Deduct your mutual fund fees
You'll need funds that don't include embedded "trailer" fees.
How to pay yourself as a power of attorney in Ontario
Should you be paid as a power of attorney? Learn about the compensation rules in Ontario and how to...
Fees you pay to an adviser to manage a non-registered investment account are tax-deductible. Unfortunately, if you’re a mutual fund investor, you can’t take advantage of this, because the fee paid to your adviser for helping you with your portfolio is buried in the fund’s management fee. On a typical fund with a 2.5% fee, 1.5% might go to the fund company, while the other 1% is a “trailer” paid to your adviser. There is a way around this, however. Scott Plaskett says you should ask whether your adviser can arrange to use a different class of mutual funds that does not include this embedded fee. Here’s how it could work:
- Ask your adviser to switch you to “F-series” mutual funds, which do not include payments to advisers. Instead of having 2.5% deducted from your returns, the fee is reduced to 1.5%.
- Your adviser’s 1% compensation is then charged to your account directly, so he or she gets paid the same.
- However, now you can write off the 1% as an advisory or investment counselling fee. On a $100,000 non-registered portfolio, you’ll reduce your taxable income by $1,000 every year, saving you $400 if you’re in the 40% tax bracket.
Share this article Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Share on Reddit Share on Email
Related Articles
Canada’s income tax brackets for 2024, plus the maximum tax you’ll pay based on income
Want an idea of how much tax you paid—or will be paying—for 2024? Here are the federal and provincial...
What to know as Canada’s capital gains tax changes remain in legal limbo
The federal government’s capital gains inclusion rate increase has yet to become law. There’s a slight chance it may...
How to report foreign income in Canada
Canadians have reporting requirements for foreign assets, income and tax paid. Here’s how to claim each of these on...
How to talk to your family about crypto
Are your parents anxious about your interest in crypto investing? Here’s how to have family conversations about this and...
How to plan for taxes in retirement in Canada
In retirement, some income is not subject to withholding tax, and you may potentially owe tax after filing each...
How income from digital platforms is taxed in Canada
Driving for Uber or writing on Fiverr? Here’s what you need to know about filing your taxes.
Year-end tax and financial planning considerations
Some strategies are time-sensitive, while others can help you start the new year on the right foot.
Do you have to make quarterly tax remittances in Canada?
Here’s a guide to making the right tax installment payments, including answers to common questions about the process.
Is the Provincial Sales Tax portion of the Account Fee for a Non-Registered ‘F’ series account also tax deductible?
Due to the large volume of comments we receive, we regret that we are unable to respond directly to each one. We 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.