the property's fair market value right before death.
In this section, we explain how to determine the deemed proceeds when there is a transfer of farm or fishing property to a child. For this kind of transfer, you may be able to use a special amount for the deemed proceeds. When you use this special amount, the deceased will not have a capital gain, recapture of capital cost allowance, or a terminal loss. The transfer postpones any gain, recapture, or terminal loss to the date the beneficiary disposes of the property.
Under proposed legislation, the rules that currently apply to farm property will also apply to fishing property transferred after May 1, 2006.
In this chapter, when we refer to the transfer of farm and fishing property, the terms farm property, fishing property, and child have the following meanings:
Farm property includes land and depreciable property of a prescribed class used for farming.
Fishing property includes land and depreciable property of a prescribed class used for fishing.
A child includes:
To use the special amount for the deemed proceeds, all four of the following conditions have to be met:
The rollover provisions available for farm property also apply to land and depreciable property used principally in a woodlot farming business. They apply where the deceased, the deceased's spouse or common-law partner, or any of the deceased's children was engaged in the woodlot operation as required by a prescribed forest management plan in respect of the woodlot. These provisions apply to transfers of property that occur after December 10, 2001. For more information, see IT-373, Woodlots, or contact us.
You may also be able to use a special amount for the deemed proceeds when a share of the capital stock of a family farm corporation or an interest in a family farm partnership is transferred to a child. For details, see Interpretation Bulletin IT-349, Intergenerational Transfers of Farm Property on Death.
Under proposed legislation, you may also be able to use a special amount for the deemed proceeds when a share of the capital stock of a family fishing corporation or an interest in a family fishing partnership is transferred to a child after May 1, 2006.
Deceased's deemed proceeds - Transfer of farmland to a child
If all four of the above conditions are met, you can choose to have the deemed proceeds equal the adjusted cost base of the land right before death. Therefore, the deceased will not have a capital gain or loss.
You may want to do this to use the capital gains deduction (see "What is a capital gains deduction?") or a net capital loss on the final return. It may be best to report a capital gain or loss on the final return instead of deferring it to a child.
Deceased's deemed proceeds - Transfer of depreciable farm or fishing property to a child
If there is a transfer of depreciable farm property, or, after May 1, 2006, depreciable fishing property, you may be able to use a special amount for the deemed proceeds. To use this special amount, the four conditions we listed earlier in this section have to be met.
In most cases, when you use this special amount, the deceased will not have a capital gain, a recapture of capital cost allowance, or a terminal loss. This is because the transfer postpones any gain, recapture, or terminal loss to the date the beneficiary disposes of the property.
The special amount (deemed proceeds) is the lower of:
( |
Capital cost of the property ÷ |
) | × |
Undepreciated capital |
Undepreciated capital cost of the |
$90,000 |
Capital cost of transferred boat | $45,000 |
Capital cost of all three boats | $100,000 |
The deceased's deemed proceeds on the transferred boat are the lower of:
The deemed proceeds are $40,500.
When there is more than one property in the same class, you can choose the order in which the deceased is deemed to have disposed of the properties. When you calculate the special amount, adjust the undepreciated capital cost and the total capital cost of the properties in the class to exclude previous deemed dispositions.
For more information, contact us.
You have to make this choice when you file the final return for the deceased.
You may want to do this to use the capital gains deduction (see "What is a capital gains deduction?") on the final return. It may be best to report a capital gain, recapture, or terminal loss on the final return instead of deferring it to a child.
For more information, see Interpretation Bulletin IT-349, Intergenerational Transfers of Farm Property on Death, or contact us. You may also refer to guide T4003, Farming Income, or guide T4004, Fishing Income.
Election to delay payment of income tax
In some cases, you can delay paying part of the income tax due. For instance, you can delay paying part of the amount owing from the deemed disposition of capital property. Remember that we charge interest on any unpaid amount, from the day after the due date to the date you pay the amount in full.
If you want to delay payment, you will have to give us security for the amount owing. You also have to complete Form T2075, Election to Defer Payment of Income Tax, Under Subsection 159(5) of the Income Tax Act by a Deceased Taxpayer's Legal Representative or Trustee. For more information, contact the Collections Division of your tax services office. In most cases, you have to pay any amount owing on a return when the return is due.
In this chapter, we discuss how to apply a net capital loss that occurred in the year of death. We also explain how to apply net capital losses from earlier years to the final return and the return for the year before the year of death.
We define some of the terms in this chapter in the Glossary.
Generally, when allowable capital losses are more than taxable capital gains, the difference is a net capital loss. An allowable capital loss is 1/2 of a capital loss. Generally, a taxable capital gain is 1/2 of a capital gain. The rate used to determine the taxable part of a capital gain and the allowable part of a capital loss is called an inclusion rate.
