How does a charitable bequest save tax in Canada?
A gift to a registered charity in your will generates a donation tax credit on your final (terminal) tax return. The credit is worth about 20% on the first $200 and roughly your top marginal rate (often 40–54%) on amounts above $200, directly reducing the tax otherwise owing at death.
How much of my income can a charitable bequest offset?
In the year of death, charitable donations can be claimed against up to 100% of net income (versus 75% during life). Any excess can be carried back to the year before death, also up to 100% of income — a powerful way to offset the large deemed-disposition tax bill.
Should I donate appreciated securities?
Yes, where possible. When you donate publicly-traded securities in-kind to a registered charity, the capital gain on those securities is eliminated entirely, and you still receive the donation tax credit for the full fair market value. This is one of the most tax-efficient ways to give.
How is this different from the US?
Canada uses a donation tax credit that reduces tax payable, whereas the US treats a charitable bequest as a deduction from the taxable estate. Both encourage giving, but the mechanics — and the fact that Canada has no estate tax to deduct against — make the calculations quite different.