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[pdf] Balancing need and affordability
All about the changes to the capital gains inclusion rate Disclaimer: The following content is provided by and is the opinion of Invesco Canada Ltd. Equitable does not guarantee the adequacy, accuracy, timeliness, or completeness of the information. Equitable shall not be liable for any errors or omissions in the information provided by Invesco.

What has changed?
One noteworthy measure to come from Budget 2024 is the proposed change to the capital gains inclusion rate, which was previously held steady at 50% since 2001.

For individuals, capital gains more than $250,000 annually will be subject to an increased 66.67% inclusion rate as of June 25, 2024, while the capital gains up to $250,000 will continue to be subject to the existing 50% inclusion rate. As a transitional measure for 2024, only the capital gains realized by individuals on or after the effective date of June 25 that are above the $250,000 threshold will be subject to the increased inclusion rate.

For trusts and corporations, the inclusion rate on all capital gains will increase from 50% to 66.67% starting on June 25, 2024.

Who is affected?

Impact to individuals
Budget 2024 proposed to add transitional rules which would specifically identify capital gains and losses realized before the effective date (Period 1) and those realized on or after the effective date (Period 2). The effective date is June 25, 2024. Capital gains realized on or after that date will have an inclusion rate of 50% on the amount up to $250,000, and an inclusion rate of 66.67% on the amount above $250,000. All capital gains realized prior to the effective date will have an inclusion rate of 50%.
Take Ontario as an example, the proposed higher inclusion rate on capital gains would effectively increase the average federal-provincial marginal tax rate for Ontario residents on capital gains above $250,000 at the top marginal tax rate from 26.76% to 35.69%. A more detailed analysis on the impact of these changes to an individual’s tax rate is discussed below.
For net capital gains realized in Period 2, the annual $250,000 threshold would be fully available in 2024 (i.e., it would not be prorated) and it would apply only in respect of net capital gains realized in Period 2.
The $250,000 threshold would effectively apply to capital gains realized by an individual, either directly or indirectly via a partnership or trust, net of any: current-year capital losses, capital losses of other years applied to reduce current-year capital gains, and capital gains in respect of which the Lifetime Capital Gains Exemption, the proposed employee Ownership Trust Exemption or the proposed Canadian Entrepreneurs’ Incentive claimed.
Two common scenarios of reaching the $250,000 capital gain threshold are the deemed disposition of capital property at death, and the emigration from Canada (i.e., becoming a non-resident for income tax purposes). We have provided additional details on these topics below.

Deemed disposition upon death
When an individual passes away, they are deemed to have sold their capital property (e.g., units or shares of mutual funds, shares of corporations, and real property) at its fair market value (FMV) immediately before their death. If a capital gain arises because of this deemed disposition, that capital gain is reportable on the deceased’s final (terminal) tax return and the taxes owing as a result, if any, would be payable by the estate of the deceased. However, there are provisions that allow taxes to be deferred when the property is transferred to a spouse. For example, if a capital property is transferred to a surviving spouse or common-law partner, subsection 70(6) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) automatically deems the deceased to have disposed of that property and the spouse or common-law partner immediately acquires the same property at the deceased transferor’s adjusted cost base (ACB). This is commonly referred to as the “spousal rollover”. Another potential strategy to manage potential large capital gains taxes at death is life insurance, since the death benefit is typically paid out tax-free.
Without careful planning, the estate value could be substantially reduced by the changes to the capital gains inclusion rate. Furthermore, it would be prudent to ensure there are liquid assets or cash available in the estate to cover the associated tax liabilities.

Non-resident of Canada – Departure tax
Residency in Canada for income tax purposes is a question of fact, which primarily depends on the individual’s residential and social ties in Canada. When an individual becomes a non-resident of Canada, they are deemed to have disposed of and immediately reacquired certain types of property at FMV. The tax incurred because of this deemed disposition and reacquisition is also known as the departure tax. Some examples of properties subject to departure tax include securities inside a non-registered investment portfolio, shares of Canadian private corporations, and real estate situated outside of Canada. Note that there are some properties that are exempted from the departure tax, including: pensions and similar rights (including registered retirement savings plans (RRSPs), registered retirement income funds (RRIFs), and tax-free savings accounts (TFSAs)) and Canadian real property.
The departure tax rules coupled with the increased capital gain inclusion rate above the $250,000 threshold may incur additional tax payable for emigrants. However, there is an option to defer the payment of departure tax on income associated with the deemed disposition upon emigration. By making an election, the individual would pay the tax later, without interest, when the property is disposed of. This election can be done by completing CRA Form T1244, “Election Under Subsection 220(4.5) of the Income Tax Act, to Defer the Payment of Tax on Income Relating to the Deemed Disposition of Property," on or before April 30 of the year following their departure from Canada.

