Managing tax in a “tenancy in common” situation

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Q. I am a co-owner of a cottage in Ontario. The other co-owner would like to buy out my 50% share of the cottage as tenant in common. Do I have to claim capital gains if the cottage isn’t being sold? –Claudia A. Real estate is commonly owned as joint tenants, with rights of survivorship by spouses. However, tenancy in common is another ownership option that can be suitable for certain situations. As an example, when siblings, friends or common-law spouses own real estate, they may not want their share to go to the survivor if they die. If they own the property as tenants in common, their respective shares can go to their respective estate if they die, and can be divided among their beneficiaries rather than going to the surviving co-owner. You ask about whether you need to claim capital gains given the property is not being sold, Claudia. However, you are selling it—just not to a third party. You are legally selling your share to the co-owner. Even if you were to transfer your share to the co-owner without money changing hands, as one might do with a child to transfer the family cottage to them, that will not avoid a deemed disposition or sale with the sale price based on the fair market value. The fair market valuation applies even if you choose an artificially low sale price; the actual value is what Canada Revenue Agency looks at when you make a transfer or sale to a non-arm’s-length party, such as a child. Whether or not the sale triggers a capital gain depends on the purchase price, as well as the renovations or capital improvements you’ve made during the time you have owned the property, Claudia. If the sale price is higher than the adjusted cost base, that excess will be treated as a capital gain, less any transaction costs, like legal fees. The capital gain may be tax-free if you are able to claim the cottage as your principal residence. A cottage can qualify for the principal residence exemption but may expose another home you own to tax for the years you owned both properties. It may only be advantageous to use the principal residence exemption for your cottage if it has risen in value significantly compared to your home. This is usually not the case. If your cottage sale to the co-owner results in a taxable capital gain, there may be some ways to lessen the tax burden. The simplest option may be to defer the transaction to the new year. If nothing else, that pushes the tax back one year, if your co-owner is fine with delaying the transaction. You can also have the sale taxed over multiple years. You could structure the sale so that half of your share, or 25% of the total value, is sold this year and the remainder is sold next year. That would split the gain over two years. If the capital gain is significant, and your co-owner is agreeable, you may be able to sell the property over as many as five years. If you sell an asset, like a cottage, you can claim a capital gains reserve if the proceeds are paid over multiple years. The catch is you need to bring at least 20% into income each year, even if the proceeds are paid over a long period of time. In the case of your cottage, you could sell your share over five years, with 20% of the proceeds payable each year. You may want to negotiate interest payable by your co-owner on the unpaid funds, similar to a mortgage or other debt, given that you lock in your price today but don’t receive all the money until a future date. Another tax reduction strategy could be making RRSP contributions. If you have unused RRSP room, you can take advantage of the tax deduction a RRSP contribution offers. Even if you are not working, you may have leftover RRSP contribution room. If you or your spouse are under the age of 72, you can contribute to your RRSP or a spousal RRSP in your spouse’s name. If you make a large RRSP contribution with the cottage sale proceeds, the related tax deduction can help offset the income inclusion from the cottage capital gain. Cottages often have tax implications for owners. Consider yourself fortunate that you may have some flexibility with the capital gain if your co-owner is flexible, or if you can take advantage of some of the strategies I’ve outlined above. Jason Heath is a fee-only, advice-only Certified Financial Planner (CFP) at Objective Financial Partners Inc. in Toronto. He does not sell any financial products whatsoever.

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About Jason Heath, CFP

Jason Heath is a fee-only, advice-only Certified Financial Planner (CFP) at Objective Financial Partners Inc. in Toronto. He does not sell any financial products whatsoever.

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Richard David O'Rourke says:

March 10, 2021 at 4:24 pm

My ex-wife and I will probably being disposing our family home…we divorced 6 years ago and she has a new partner and they intend on cohabitating if not marrying. We build the house in 2003 and it has at increased in value by about 350% right now….there is about 25-30% total value in debt.

The question I have…my ex wife has been living there the entire time. Can we both avoid capital gains tax as it was her principle residence. I am trying to wring every dollar out of the house for both our benefits. We have done significant maintenance to protect the value of the house so how does that spell off against value? The final point is who would be stuck with the capital gains? Both of us or just me as I haven’t lived there in over 7 years but have been paying half the mortgage etc as third party spousal support.

It is a complicated and convoluted situation….I’m looking for some insight/clarity because I suspect I will get the tax bill on this which could concievably leave me outside looking in on the housing market here in the Lower Mainland of Vancouver.

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1. MoneySense Editors says:
  
  March 11, 2021 at 11:14 am
  
  We appreciate the question and invite you to email your question to [email protected], where it will be considered for a future response by one of our expert columnists. For personal advice, we suggest consulting with your financial institution or a qualified advisor.
  
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Bette Williamson says:

May 28, 2021 at 2:26 pm

My sister and I own a cottage as tenants in common and both also own homes. Can I transfer my share to her under a quit claim and avoid capital gains tax? My research on line indicates that I can.

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C Derksen says:

April 1, 2025 at 12:41 pm

A common scenario today is for a parent to be required on a mortgage in order for their child to qualify for the mortgage. My husband is on our son’s mortgage and was also required to be included on the property title. He is listed as a ‘tenant in common’ with a 1% share as he was told by the purchase lawyer that this was necessary.
My son sold his house in 2024. My husband did not benefit from the sale financially.
My husband and I own our own home which is our primary residence.
Does my husband have to declare the sale of our son’s home since he did not benefit from the sale? If so, what is the process to be followed on his tax return?

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