Gail Vaz-Oxlade's Guide To:

Divorce and Taxes

Financially Smart Divorce


For more than 25 years you have witnessed Gail Vaz-Oxlade's trademark straight-up money wisdom, both on Radio and Television, most notably as host of TVs Till Debt Do Us Part, Princess and Money Moron. Gail is a best-selling Canadian financial author.

Gail Vaz-Oxlade's Guide To

Divorce and Taxes

Financially Smart Divorce

DIVORCE AND TAXES

Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)

During and following a divorce,
your tax situation changes significantly.
Here are the most commonly asked questions.

Divorce is tough, especially when it comes to money. Let’s break down a common issue: splitting assets. Imagine you and your spouse have $100,000 in a bank account and another $100,000 in an RRSP. You decide to split it down the middle – you take the RRSP, and your spouse takes the cash. Sounds fair, right? Not really.

Your spouse walks away with $100,000 in hand, no taxes. But the $100,000 RRSP you took comes with a tax hit upon withdrawal. If there’s a 20% tax, you actually get $80,000. That’s a $20,000 difference.

To make things fair, you need an extra $10,000 from the cash. So, instead of just taking the RRSP, you get $10,000 from the bank account too. Now, both of you end up with $90,000.

The lesson? Divorce isn’t just about splitting things evenly – taxes matter too. Get some help:

  1. Talk to a Money Pro:

    • A divorce money expert, like a certified divorce financial analyst, can guide you on how different assets are taxed.
  2. Check Asset Values:

    • Make sure you know exactly what each thing is worth, including any future taxes.
  3. Think Long-Term:

    • Look ahead. Consider how your choices now might affect your money down the road.
  4. Get Legal Advice:

    • Work with a divorce team that is financially savvy. They can make sure your agreement covers the tax stuff and is fair.
  5. Talk to Your Ex:

    • Keep talking to your ex-spouse. Understanding the money side together can make things smoother.

Divorce is a mix of emotions and money puzzles. Getting experts involved helps you solve those puzzles and make smart choices for your wallet.

Divorce and Taxes: When does Canada Revenue Agency consider you separated?

Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) considers you separated for tax purposes,  ONLY when you live in separate locations and apart from your spouse or common‑law partner for more than 90 days or more. This is different from the Family Law Act which does not require you to be living in different homes to be considered as “separated.”

Living apart for less than 90 days is not considered a separation by CRA for the purpose of Child and Family Benefits when it comes to divorce and taxes. Once you have been living apart for 90 days, the effective day of your separated status, for tax purposes, is the day you started living separate and apart.

Can we live in the same house and be considered separated?

Even though it is legally possible to be “separated” and still living in the same house CRA, will not consider a separation to have occurred if you continue to live together in the same household. CRA has different standards when it comes to divorce and taxes, as compared to the legal system.

An exception to this may occur when separate living quarters are self‑contained in the same household. However, if you reside in the same household and continue to share parenting and financial responsibilities, CRA will not consider a separation to have occurred for the purpose of dealing with the Canada Child Tax Benefit or Goods and Services Tax/Harmonized Sales Tax (GST/HST).

Family Mediation in Smooth Rock Ontario

The Unofficial Rules of Divorce:

  1. Divorce gets prickly, even in the most amicable situation
  2. It’s often less about the legalities and more about the money
  3. People make expensive mistakes because they don’t make a plan
  4. Before you do anything, understand your rights, obligations & complexities
Family Mediation in Smooth Rock Ontario

The Unofficial Rules of Divorce:

  1. Divorce gets prickly, even in the most amicable situation
  2. It’s often less about the legalities and more about the money
  3. People make expensive mistakes because they don’t make a plan
  4. Before you do anything, understand your rights, obligations & complexities

Divorce and Taxes: How to Transfer Assets?

When you and your spouse divide up your real estate, savings, investments and pensions, this is called the division of assets.  Paying your spouse their half of the assets is called an equalization payment and an asset transfer.

Am I Taxed on Asset Transfers?

Typically cash for equalization payments are not taxed during divorce because it is considered as money that you have already paid tax on. Cash is king, as they say.  But when you transfer other a possessions such as a car or investments for example, they would normally be taxed at the difference between the current market value and the what you initially paid for them.

However, during a divorce asset transfer there is a strategic financial option that allow you do use what’s called an automatic rollover provision that will delay any taxation on the transfer. Keep in mind, this doesn’t mean you will never be taxed on that asset, it simply means that a transfer done as part of the separation agreement will be temporarily exempt for now

The transfer of assets is probably one of the biggest reasons that you want to involve a financial professional who works specifically with divorce.  Find out more about a certified divorce financial analyst.

Divorce and Taxes in Ontario

Divorce and Taxes: Support

Am I Taxed on Child Support?

Child Support payments are not taxed… not taxed as income for the one who receives it nor tax deductible on the one who pays it. However this does not mean that there are not savvy financial situations that can be delved for your specific situations. 

Involving a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (“CDFA”) with your personal situation, means that they can check for deductions or tax credits related to Special and Extraordinary Child Care expenses.

