Dates and location
Pricing
Hours
Dates and location
Pricing
Hours
Description
Trust law originated thousands of years ago when ancient monarchs granted their land to previous owners in their absence. Fast-forwarding to the current era, this course provides accountants who prepare trust returns, who advise clients with trust structures or who are considering trust structures with a functional knowledge of the applicable tax rules and the ability to issue-spot potential problems that may require specialist assistance. Participants will develop better knowledge of the rights and duties of settlors, trustees and beneficiaries. The inter vivos and testamentary trust context will both be discussed.
This course provides an overview of trust relationships, how to complete basic returns for trusts and their beneficiaries, and how to identify and communicate basic tax planning benefits and opportunities that involve family trusts. This course reviews the basic tenants of trust law, the provisions of the Income Tax Act, case law and CRA administrative positions that are fundamental to the taxation of trusts.
Topics Include:
- Recognizing the need for a trust structure
- Overview of trust law
- Design of a trust
- Types of trusts (may need to add a bit more in depth analysis on Henson trusts and QDT)
- Taxation of trusts
- Taxation of beneficiaries
- Trusts and estates
- Planning opportunities (may need to discuss transfers of RRSP into RDSP on a rollover basis to the next generation and the limitations of it
- Administration
NOTE: This course description has been revised and reflects updates for 2025. If you have any questions, please contact pdevents@cpaontario.ca.
Schedule
- October 6, 2025, 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
- October 7, 2025, 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Key Takeaways
By the end of this course, participants should be able to:
- Describe the income tax treatment of trusts and their beneficiaries.
- Identify potential tax risks or tax issues associated with trust structures.
- Analyze whether clients would benefit from a trust structure.
Who Will Benefit
Practitioners who wish to gain an understanding of trust taxation, or wish to refresh their knowledge and stay abreast of current issues to better advise their clients.
Prerequisite(s)
Participants should have a working knowledge of the income tax rules applicable to individuals and corporations.
How to Access the Course
This course is a live webinar. You must attend the live course to receive verifiable CPD hours. We recommend you join five minutes prior to the scheduled starting time. To get the full experience of this interactive course, use a computer that has video and microphone capabilities.
Electronic material can be accessed one week prior to the course and should be downloaded in advance.
Registration, cancellation, withdrawal and all other CPA Ontario PD policies can be found here.
Speaker(s)
Tricia MacPherson is a Senior Tax Manager at Welch LLP where she specializes in tax compliance matters for individuals, corporations and trusts as well as estate planning and corporate structuring for owner-managers and private corporations. Tricia has been serving small and medium-sized businesses in public practice for 20 years and specializing in tax for over 6 years. Tricia has completed the CICA In-Depth Tax Program, Parts I, II and III and is a member of the Canadian Tax Foundation.