Impact to Entities
Corporations and trusts will also be impacted by the increased inclusion rate as of June 25, 2024. Unlike individuals, corporations and trusts will not have access to the old inclusion rate on the first $250,000 of capital gains: they will be subject to the new 66.67% inclusion rate from the very first dollar.
With the above in mind, there will be options available to shelter corporate and trust capital gains from the new inclusion rate.

For corporations:
The lifetime capital gains exemption (LCGE) can be used to eliminate capital gains taxes on the sale of qualified small business corporation shares (generally, these are shares of a Canadian-controlled private corporation that carries on an active business). The LCGE is also available on the sale of qualified farm or fishing property. The current lifetime limit for the LCGE is $1,016,836. Budget 2024 proposed to increase that limit to $1,250,000 starting on June 25, 2024, so certain business owners will be able to reduce or eliminate their exposure to the new inclusion rate if they are able to make use of the increased LCGE limit.

For trusts:
Budget 2024 suggests that capital gains allocated by a trust to its beneficiaries on or after June 25, 2024, will be included in the beneficiaries’ income at the old 50% rate up to the beneficiaries’ first $250,000 of capital gains for the year. While the specifics are not yet available, this opportunity will likely create further planning considerations surrounding the allocation of capital gains from a trust to its beneficiaries to reduce taxes. Capital gains can generally be allocated to a beneficiary for tax purposes when they are actually paid to the beneficiary, or when they are payable to a beneficiary (i.e., the beneficiary hasn’t received it, but has a right to demand payment of the capital gain). The option of making income paid (or payable) to its beneficiaries and allocating such income to be taxed in their hands will largely depend on the trust terms.

Historical reference: capital gains inclusion rate
Those of us around long enough, understand that this recent change was not the only time the capital gains inclusion rate has deviated from the 50% inclusion rate. Over the years, capital gains tax rate has ranged from nil to as high as 75% as indicated in the table below. In fact, the first instance of capital gain tax was introduced in 1972!

Excluding the 2024 tax year, we have given a rough estimate on the percentage of time spent at each of the various capital gains inclusion rates over the last 42 years. As we can see, for most of the time, the capital gains inclusion rate has remained at the 50 % inclusion rate. In fact, for the last 23 consecutive years, the inclusion rate has remained untouched with the last change being back in tax year 2000 with various changes introduced that year.

Tax impact by province/jurisdiction
With the increase in the capital gains inclusion rate, we want to demonstrate the potential tax impact of those changes across jurisdictions in Canada. The table below shows the 2024 marginal tax rate for the highest individual income earners in each jurisdiction at both the 50% and 66.67% capital gains inclusion rate, respectively. The average difference is an increase in taxes payable by 8.45%.

Next, we look at the additional taxes payable because of the inclusion increase, assuming varying capital gains income levels. Of course, this assumes that the capital gains do not otherwise benefit from a reduced inclusion rate or an outright exemption such as eligible in-kind donations of securities to registered charities, or shares that qualify for the lifetime capital gains exemption, to name a few.

Understanding the tax implications of investing is an essential part of financial planning and reinforces the importance of working with a knowledgeable financial advisor to understand the long-term impact of these changes as it applies to personal situations. No doubt, tax rates influence capital allocation decisions. Canadians who take more inherent risk with their capital have traditionally been afforded preferred taxation rates promoting innovation through capital investment, something the government can do with good tax policy to encourage business growth and spur economic expansion. This is evident in the breakdown of the tax rates depending on the characterization of the income as noted in the table below.