To apply a net capital loss that happened in the year of death, you can use either Method A or Method B.
Method A - You can carry back a 2006 net capital loss to reduce any taxable capital gains in any of the three years before the year of death. If you are applying it against taxable capital gains realized in 2003, 2004, or 2005, you do not need to make any adjustment because the inclusion rate is the same in all three years. The loss you carry back cannot be more than the taxable capital gains in those years. To ask for a loss carryback, complete "Area III - Net capital loss for carryback" on Form T1A, Request for Loss Carryback, and send it to us. Do not file an amended return for the year to which you want to apply the loss.
After you carry back the loss, there may be an amount left. You may be able to use some of the resulting amount to reduce other income on the final return, the return for the year before the year of death, or both returns. However, before you do this, you have to calculate the amount you can use.
From the net capital loss you have left, subtract any capital gains deductions the deceased has claimed to date. Use any loss left to reduce other income for the year of death, the year before the year of death, or for both years.
If you claim the remaining net capital loss in the year of death, you should claim the amount at line 127 of the final return.
Note
Do not use a capital loss claimed against other income at line 127 in the calculation of net income for the purposes of calculating other amounts such as social benefit repayments, provincial or territorial tax credits, and those non-refundable tax credits requiring the use of net income.
Method B - You can choose not to carry back the net capital loss to reduce taxable capital gains from earlier years. You may prefer to reduce other income on the final return, the return for the year before the year of death, or both returns. However, before you do this, you have to calculate the amount you can use.
From the net capital loss, subtract any capital gains deductions the deceased has claimed to date. Use any loss remaining to reduce other income for the year of death, the year before the year of death, or for both years.
If you claim the remaining net capital loss in the year of death, you should claim the amount at line 127 of the final return.
Net capital loss in 2006 |
$11,000 |
Taxable capital gains in 2004 | $4,000 |
Taxable capital gains in 2003 | $2,000 |
Total capital gains deductions claimed to date | $4,000 |
He did not claim any capital gains deductions for 2003 or 2004.
You can use Method A or Method B.
Method A
If you choose method A, you can use the net capital losses to reduce his 2004 taxable capital gains to zero ($11,000 - $4,000). Then, you can use the remaining balance of $7,000 to reduce his 2003 taxable capital gain to zero ($7,000 - $2,000).
After you subtract his capital gains deductions ($5,000 - $4,000), you still have $1,000 left to reduce the man's other income for 2006 or 2005 or for both years.
Method B
If you choose to use this method, you will first deduct his capital gains deductions of $4,000 from his net capital loss in 2006 of $11,000. You can now use the remaining $7,000 to reduce the man's other income for 2006 or 2005, or for both years.
Note
If you claim the remaining net capital loss in the year before the year of death, you will need to complete Form T1-ADJ, T1 Adjustment Request, or send us a signed letter providing the details of your request. Send your Form T1-ADJ or letter separately from the deceased's final return. Applying a 2006 net capital loss to a previous year may reduce any capital gains deductions the deceased claimed in that year or a following year.
The deceased may have had a net capital loss before the year of death but never applied it. If so, you can apply the loss against taxable capital gains on the final return. If the net capital loss arose after 1987 and before 2001, you will need to make an adjustment to the inclusion rate as explained below. If there is still an amount left, you may be able to use it to reduce other income on the final return, the return for the year before the year of death, or both returns. If you decide to claim this loss on the final return, report it at line 253.
You have to apply net capital losses of earlier years before you apply net capital losses of later years. For example, if you have net capital losses in 1995 and 1997 and want to apply them against your taxable capital gains in 2006, you have to follow a certain order. First, apply your 1995 net capital loss against your taxable capital gain. Then apply your 1997 net capital loss against it.
The inclusion rate used to determine the taxable part of a capital gain and the allowable part of a capital loss has changed over the years. If the inclusion rate of 1/2 for 2006 is different from the inclusion rate in effect the year the loss occurred, you will need to adjust the loss before applying it to the taxable capital gain in 2006.
To apply a previous year loss to 2006, you will need to adjust the loss as follows:
When you make these calculations, you get the adjusted net capital loss.
Now you can reduce taxable capital gains in the year of death. To do this, use the lower of:
After you reduce the taxable capital gains, some of the loss may be left. You may be able to use this amount to reduce other income for the year of death, the year before the year of death, or for both years. However, before you do this, you may have to calculate the amount you can use.
If you had to adjust the loss before applying it to the 2006 taxable capital gain as described above, you will now have to readjust the loss that remains as follows:
The result is your readjusted balance. From this balance, subtract all capital gains deductions claimed to date, including those on the final return. If there is an amount left, you can use it to reduce other income for the year of death, the year before the year of death, or for both years.
