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Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Capital gains tax on the principal residence? Yes, if the tax is incurred while the house is in the estate

When a deceased home-owner dies, is there capital gains tax on the disposition of the property or not? What if the house sits in the name of the estate for a few years? These questions were raised recently by a reader, and since the questions are asked so frequently, I thought I'd share my comments with you. Here's the reader's note:

"I thought that if a home was the deceased primary residence, then the estate does not have to pay capital gains taxes, when the home is sold. After talking with CRA today, I was told that capital gains would have to be reported on a T3 return and any taxes paid from the estate. Aaargh, it is confusing! We have been 3 years in a mess of trying to get my husband's Mom's estate settled and it seems that there are always more questions than answers."

I've been asked this question many times, since tax isn't the easiest information to work with. The principal residence rules are confusing to a lot of people, so you're in good company.

Capital gains tax is a tax on the increase in value of a property during the time you own it. For example, if you buy a property for $100,000 and then sell it a few years later for $150,000, the gain is $50,000. Half of the $50,000 gain must be reported on the personal tax return of the person who owned it when the property is sold. The gain must also be reported if rather than being sold, the property leaves the owner because the owner died. You're right that when a person sells or disposes of their principal residence, they don't have to pay capital gains tax on that property. That's because a principal residence is an exception to the usual capital gains tax rule.

So, when your mother-in-law passed away, the house was transferred from her name into the name of the estate. The transfer of the house was not taxable because it was her principal residence and was exempt, as described in the paragraph above.

The reason you must now pay tax is that the house has been in the estate for three years and apparently it has increased in value during that time. You are confused because you are thinking the house is still tax exempt. It's not. It was only tax exempt when it was your mother-in-law's home and principal residence. Now it's not her home because it belongs to the estate. The estate doesn't have a principal residence.

There are two transactions here. The first was from your mother-in-law to the estate. The second is from the estate to the buyers or beneficiaries. Only the first transaction was tax exempt.

Note that you were told the tax gain goes on a T3 return. That's a return for an estate, not for a person.

In most cases, the house does not stay in the name of an estate long enough to gain or lose in value, so there is no tax impact. Obviously three years is long enough to have incurred a gain, and it was the delay that caused the problem.

I take it you're not working with an estate lawyer or an accountant, because either one would have told you that the house is no longer tax exempt. It sounds as if you're the executor, so I should probably let you know that if you didn't have a really good, unavoidable reason for a three-year delay, and if the beneficiaries are not very accepting of the reason, you could be on the hook personally for the amount payable now in capital gains tax. An executor is always potentially liable for any financial loss to the estate he or she is administering.

15 comments:

  1. Lynne

    You write "An executor is always potentially liable for any financial loss to the estate he or she is administering."

    Is it not common practice for the will to authorize the executor to use their discretion regarding conversion or sale?

    Doesn't that "protect" the executor from liability (in the absence of criminal behaviour)?

    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, it does to some extent. That particular power you mention avoids an executor having to take fire sale prices for assets. However, it's not permission for the executor to take years to wrap up an estate if there is no good reason for it, because the executor's authority must always be balanced against the beneficiaries' right to receive their inheritance in reasonable time.

      Lynne

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  2. Excellent post.
    There are excellent Executors out there who are being 'stonewalled' by a Beneficiary or Beneficiaries and their Lawyer's.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Lynn, Excellent blog.
    A few years ago my mom put my name and my sister's name on her condo in Surrey, BC (it's fully paid off). She is in a nursing home now. We just sold the condo (still in the 3 names). Do I have to pay capital gains on my portion since my name was added to the title? Also, how do I find out when my name was added? I have been living in the condo off and on for the past year, as this was mandatory for condo insurance purposes. I still have my mail, etc going to my common-law's house. I don't own any other property so do I still have to pay taxes on the amount I made on the sold condo? Any help would be appreciated.
    Jo-Anne

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi if my mother leaves me her non principal house in her will and I'm currently living in it will I have to pay any capital gains?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If the house is not her principal residence, she will pay capital gains tax on it when she disposes of it, either by selling it or by leaving it to you. The tax is paid by her estate, not by you personally. If there is not enough money in her estate to pay the tax, the house will have to be sold to cover the tax.

      Lynne

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  5. I have a question. First I am a co-executor of my fathers estate. When he passed away the title of his principal residence goes to his spouse as tenants in common as I understand it. In the will it states that when the property is sold 33.33% of the proceeds pass to my brother and I. As we are not on title and it is solely in my stepmothers name what are our tax implications. Either income or capital gains?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I would suggest that you take the title to your father's house to a lawyer for clarification. Here's why. First, if he and his spouse and tenants in common, the house does NOT go to her. That only happens if they are joint tenants. Second, if she owns the house outright, she doesn't have to give you anything, no matter what your father's will says. The only way he can control the sale proceeds at a later date is if he owns the house and he puts it in a trust. Third, capital gains tax, if any arises, goes against the seller and as you say, you're not on the title.

      You really need to talk this over with someone because it is looking a hundred times more complicated than it really is. If you want my help, call my office at 709-221-5511 to set up a time to talk, or talk to a lawyer in your area.

      Lynne

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    2. Lynne thank you for your reply. First off I made a mistake. They had it as joint tenants. I always get that part confused as to which is which. Second there is no conflict over the proceeds when the house sells. She has no issues with giving us the money as per the will. It is mostly the tax situation that is a concern. Thanks again.

      Delete
  6. Thank you for the inspiration. This article is very helpful and informative.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thank you for sharing this information. It has helped me to know more about
    what is capital gain

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thank you for this very useful blog. Perhaps you can help with a question: While the residence is in the hands of the Estate, and fees are incurred (property tax, condo fees, routine maintenance), can those fees be used to reduce the amount of the capital gain? (Similar to how a gain in stocks can be reduced by investment fees.) Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Greetings Lynne,

    Thank you for the time and effort that you take to make this an excellent information portal for the general public.

    My related question involves a single widowed elderly woman who lived in her principle residence for 60 years and passed away while living there. In her will she left her principle residence to her only child, who had no principle residence, having lived with his mom for 10 years caring for her. He continues, uninterrupted, to live in the bequeathed principle residence.

    The principle residence has been in the name of the estate for over a year and some capital gains on rising property values has been realized during that time. When the title is transferred into his name, will the capital gains tax be waived in regards to the increase in property value, because he has maintained residency there and has no other declared principle residence?

    Thank you kindly.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm not an accountant, but I believe the capital gains tax will NOT be waived. "Principal residence" does not mean "where you live". There has to be ownership as well. Since the beneficiary does not own it, he cannot declare as his principal residence. The estate owns the house and the estate doesn't get to own an exempt principal residence. As I said, I'm not an accountant but this is how I understand the rules to work.

      Lynne

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