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Building on tax incentives first introduced in 1997, the Federal Government introduced the complete elimination of tax payable on gifts of public securities on May 2, 2006. This giving option is now even more attractive for donors who may have appreciated stock and want to make a donation from savings rather than cash flow.
Publicly listed securities are all securities listed on Canadian and major international exchanges. The donation must be made "in-kind" to qualify for the capital gains incentive; the security itself must be transferred to the ALS Society of Ontario, not the cash proceeds from the sale.
If you have appreciated assets that you wish to donate "in-kind," you will receive two kinds of tax savings:
- a tax credit (41% to 48% depending on the province you live in)
- no capital gains paid on the disposition of the stock
For donors still holding "demutualized" shares, the recent budget measure presents a unique opportunity as these shares have a zero cost base. "Demutualization" was part of the process some insurance companies undertook to convert ownership by policyholders to ownership by shareholders. Policyholders were offered shares, cash or a combination of both.