Clearly the tax rates reflect the added capital risk investors and business owners take. We can clearly see the preferred taxation rates afforded on small business income and at the general corporate tax rates on income over the small business limit, compared to the tax rate on interest income or that of employment income. That tax-preference also extends to investors of “riskier” allocations of capital in marketable securities such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and exchange traded funds, to name a few. The tax rates of less-risky investments (such as money market instruments) do not benefit from the capital gains tax-preferred inclusion rates. With the latest move, there is not much difference in earning eligible dividend income from Canadian resident corporations and from dispositions resulting in capital gains.
Some pundits have declared the move as a disincentive to capital and business investment and may encourage businesses to move into more tax-favoured jurisdictions outside Canada. The Federal government has promoted the change as impacting a very small overall percentage of investors, estimated at 0.13% of Canadian individuals and 12.6% of corporations. Further, the move has been argued by the Liberals as necessary to work towards “intergenerational fairness”.

How to prepare for the changes?
For now, advisors may want to start educating their clients about the basics of the changes, which starts with comparing the current inclusion rates with the new inclusion rates.
Individual investors with large unrealized capital gains will also likely ask if they should crystallize their capital gains before June 25th to save money on taxes in the long run. The assumption that selling now will result in overall savings will not be correct in all cases, however. There is an opportunity cost to paying taxes upfront, rather than deferring those taxes to a later year.
For example, let’s assume an Ontario client owns a $2.5 million non-registered equity portfolio with $2,000,000 in unrealized capital gains. They had no intention of selling those investments for another 5 yeas, but in light of the upcoming changes, they are considering selling immediately, paying the capital gains taxes now, then reinvesting the net amount after taxes back into those same investments for the 5-year investment period. They are currently in the top marginal tax bracket in Ontario (53.53%) and expect to continue to be in 5 years’ time. The assumed average rate of return on their investments is 6% annually over the next 5 years.

As can be seen in this example, at 6% annual compound growth rate, the option to realize much of the capital gains now resulted in a higher overall return in the amount of $61,992.66 over the 5-year period due to the lower inclusion rate. Alternatively stated, if the investor does not crystallize the gains today, the equivalent rate of return needed to have the exact net after tax amount at the end of the 5-year period (the “breakeven return”) would be a 6.60% compound annual return. While this certainly will not be true in all cases, this is the sort of analysis that will have to be conducted when assessing whether it makes sense to realize capital gains in 2024. The rate of return on investment and the investment horizon, among other things, are important determining factors.

Although we used securities investment in our example, a similar analysis can be done for other kinds of property held, such as a vacation property that is unlikely to benefit from the principal residence exemption. In addition, taxes often take a back seat to other planning considerations. These conversations should be had with the primary goals of the client in mind, which may supersede tax planning considerations.

For corporate investors, it will be important to emphasize the impact the capital gains inclusion increase will have on small business owners. As a refresher, a corporation is a separate legal entity from the shareholders who own it and is subject to tax on the income it generates. Income is first taxed within the corporation before it can be passed to the shareholders in the form of dividends out of its retained earnings. To avoid double tax on income that passes through a corporation to shareholders (and to prevent any unintended tax advantages), a dividend gross-up and tax credit model is applied at the individual level, along with a tax refund mechanism to the corporation on passive investment income. This is designed to integrate the tax system between the two entities: individual and corporation. Ideally, perfect integration is achieved when after-tax income is equal, whether it is earned individually or through a corporation. In reality, depending on the province and type of income earned, there could be a tax cost in earning passive investment income through a corporation, including earning passive investment capital gains income. Currently there is a tax cost of earning capital gains income through a corporation across all Canadian provinces/jurisdictions.

The latest change further increases the cost of earning passive investment income inside a corporation, though we do not yet know what changes will be made to the corporate tax refund mechanisms. As noted in the table below, the increase averages approximately 8.43% and closely equates the rate on eligible dividends. This rate reflects the initial tax rate on passive investment income earned within an active business.

For many small businesses, and perhaps to long-term individual investors, this increase in the tax rate will feel unfair as the accumulation of earning a pool of assets for retirement is often done within their small business corporation, and in many cases the sole source of retirement funds.
If an immediate crystallization of accumulated capital gains is not desired, what should investors consider in the longer run? Although many details of the new proposed rules are yet to be clarified, here are some general considerations.
For individuals, it may be helpful to plan the timing of future dispositions to stay below the annual $250,000 threshold. Also, it may seem obvious but maximizing investments within registered plans, including the new first home savings plan (FHSA) where eligible, can reduce exposure to future capital gains tax. Moreover, estate planning becomes even more important as the potential tax payable on the deemed disposition of capital property at death rises. On that front, strategies to reduce capital gains at death could be considered, such as inter-vivos gifting, charitable donation, spousal rollover, and acquiring life insurance to provide sufficient liquidity to the estate.
For business owners, some strategies to limit future capital gain exposure may include contributing to an individual pension plan (IPP), conducting an estate freeze to pass on future capital gains to succession owners, and ensuring the small business shares qualify for the LCGE. The suitable strategies are highly dependent on the business needs and personal situation of the business owner.

