Does Canada tax capital gains at death?
Yes, indirectly. Canada has no estate or inheritance tax, but the Income Tax Act deems the deceased to have sold all capital property at fair market value immediately before death. The accrued capital gain is reported on the final (terminal) tax return, and tax is paid at the deceased's marginal rate.
What is the capital gains inclusion rate?
Only a portion of a capital gain is taxable. The long-standing inclusion rate is 50%, meaning half the gain is added to income and taxed at your marginal rate. Proposed changes to raise the rate above $250,000 of annual gains were not implemented, so 50% remains the working assumption — confirm the current rule.
Is the principal residence exempt at death?
Yes. A property that qualified as your principal residence for all the years you owned it is exempt from capital gains tax, including at death. A cottage or rental property can only shelter gains for years it was designated the principal residence, so a second property usually generates taxable gains.
What is the spousal rollover?
When capital property passes to a surviving spouse or a qualifying spousal trust, it transfers at the deceased's adjusted cost base rather than fair market value. This defers the deemed disposition and the resulting tax until the surviving spouse later sells the asset or dies.