The loss of a loved one is difficult and having to deal with the administration of their estate after they’ve passed can be especially overwhelming. Declining markets can add another layer of financial stress when administering an estate during an already emotional time. However, there are tax strategies that can help address a decline in market values. This article highlights potential tax relief where there has been a decline in the value of assets, both registered and non-registered, after the holder of the accounts has passed away.
Decline in Value of RRSP or RRIF after Death
If someone you know passes away is an annuitant (owner) of an RRSP or RRIF (which includes LIRAs and LIFs), they are generally considered to have received, immediately before their death, an amount equal to the fair market value of the property held in their RRSP or RRIF at the time of death. This amount, as well as all other amounts they received from the RRSP or RRIF in that same year, must be reported on their final income tax return for the year of death. The exception to this rule is when the registered account is transferred to their spouse, common-law partner, or a financially dependent child. For the remainder of this article, we’ll assume the account is not transferred to such persons.
What happens when there is a post-death decrease in market value of the RRSP or RRIF when the final distribution is made?
As you may be aware, it is not uncommon for a delay to occur between the time of death and the distribution of the deceased’s assets to their beneficiaries. If there is such a delay, a RRSP or RRIF may experience an increase or decrease in market value (compared to the
date of death) once it is eventually distributed. When the value has decreased, there are two different remedies which apply depending on when the distribution takes place. If the final distribution from the RRSP or RRIF is made in the year of death, the decline in value can be claimed as a deduction on the deceased’s final return. If the distribution is made in the year following the year of death, you, as the deceased’s legal representative, can ask that the amount of the decrease be carried back and deducted on the deceased’s final return, through a reassessment, by filing a T1 Adjustment Request for the
deduction.
In either case, the plan administrator of the RRSP or RRIF will issue Form RC249 Post-Death Decline in the Value of a RRIF, an Unmatured RRSP and Post-Death Increase or Decline in the Value of a PRPP, which should be attached to the final return, or the T1 Adjustment Request, to support the deduction being claimed. This form reports the value of the registered account on the deceased’s date of death as well as the amounts distributed from the registered account after death.
Generally, this deduction will not be available if the registered account held non-qualifying investments after the individual died or if the final distribution is made after the end of the year that follows the year in which the individual died. However, the CRA does have the authority to waive this condition depending on the circumstances.
Decline in value of non-registered assets after death
When someone passes away, generally they are deemed to have disposed of their assets (‘capital property’) immediately before death. This deemed disposition will generally result in a capital gain or capital loss, which must be reported in their final return. For non-registered assets such as personally held investments (stocks, mutual funds, recreational real estate, etc.) the capital gain or loss is generally based on the difference between the fair market value (‘FMV’) of the asset at the time of death and the adjusted cost base (‘ACB’). ACB includes not only the original amount paid for the asset, but also any capital improvements made to the asset and other adjustments as required by the Income Tax Act. The exceptions to a deemed disposition at FMV general rule include use of a spousal rollover or a rollover of qualifying farm or fishing property to a child. We’ll focus on the post-death increases and decreases of a deceased’s non-registered assets under the general rule (i.e. no special rollover provision) and certain tax relief that is available.
Acquisition of capital property by Estate
Following the death of an individual, their estate is deemed to have acquired their capital property at its FMV at the time they died. This means that the estate of the deceased individual has effectively acquired that capital property with a ‘reset’ ACB equal to the FMV of that property at the time they died. As those assets are effectively ‘owned’ by the estate immediately following the date of death, it is not uncommon for the value of those assets to increase or decrease in value by the time the estate is administered. Where property is transferred in-kind from the estate to a beneficiary, it is generally ‘rolled’ to the beneficiary at the estate’s ACB. The estate will not trigger either a capital gain or a capital loss under such an in-kind transfer. In cases when the estate outright disposes of the property, rather than rolling such property at cost to a beneficiary, in so doing it may realize a capital gain or a capital loss. In cases where an asset’s value has increased from the date of death and the estate disposes of that asset, the estate will realize a capital gain based on the difference between the selling price (i.e. FMV) and its ACB of the asset. You, as the deceased’s legal representative can then decide whether to have the gain taxed within the estate itself or distribute the gain to one or more beneficiaries of the estate, to be taxed in their hands.
Can a trust allocate capital losses to a beneficiary?
Although a trust (including an estate of a deceased individual) can allocate capital gains to a beneficiary, a trust is not permitted to allocate capital losses to a beneficiary. So, in cases where an asset’s value has declined from the date of death and the estate disposes of that asset, the capital loss must generally be retained by the estate. This capital loss can be used by the estate to offset capital gains incurred during the same year the loss was incurred or carried forward to be used to offset capital gains incurred by the estate in a future year. However, if the estate is not expected to be in existence for very long or may not have other assets on which it can generate a capital gain, this may result in the forfeiture of any unused capital losses when the estate is wound up.
Does the Income Tax Act provide any relief?
In those scenarios where an estate has incurred capital losses to which it has no capital gains to offset, the Income Tax Act contains relieving provisions in Subsection 164(6). These provisions enable you, as the deceased’s legal representative, to elect to treat all or part of these losses as losses of the deceased on their final return, if such losses are incurred no later than the first anniversary of the date of death. This is commonly referred to as a ‘164(6) loss carryback’ election. In essence, if the estate disposes of capital property within its first taxation year and incurs net capital losses (i.e. capital losses in excess of its capital gains), it can elect to carry those capital losses back to the deceased’s final return to be offset against capital gains reported in that final return.
A similar election for terminal losses on depreciable property is also permitted. A terminal loss arises when the assets of a depreciable class are sold for proceeds lower than the remaining undepreciated capital cost of the class. Where all the depreciable property of a class is disposed of in the first taxation year of the estate and the disposition results in a terminal loss, the estate can elect to carry that terminal loss back to the deceased’s final return.
Dealing with a loved one’s death is challenging even without considering the necessary obligations that come with settling their estate. The ability to reduce that loved one’s tax liability by deducting post death RRSP and RRIF losses and/or carrying back estate losses can provide much needed relief from the financial strains that comes with settling their estate, especially in the current economic environment. For more information on this topic, please contact your IG Consultant.
Written and published by IG Wealth Management as a general source of information only, believed to be accurate as of the date of publishing. Not intended as a solicitation to buy or sell specific investments, or to provide tax, legal or investment advice. Seek advice on up to date withholding rules and rates and on your specific circumstances from an IG Wealth Management Consultant. Trademarks, including IG Wealth Management and IG Private Wealth Management are owned by IGM Financial Inc. and licensed to its subsidiary corporations.