Is a Life Insurance Payout Taxable in Canada?
A life insurance payout, also called a death benefit, is the lump sum paid by an insurance company when the insured person passes away.
July 24, 2025
A life insurance payout, also called a death benefit, is the lump sum paid by an insurance company when the insured person passes away.
In Canada, life insurance can be part of an estate, but it depends on who is named as the beneficiary.
In Ontario, when someone dies with a registered retirement income fund (RRIF), the full fair market value of the account is added as taxable income to their final tax return.
In Canada, when the RRSP account holder dies, the value of the RRSP is generally included in their income for the year of death and taxed on their final return.
Deepak, a 57-year-old real estate investor in Ontario, came seeking a solution to a very specific concern.
Daniel is a 65-year-old entrepreneur in the renovation business who has built a successful business and legacy.
Do living trusts go through the probate process in Canada? Living trusts generally do not go through probate in Canada.
James, a successful real estate investor in his early 50s, owned several residential investment properties—houses, condos, and similar assets—through a corporation.
In Canada, legal fees for drafting a will are generally not tax-deductible for individuals. The Canada Revenue Agency does not allow individuals to claim legal expenses incurred for personal matters as tax deductions.
In Canada, can the sole beneficiary be an executor of a will as well? Yes, a beneficiary can also be an executor of a will in Canada.