Acting too soon or not fast enough?
Finally, there is what many in the industry have been calling a “change of law” risk. That is, within the next year and a half, a federal election is scheduled, and this capital gains inclusion tax policy will surely be a primary election issue. As part of that election platform, parties may promise to repeal it outright or alter its scope and application. Consider also that any changes in the capital gains inclusion rate could be retroactive or simply not apply in all cases.

The information provided is general in nature and may not be relied upon nor considered to be the rendering of tax, legal, accounting or professional advice. Invesco Canada is not providing advice. Readers should consult with their own accountants, lawyers and/or other professionals for advice on their specific circumstances before taking any action. The information contained herein is from sources believed to be reliable, but accuracy cannot be guaranteed. Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses may all be associated with mutual fund investments. Mutual funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. Please read the simplified prospectus before investing. Copies are available from your advisor or from Invesco Canada Ltd

Date posted: May 23, 2024
International Women’s Day
Reflecting on inclusion in our industry

International Women’s Day is a great opportunity to pause and think about how we support the women clients we serve. In wealth management, inclusion is not just a theme for one day a year — it plays a critical role in building stronger relationships and long‑term business growth.

Our recent Master Class – From Insight to Inclusion: Engaging Women Investors with Confidence –reinforced this.

The 60-minute session, featuring Susan Silma, Client Experience Transformation Leader and industry speaker and columnist, looked at why many women still feel under‑served in our industry and what advisors can do to create a more engaging and supportive experience.

Here are a few key takeaways from the conversation:

•  Inclusion strengthens your practice. When women feel heard and understood, trust grows —and so does loyalty.

•  Start with better conversations. Susan shared ways to turn research and insights into everyday discussions that feel relevant and meaningful to women.

•  Consistency builds confidence. A clear, repeatable process for prospecting, onboarding and reviewing plans with women clients helps ensure they feel included from day one.

Did you know: 82% of advisors who attended the live Master Class identified the need to add more women clients to their business.

As we celebrate International Women’s Day, it is a good reminder that creating a space where women feel comfortable, informed and valued benefits everyone — and positions your practice for long‑term success.

If you missed the session — or would like to revisit the ideas — the Master Class recording is now available on demand. On behalf of everyone at Equitable, Happy International Women’s Day, Canada!

Date posted: Thursday, March 5, 2026
Equimax® Participating Whole Life – A whole life solution for everyone Recently, we made some exciting changes for Equimax Estate Builder^® and Equimax Wealth Accumulator^®.

These enhancements, launched in February, make Equimax the preferred solution for clients and their families. In particular, buying a whole life solution for children gives them a head start for tomorrow. Life insurance on a child gives them:
- Permanent insurance at children’s rates
- A stable tax-advantaged investment option
- A boost in financial planning

Watch our new Equimax for Children video to learn more. View on Vimeo or YouTube.

Plus, visit our Equimax product page on EquiNet^®, then click on the Marketing Materials tab for the latest Equimax marketing materials.

Need more information? Please contact your local wholesaler.

_{^® denotes trademarks of The Equitable Life Insurance Company of Canada.}
Request standard in-force illustrations with the click of a button
At Equitable^®, we are making continuous improvements to our advisor and client services. We are excited to share an upcoming enhancement.

What’s new?

Beginning on August 15, 2024 , you and your clients will be able to request standard, current in-force illustrations—at any time—for your clients’ whole life and universal life policies with the click of a button.

Currently, standard in-force illustrations for whole life and universal life policies are autogenerated only on policy anniversaries. These in-force illustrations will no longer be autogenerated after August 15, 2024.

Please note: For specialized illustrations—such as those with segregated funds, D2000/D2000+ policies, policies where the insured’s age falls outside existing illustration parameters, or policies that were originally from Clarica—you will still need to use the in-force illustration request form for whole life or universal life policies.

How do I access this?