Net capital loss in 1997, never applied | $18,000 |
Taxable capital gain in 2006 | $6,000 |
Capital gains deductions claimed to date | $4,000 |
You decide to use the 1997 loss to reduce the 2006 taxable capital gain and to use any amount left to reduce other income for 2006.
You have to adjust the 1997 net capital loss before you can apply it. Multiply it by 2/3 to get the adjusted net capital loss:
$18,000 × 2/3 = $12,000
To reduce the 2006 taxable capital gain, use the lower of:
After you use $6,000 of the loss to reduce the gain to zero, you still have $6,000 ($12,000 - $6,000) left. You can use this amount to reduce the deceased's other income for 2006. To determine the amount to use, you have to readjust the $6,000. Because the loss occurred in 1997, multiply the amount left by 3/2 to get the readjusted balance:
$6,000 × 3/2 = $9,000
From the readjusted balance, subtract all capital gains deductions claimed to date:
$9,000 - $4,000 = $5,000
You can use $5,000 to reduce the deceased's other income for 2006. If you decide not to use the total of this balance in 2006, you can use the amount that is left to reduce other income for 2005.
Note
If you claim a capital gains deduction for the year of death or the year before the year of death, subtract it from the balance of net capital losses you have available to reduce other income in those years. For more details about capital gains and losses, as well as the capital gains deduction, see guide T4037, Capital Gains.
As the legal representative, you may continue looking after the deceased's estate through a trust. If you dispose of capital property, the result may be a net capital loss. If you dispose of depreciable property, the result may be a terminal loss.
Usually, you would claim these losses on the trust's return. However, in the trust's first taxation year, you can choose to claim all or part of these losses on the deceased's final return. Any net capital loss realized after the date of death can only be applied to the year of death. For more information, contact us.
Section of T1 General Income Tax and Benefit Return | Line | Final return | Return for rights or things 70(2) | Return for a partner or proprietor 150(4) | Return for income from a testamentary trust 104(23)(d) |
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Total income | 101-146 | ![]()
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Deductions for Calculating Net income | 207 to 232 |
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same as for return for rights or things 70(2) | same as for return for rights or things 70(2) |
235 | ![]() |
Note 5 | not applicable | not applicable | |
Deductions for Calculating Taxable income | Split deductions (Note 6) | ||||
248 | ![]() |
Note 7 | not applicable | not applicable | |
249 | ![]() |
Note 7 | not applicable | not applicable | |
250 | ![]() |
not applicable | not applicable | not applicable | |
251-255 | ![]() |
no | no | no | |
256 | ![]() |
yes | not applicable | not applicable | |
Federal Non- refundable tax credits (Note 13) | 300-306 | ![]() |
yes - in full | yes - in full | yes - in full |
315 | ![]() |
yes - in full | yes - in full | yes - in full | |
Split amounts (Note 6) | |||||
308 | ![]() |
Note 7 | not applicable | not applicable | |
310 | ![]() |
not applicable | yes | not applicable | |
312 | ![]() |
Note 7 | not applicable | not applicable | |
313 | ![]() |
yes | yes | yes | |
314 | ![]() |
Note 8 | not applicable | Note 8 | |
316 | ![]() |
yes | yes | yes | |
318 | ![]() |
yes | yes | yes | |
319 | ![]() |
yes | yes | yes | |
323-324 | ![]() |
yes | yes | yes | |
326 | ![]() |
no | no | no | |
330 | ![]() |
Note 9 | Note 9 | Note 9 | |
340 | ![]() |
Note 10 | Note 10 | Note 10 | |
342 | ![]() |
yes | yes | yes | |
Refund or Balance owing | 412 | ![]() |
no | no | no |
422 | ![]() |
Note 5 | not applicable | not applicable | |
425 | ![]() |
Note 11 | not applicable | Note 11 | |
427 | ![]() |
no | no | no | |
452 | ![]() |
no | no | no |
Notes | |||
1. | Salary, commissions, and vacation pay are rights or things if both of these conditions are met:
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2. | Accounts receivable, supplies on hand, and inventory are rights or things if the deceased's business used the cash method. | ||
3. | This includes harvested farm crops and livestock that is not part of the basic herd. For more information, see Interpretation Bulletins IT-234, Income of Deceased Persons - Farm Crops, and IT-427, Livestock of Farmers. | ||
4. | "Work in progress" is a right or thing if the deceased was a sole proprietor and a professional [accountant, dentist, lawyer (in Quebec an advocate or notary), medical doctor, veterinarian, or chiropractor] who had elected to exclude work in progress when calculating his or her total income. For more information about rights or things, see Interpretation Bulletin IT-212, Income of Deceased Persons - Rights or Things, and its Special Release. | ||
