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Investment Q&A

Not investment advice or solicitation to buy/sell securities. Do your own due diligence and/or consult an advisor.

Q: Hello friends,

I own IPL:CA in my RRSP account and, since I like BIP, I would like to continue with them.

As we know, the offer is $CAD 20 or 0.25 of a BIPC:CA share subject to proration.

However, there is a fairly large price differential between BIP:US/BIP.UN:CA and BIPC:US/BIPC:CA and I would like to take advantage of that.

My plan is to tender for cash and then buy BIP:US/BIP.UN:CA.

Is there any tax impact on holding BIP:US/BIP.UN:CA (a Bermuda LP) vs holding BIPC:US/BIPC:CA (a Canadian corp) in an RRSP account e.g. withheld taxes?

Does my plan make sense?

Thank you for your valuable advice.
Read Answer Asked by Iulian on August 11, 2021
Q: In July, 2022, when my mortgage is due for renewal (with $90,00 left), say if I refinance for 80% of the value of the condo (about $240,000), would the new mortgage money be tax deductible while still not deducting the carry over amount (about $90,000). In this case $240,000 minus $90,000 would be deductible, with an ongoing ratio of $240,000/$90,000 or 266.67% of every future payment of interest, until the mortgage is paid off.

I realise this is a question for an accountant, but was wondering if you would know?
Read Answer Asked by Steven on August 09, 2021
Q: I will soon start to withdraw from my RRSP and I am looking for tax saving ideas. I don’t like the idea that if I was hit by a bus tomorrow (aside from negative outcome for me) that my RRSP would be taxed at 53.53% and my dependents would be left with less than my hard-earned savings. I need your advice and yes I will look both ways before crossing the street. I recently listened to an audio by Allan Schieman where he suggests flow-through shares as a tax saving option. It seems like an interesting idea with some risk. I searched and found a Maple Leaf Fund managed by Craig Porter in BC. I suspect there are many pitfalls here, and I seek your advice and input on two questions i.e, 1. are there any reasonable/recommended flow-through share investment vehicles to help save taxes and 2. How else can I reduce RRSP withdrawal taxes? Please deduct as many questions you see fit. Thanks for your valuable advice.
Read Answer Asked by Dan on July 29, 2021
Q: Are withholding taxes treated the same whether in personal taxable accounts versus being in corporate accounts? In other words, is there a benefit to having certain ETFs in personal taxable account versus a corporate account?

Thanks
Read Answer Asked by Federico on July 20, 2021
Q: I hold a position in XBC that was roughly 2% at purchase, but has dropped by roughly 40% (meaning the position is closer to 1% now). I still believe that this company could return to a better valuation, but that I have an opportunity to crystallize a loss before that time. I would like to purchase a placeholder investment in the same space which XBC operates, and I already have a position in CMC that I am not quite ready to increase (even though it is up nicely since my initial purchase). Is there any other company that you might suggest as a candidate to act as a placeholder for thirty days before I purchase XBC once again, after the loss can be crystallized? Conversely, would you feel that a strong argument could be made that even attempting to crystallize a loss in this position would introduce undue risk to a portfolio? Any insight would be much appreciated, as always. Thanks so much, and I look forward to your response.
Read Answer Asked by Domenic on July 13, 2021
Q: It is my understanding that a 75% Capital Gain Inclusion Rate means simply that 75% of the capital gains are subject to tax. The percentage of tax owing is based on one's income. So if one's income was low enough the tax owed on the capital gain might be less than 75%. Brenda's question and your response seems to suggest otherwise. Please correct me if I am mistaken.
Thanks,
Jim
Read Answer Asked by James on July 12, 2021
Q: Say the capital gains inclusion rate increase from 50% to 75%. Does that mean it doesn't matter how long you've held the stock when you sell it gains are taxed at 75%? I'm not sure how the last rate changes were implemented but you may recall.
Read Answer Asked by Brenda on July 09, 2021
Q: I have USA stocks in joint margin account with Canadian Broker .
When calculating if cost amount of total value Foreign Property exceeds $100,000 CAD I will use highest total value of Book Cost of all US securities.
My question is: do you have to include in calculation of Total Amount any cash siting in my US account?

Andrew
Read Answer Asked by Andrzej on July 09, 2021
Q: I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT WITH DRAWING FROM AN RRSP ACCOUNT. MY WIFE WANTS TO WITHDRAW $20,000 FROM HER RRSP ACCOUNT FROM AUGUST TO END OF YEAR. BY WITH DRAWING $5,000 AT A TIME SHE WILL PAY 10% OVER THE COUNTER FEES. BUT OUR BROKER TOLD US THAT HER SECOND WITHDRAW THEY WOULD TAKE 20% INSTEAD OF 10% I FIND IT LITTLE STRANGE BECAUSE IN THE PAST I WITH DREW $5,000 AT A TIME TO ONLY PAY 10%. OR HAS SOMETHING CHANGED IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
Read Answer Asked by wilson on July 09, 2021
Q: My investment income has been bumping up against the OAS clawback level the last couple years (damn that dividend gross-up!), so I have moved some investments into reits and ETFs with high return of capital to keep reportable income down. Aside from the obvious - that ROC becomes capital gains when the stock is sold - are there some negatives about ROC or high ROC stocks of which I should be aware?
Thank-you
Read Answer Asked by grant on July 07, 2021
Q: I see your report on CDN companies paying US dividends and was wondering if currency gains are allowable in tax free accounts. If one were to accumulate US$ in the account and then flip to CDN$ at a profit would this put you offside with CRA?
Read Answer Asked by Robert on July 02, 2021
Q: Dear 5i,
If I hold BIPC.CA, BIPC.US, BEPC.CA, or BEPC.US in my non-registered Canadian account. do I have include them if I have to file Form T1135.
If yes what is the country code?
Read Answer Asked by Ian on June 30, 2021
Q: Hi. I’m writing in response to Andrew’s earlier question regarding whether or not he needs to report BEP.UN on his T1135. I’d looked into this earlier this year for BEPC, BIPC, BIP.UN and BEP.UN. Brookfield’s web site addresses this specifically. Below is the link, and direct quote.

https://bep.brookfield.com/stock-and-distribution/tax-information

“Are units considered foreign property for the purposes of the Canada Revenue Agency T-1135 Form – Foreign Income Verification Statement?
No.”

Hope this assists.

Regards
Read Answer Asked by Cory on June 29, 2021