Stock donations are a great way to pay your UJA pledge. Donate your appreciated stocks and mutual funds to save.
Recommendations from tax expert Jamie Golombek:
If you’ve got any appreciated publicly traded stock or mutual funds in your non-registered portfolio, it’s a slam dunk to consider donating them “in-kind” to UJA of Greater Toronto. After all, not only will you get a tax receipt equal to the fair market value of the shares or funds being donated, but under a special government incentive rule to encourage charitable giving, you will also avoid paying any taxes whatsoever on the accrued capital gain up to the date of donation.
Still want to own that stock or fund in hopes that it will soar even higher? No problem - use the cash you were going to use for your charitable gift to purchase the stock or mutual fund you just donated to UJA. By doing so, your tax cost or Adjusted Cost Base (ACB) will be the current fair market value paid, reducing your potential capital gains tax exposure when you ultimately do sell the security.
The Benefits Are Clear: If you SELL a security, you pay tax on 50% of the capital gain. However, when you DONATE a gift of securities to UJA, the taxable capital gain is completely eliminated. And you receive a tax receipt for the full market value of the security in the amount of the closing trading price on the day UJA receives the security. This multiplies the impact of the tax benefit of your charitable giving.
| Sell Security and Give Cash | Donate Security 'in-kind' | |
|---|---|---|
| Market Value of Security | $10,000 | $10,000 |
| Cost Base | $5,000 | $5,000 |
| Capital Gain | $5,000 | $5,000 |
| Taxable Capital Gain | $2,500 | $- |
| Tax Due on Taxable Gain at 53% 1 | $1,338 | $- |
| Tax Receipt for Gift | $10,000 | $10,000 |
| Value of Tax Credit at 50% 2 | $5,041 | $5,041 |
| Net After-Tax Cost of the Gift 3 | $6,297 | $4,959 |
1 Top marginal federal and Ontario tax rate applicable to taxable income in excess of $221,708 for 2022.
2 Top marginal federal and Ontario donation tax credit rate applicable to aggregate charitable donations in excess of $200 for the 2022 calendar year. This rate only applies if the Ontario donor's taxable income is in excess of $221,708 for 2022.
3 The tax savings arising from charitable donations will vary from donor to donor and depends on the donation amount, the donor's province or territory of residence, and the donor's taxable income.
Frequently Asked Questions
Let’s say you purchased common shares in ‘X’ Company for a cost of $5,000 and the current market value of the shares has increased to $10,000, you would have a capital gain of $5,000. If you sell these shares, and donate the cash, you would need to pay tax on the capital gain. Instead, by donating the shares, you receive a tax receipt for the $10,000 and pay zero capital gains tax. As a result, your net after-tax cost of the gift is $4,959 which is $1,338 less than if you had sold the shares and donated the proceeds. Thus, donating gifts of securities is more tax efficient.
Your receipt will be valued based on the closing price on the day when the shares are legally transferred to UJA’s brokerage account. Please note: according to Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) guidelines, the value of your donation for tax receipt purposes will be determined by the closing value of the shares donated on the day that your donation is received into our account.
Generally, most securities take a few days to transfer once you’ve submitted the Letter of Authorization to your financial advisor. Some securities, however, can take a few weeks. (e.g. mutual funds).
Claim charitable donations up to 75 per cent of your net income. A five year carry forward on any unused donation amount is permitted.
Your donation must be securities that are traded on a public market in Canada or the United States. This includes stocks, mutual funds and REITs.
The amount credited to your pledge will be based on the tax receipt value of your donation.
You will receive your tax receipt by mail after your securities have been received and sold.
Contact Information
The UJA/Jewish Foundation Donor Services Department can help guide you through the process and provide any necessary information. Please contact our Director, Donor Relations, Lisa Levstein at llevstein@ujafed.org or 416.631.5830 if you require any assistance.
Jamie Golombek is Managing Director, Tax & Estate Planning, with CIBC Private Wealth in Toronto. Mr. Golombek also writes the weekly column “Tax Expert” in the National Post and is a regular personal finance guest on BNN and the CBC.
This communication is intended to provide general information only. It should not be construed as, or relied upon for, specific investment, tax or legal advice nor does it constitute an offer, solicitation or recommendation to buy, sell or hold any securities. Anyone wishing to act on the information herein should consult with his or her professional advisor.