While donating securities is one of the most tax-smart ways to give, it is not widely used and perhaps not well understood. So let’s take a quick look at why you should consider this kind of giving and how to go about it.

People buy stocks/bonds/mutual funds (“securities”) because we hope that they will increase in value!

But, as soon as they do, we have what is referred to as a “capital gain,” which is just the amount the security has increased in value. And, sooner or later we will have to cash in these securities—and then pay tax on this increase—UNLESS we donate these securities to a registered charity such as the Nature Trust.

If you donate these appreciated securities to a registered charity, you do not have to pay tax on ANY of your capital gains for the securities donated.[1]

So as well as getting a tax receipt for the full amount you donate, you ALSO reduce your taxes by not having to pay tax on any capital gain for securities donated.

This can amount to a significant tax savings!

See the example below.

Donating stock instead of cash gives you a chance to review and update your portfolio, reducing the capital gains held, which in turn will reduce future tax owing.

You’ll also be able to have a bigger impact on land conservation with the Nature Trust if you donate the additional tax savings from a stock donation.

As well, donating securities is easy to do. Just download this form, and complete it as instructed. Give a copy to the Nature Trust and a copy to your Investment Company or Broker or Financial Advisor and we do the rest! Most companies do not charge you for making an in-kind stock donation, so it is even cheaper than writing a cheque! (Check with your own broker/company to make sure.)

To take advantage of these benefits, security donations must be made “in-kind” meaning that the security is transferred directly to the Nature Trust — NOT cashed in first.

Security donations take longer to process than regular donations. This is especially important to keep in mind at year end. A security donation initiated in December 2020 but not received by us until January 2021 can ONLY be counted as a gift for the 2021 tax year. With holiday closures, an end of year gift can take even longer to process than usual, so please make sure you initiate your transfer early enough in the year if it is important for you to have a tax receipt for 2020.

The Federal Government has implemented these tax laws to help you donate to charity. The laws are designed to make it advantageous to donate securities instead of cash.  “Ottawa’s rules are stretching clients’ donation dollars,” says Keith MacIntyre, a chartered accountant and partner at Grant Thornton LLP in Halifax.

For more information about donating securities, please contact Barbara Haley, Leadership & Legacy Giving Director at Barbara@nsnt.ca or at (902) 579-9977.

All photos courtesy of Scott Leslie

[1] All of these advantages refer to securities that are held outside of a registered account. (Capital gains within a registered account are already sheltered from tax and it is only when you make withdrawals from this account will tax issues come into play.)