5. | This amount can be claimed if OAS or EI benefits have been reported on this return. | ||
6. | Claims split between returns cannot be more than the total that could be allowed if you were only filing the final return. | ||
7. | This amount can be claimed if related employment income has been reported on this return. | ||
8. | This amount can be claimed if pension or annuity income has been reported on line 115 or line 129 of this return. | ||
9. | The medical expenses can be split between the returns. Allowable medical expenses have to be reduced by the lesser of $1,884 or 3% of the total net income reported on all the returns. | ||
10. | The amount that can be claimed is the lesser of the eligible amounts of charitable donations or 100% of the net income reported on this return. Also, the total charitable donations claimed on all the returns cannot exceed the eligible amount of charitable donations. | ||
11. | This amount can be claimed if dividend income has been reported on this return. | ||
12. | Use the deceased's net income from the final return and the spouse's or common-law partner's net income for the entire year to calculate this credit. | ||
13. | If the deceased was a resident of a province or territory other than Quebec, he or she may now also be able to claim provincial or territorial tax credits. See the provincial or territorial pages in the deceased's forms book. |
Report the following amounts on line 19 of the T3 Trust Income Tax and Information Return, for the year in which you receive the income. If the income is received in a year after the year of death, report it on the T3 return for that subsequent year. |
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Type of income | Information slip | |
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1. | Severance pay received because of death. As this is a death benefit, up to $10,000 may be non-taxable. | T4A, Box 28 |
2. | Future adjustments to severance pay regardless of when the collective agreement was signed. | T4A, Box 28 |
3. | Refund of pension contributions payable because of death. | T4A, Box 18 |
4. | Guaranteed minimum pension payment (this is not a death benefit). | T4A, Box 18 |
5. | Deferred profit-sharing plan payment. | T4A, Box 18 |
6. | CPP or QPP death benefit, if not reported by the recipient. | T4A(P), Box 18 |
Do not report the following amounts on a T1 final return for a deceased person or a T3 return for a trust: | |
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1. | Retroactive adjustments to the following employment income when a collective agreement or other authorizing instrument has been signed after the date of death:
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2. | Group term insurance such as the federal government's supplementary death benefit. |
The following publications are available on our Web site or by calling 1-800-959-2221.
T1A Request for Loss Carryback
T1090 Death of a RRIF Annuitant - Designated Benefit
T1136 Old Age Security Return of Income
T2019 Death of an RRSP Annuitant - Refund of Premiums
T2075 Election to Defer Payment of Income Tax, Under Subsection 159(5) of the Income Tax Act by a Deceased Taxpayer's Legal Representative or Trustee
TX19 Asking for a Clearance Certificate
P113 Gifts and Income Tax
RC4060 Farming Income and the CAIS Program
RC4064 Medical and Disability-Related Information
RC4112 Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP)
RC4135 Home Buyers' Plan (HBP)
RC4408 Farming Income and the CAIS Program Harmonized Guide
T4002 Business and Professional Income
T4003 Farming Income
T4013 T3 Trust Guide
T4037 Capital Gains
T4040 RRSPs and Other Registered Plans for Retirement
T4055 Newcomers to Canada
T4056 Emigrants and Income Tax
IC82-6 Clearance Certificate
IC92-2 Guidelines for the Cancellation and Waiver of Interest and Penalties
IT-210 Income of Deceased Persons - Periodic Payments and Investment Tax Credit
IT-212 Income of Deceased Persons - Rights or Things, and its Special Release
IT-234 Income of Deceased Persons - Farm Crops
IT-244 Gifts by Individuals of Life Insurance Policies as Charitable Donations
IT-278 Death of a Partner or of a Retired Partner
IT-305 Testamentary Spouse Trusts
IT-326 Returns of Deceased Persons as "Another Person"
IT-349 Intergenerational Transfers of Farm Property on Death
IT-419 Meaning of Arm's Length
IT-427 Livestock of Farmers
IT-456 Capital Property - Some Adjustments to Cost Base
IT-478 Capital Cost Allowance - Recapture and Terminal Loss
IT-508 Death Benefits
IT-519 Medical Expense and Disability Tax Credits and Attendant Care Expense Deduction
RC4111 What to Do Following a Death
RC4177 Death of an RRSP Annuitant
RC4178 Death of a RRIF Annuitant
We review our publications each year. If you have any comments or suggestions to help us improve them, we would like to hear from you.
Please send your comments to:
Taxpayer Services Directorate
Canada Revenue Agency
750 Heron Road
Ottawa ON K1A 0L5