Am I Taxed on Spousal Support?

Yes. When it comes to paying Spousal Support, there are tax implications everywhere for everyone.  Spousal Support also comes with lots of wiggle room to be able to create savvy financial solutions. There are options like periodic spousal support payments (monthly) and a lump sum payment, or even options in between.

Periodic (i.e. monthly) payments are taxed as extra income for the recipient and are a deduction for the one who pays.  Now think about this… this means that depending on how much you pay or receive, you might be bumped into a different tax bracket. 

At the same time, lump sum payments are not taxable or deductible if and only if the support payments are made according to a properly prepared separation agreement. Again the importance of a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst who can help you to maximize and take advantage of the tax implications of support  payments. 

Lastly beyond Taxes never forget that the amount of support paid or received can have detrimental affects on that person’s ability to qualify for a mortgage. For more information, please see Gail’s Guide to Spousal Support.

Is Divorce Taxed?

When you divorce, there are real consequences attached to the transfer of assets between you and your Ex.

NEVER FORGET that not all assets are created equally, and you need to be aware of how Canada Revenue Agency (“CRA”) treats each of them if you want the most financially savvy separation agreement:

Do I have to pay Land Transfer Tax?

Land transfer tax is payable on every single transfer of land in Ontario, with very limited exceptions.

Fortunately, one of those exceptions is the transfer of the home between former spouses. This exception only exists when the transfer is done according to a properly prepared Separation Agreement.

If for no reason have your separation agreement done properly to avoid the land transfer tax.

Don’t forget to designate your new home as your principal residence, as both spouses can now have a principal resident since they are two distinct family units.

Will I be TAXED on RRSPs?

You want to be really careful as to how and when you transfer any RRSP’s.

RRSP's can be transferred from one spouse to the other without any tax consequences, again as long as they are transferred as part of a properly prepared separation agreement and they stay with the recipient.

To avoid being nailed with taxes, don’t forget to sign and file the required T2220 form with CRA along with a copy of your written Separation Agreement.

How will marital status affect my taxes?

If your marital status changes, be sure to let the Canada Revenue Agency know, as this may change the way your divorce and taxes are handled. For example, an update in your marital status may affect the amount of UCCB (Canada Child Benefit) and/or GST/HST credit to which you are entitled.

If you have registered with their “My Account” service, you can view the marital information CRA has on file for you and you can change your information online. If you are not registered online, inform CRA of your new status and the date of the change in a letter or by completing form RC65, Marital Status Change.

How is Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB) dealt with in a Divorce?

If you or your new spouse or common-law partner have children who are residing with you, CRA will move all the children to the female parent’s account.

If you are married or living common-law with a person of the same-sex, one of you will receive the UCCB for all the children. To continue receiving the UCCB, you and your spouse or common-law partner have to file a tax return every year, even if you have no income to report.

How is the GST/HST Credit dealt with in Divorce?

If you did not apply for the GST/HST credit on your tax return and your status is now separated, widowed, or divorced, you can apply now by writing a letter to your tax centre. Once they review your request, they will send you a GST/HST credit notice advising you of the amount of your GST/HST credit.

Family Mediation with a Financial Twist
“For most, divorce is less about legalities and more about finances, tax implications and making smart money decisions. This is why we created The Common Sense Divorce." – Gail Vaz-Oxlade
Make Smart
Money Decisions
I'm not sure what to do?
I've never managed the money...
How do I plan for MY future?
Bag Lady Syndrome
(syn) 'Street Guy Syndrome'
NOUN - The fear that one will become financially destitute after a divorce.
Previous slide
Next slide
Family Mediation with a Financial Twist
“For most, divorce is less about legalities and more about finances, tax implications and making smart money decisions."
– Gail Vaz-Oxlade
Make Smart
Money Decisions
I'm not sure what to do?
I've never managed the money...
How do I plan for MY future?
Bag Lady Syndrome
(syn) 'Street Guy Syndrome'
NOUN - The fear that one will become financially destitute after a divorce.
Previous slide
Next slide

Working Income Tax Benefit (WITB) Advance Payments:

If your marital status has changed, you will need to file a new Working Income Tax Benefit (WITB) Advance Payment application. If you do not file a new WITB Advance Payment application, your WITB advance payments will be stopped until a new application is received. The application deadline date is August 31.

Direct Deposit:

If you receive your benefits by Direct Deposit, please inform CRA if your information needs to be modified. This is to prevent benefits from being deposited into the wrong bank account. If you are not on Direct Deposit, you may want to consider registering.

CREATING A NEW FUTURE?
Choose the RIGHT solution!

Online Mediation for Family Law

Do you want to understand how Online Mediation can work for you?  Book a free JOINT TELEPHONE CONSULT for you and your Spouse.  We will gladly explain the entire process and its benefits.

Online Mediation for Family Law

CREATING A NEW FUTURE?
Choose the RIGHT solution!

Do you want to understand how Online Mediation can work for you?  Book a free JOINT TELEPHONE CONSULT for you and your Spouse.  We will gladly explain the entire process and its benefits.