About the Course
Introduction
This CLE/CPE course will provide estate planners with a comprehensive guide to estate planning tax challenges and opportunities for clients who have a tax presence in both the United States and Canada. The panel will discuss the U.S. tax law and treaty provisions that govern tax and fiduciary rules in both Canada and the United States. The webinar will focus on the U.S. tax and other consequences for Canadian clients with a U.S. tax presence and U.S. taxpayers with Canadian-based pensions and other assets as well as the basics of cross-border estate law.
Description
The long Canada-U.S. border and extensive ties between the two countries provide a significant amount of economic migration for citizens of both countries. Many U.S. citizens and permanent residents have property interests in Canada and vice versa. Estate planning counsel and advisers must be able to identify the tax and wealth transfer planning rules and opportunities specific to U.S. and Canadian citizens with assets and presence in both countries.
The differences between U.S. and Canadian estate and wealth transfer rules present several challenges. Canada does not impose an estate tax. However, Canadian law provides for a "deemed disposition" of all capital assets on the death of a taxpayer. This disposition triggers a tax on all unrecognized gains and losses of Canadian-sourced assets.
While the U.S.-Canada tax treaty allows for reciprocal credits for U.S. estate tax and Canadian taxes, estate planners must reconcile the differences between the two countries' tax regimes and proactively minimize the tax impact of wealth transfers.
To make matters more complex, each province and state has its own set of estate and incapacity rules. The interaction of each set of rules needs to be navigated to ensure that the client’s succession plans are respected.
Listen as our expert panel provides guidance on how to plan the estates of clients with U.S. and Canadian tax presence, including interests in business entities, real estate, and financial accounts. The panel will cover the legal and tax considerations when planning for the disposition of each type of asset.
Presented By
As a cross-border tax lawyer, Mr. Reed assists clients with tax problems that span the US/Canada border with a particular emphasis on US taxation for Canadian corporations, trusts, and individuals. He has written widely on the topic of cross-border taxation and is the co-author (with Dick Pound of Stikeman Elliot) of A Tax Guide for American Citizens in Canada, technical articles on the U.S. tax treatment of the Tax Free Savings Account and Canadian mutual funds, and a series of columns for the National Post. One of this articles was given a technical award by the Canadian Tax Foundation. He is regularly invited to speak on cross-border tax issues.
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This 90-minute webinar is eligible in most states for 1.5 CLE credits.
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CPE credit is not available on recordings.
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BARBRI is a NASBA CPE sponsor and this 90-minute webinar is accredited for 1.5 CPE credits.
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Date + Time
- event
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
- schedule
1:00 p.m. ET./10:00 a.m. PT
I. Planning a cross-border estate from an estate law perspective
II. U.S. estate tax regime
III. Canadian "deemed disposition" rules
IV. Tax treaty credit provisions
V. U.S. and Canadian tax treatment of trusts
VI. Filing and reporting deadlines and timelines to consider
The panel will review these and other essential issues:
- When is it appropriate for clients to have separate estate plan documents specific to the U.S. and Canada?
- How does the "deemed disposition" rule work to create a recognition event upon death or transfer of assets deemed to be Canadian-sourced?
- What are the tax treaty provisions to ameliorate dual taxation issues in estates and post-mortem tax events?
- How to avoid inadvertent gift tax triggering events on spousal transfers
- Options for transferring estate assets outside of an estate in Canada
Learning Objectives
After completing this course, you will be able to:
- Ascertain how the "deemed disposition" rule works to create a recognition event upon death or transfer of assets deemed to be Canadian-sourced
- Understand key tax treaty provisions to ameliorate dual taxation issues in estates and post-mortem tax events
- Ascertain how to avoid inadvertent gift tax triggering events on spousal transfers
- Recognize options for transferring estate assets outside of an estate in Canada
- Field of Study: Taxes
- Level of Knowledge: Intermediate
- Advance Preparation: None
- Teaching Method: Seminar/Lecture
- Delivery Method: Group-Internet (via computer)
- Attendance Monitoring Method: Attendance is monitored electronically via a participant's PIN and through a series of attendance verification prompts displayed throughout the program
- Prerequisite:
Three years+ business or public firm experience at mid-level within the organization, completing complex tax returns and planning documents, supervising other accountants. Specific knowledge of concepts regarding taxation of foreign investments held by U.S. taxpayers; familiarity with tax treaty provisions.
BARBRI, Inc. is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of Accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE Credits. Complaints regarding registered sponsons may be submitted to NASBA through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org.
BARBRI CE webinars-powered by Barbri-are backed by our 100% unconditional money-back guarantee: If you are not satisfied with any of our products, simply let us know and get a full refund. Contact us at 1-800-926-7926 .
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