You can request an in-force illustration by logging into EquiNet^® and going to the Policy Details page via Policy Inquiry. Under the Coverage tab, you will now see a button called Inforce Illustration Request. Click the button to request the illustration. Learn more about how to access here.
EZcomplete Non-Face-to-Face enhancement

An EZ way to conduct your out-of-town business

You asked for it, we built it: a solution for your non face-to-face business. EZcomplete^® allows you to conduct your non face-to-face business easily and quickly with your clients providing their signature remotely on their own device.

How does it work?

EZcomplete walks you through the electronic signature process. EZcomplete allows your clients to sign remotely using their own device for non-face-to-face applications. You only need to enter their email address and provide them with a secret passcode to securely access the documents to review and sign.

Just another reason to do business with Equitable Life^®

EZcomplete makes it easy to process your non-face-to-face applications and do business with Equitable Life.

Login to EquiNet® and click on the EZcomplete icon on the menu bar

^® denotes a trademark of The Equitable Life Insurance Company of Canada.
We hear you. Equitable Life was ranked #1 for overall segregated funds service performance*. Each year, Life Ops Consulting Group conducts an independent survey of financial advisors to find out
how satisfied advisors are with the service they receive from life insurance companies in Canada. Since 2015, Equitable Life^® has received top marks in overall segregated funds service performance, new business processing, fund/policy statements and post-sales service.

Equitable Life was ranked #1 for overall segregated funds service performance^*

We would like to take this opportunity to thank each of you that took the time to participate in this survey. We are proud of the service that we provide and are committed to listening to what advisors want and need to run their business. We work hard to earn your trust and will do what it takes to keep it.

Thank you.

* Life Ops Consulting Group Distribution Service Satisfaction Survey 2019
® denotes a registered trademark of The Equitable Life Insurance Company of Canada.
What’s new in EZtransact We’re excited to introduce the latest enhancement for EZtransact™, our digital self-serve tool. EZtransact now allows you to help clients:

• Easily make segregated fund withdrawals. This functionality is available for all account types, and for the First Home Savings Account, it also eliminates the need to submit additional CRA paper forms.

• Transfer from one fund to another fund digitally, within the same policy and same sales charge options.

These enhancements make it easier than ever to do business with Equitable^®. They will help reduce your time spent on paperwork, allowing to you focus on more value-add time and services for clients.

Check out EZtransact. Stay tuned for more exciting digital enhancements coming soon!

If you have any questions, please contact your Director, Investment Sales. 

Date posted: July 11, 2024
Exciting update: External transfer now available on EZtransact! We are thrilled to announce a new feature that will make your work easier and more efficient.

What’s new this quarter?
The External Transfer function was introduced to Equitable’s EZtransact^® on May 14.

Benefits of this enhancement:
This feature is part of our strategic plan to help make transactions smoother for you. It was already available in EZcomplete^®, and now it’s on EZtransact too. This means you won’t have to search for information about the relinquishing institution anymore. You can submit requests with ease.

External Transfer Functionality:

• You can digitally request a transfer of funds from other institutions to Equitable.
• Information about the relinquishing institution will be available on EZtransact, so you don’t have to search for it.
• Both full and partial transfer requests are available.
• It’s available for registration types that don’t need the RC720/RC721 form and for individual accounts.
If you have any questions, reach out to your Director, Investment Sales.

When we work together, success is mutual.

Date posted: July 3, 2025
New and improved online calculators
Individual Wealth is excited to announce the launch of eight refreshed and enhanced online calculators! These tools are designed to help advisors and clients make more informed and accurate financial decisions.

Why the change?
We have switched vendors to Ativa Interactive, a Canadian company with 30 years of experience in financial services. Their tools are more reliable and easier to use, offering a better advisor and client experience. Ativa Interactive has a robust portfolio of calculators available, giving us the opportunity to expand our offerings in future.

What’s available?
We kept the calculators you use most and added two new ones based on your feedback.

Popular calculators being refreshed:
•   Will the money last calculator
•   Savings Growth Calculator
•   TFSA vs taxable investment calculator
•   Retirement Projection Calculator
•   Become a millionaire calculator
•   RRIF Payment Calculator

New additions:
•   GIA laddering calculator
•   First home savings account calculator
These calculators are live and ready to support client conversations.

Questions?
If you have any questions or need support, please reach out to your Director, Investment Sales.

Date posted: August 28, 2025