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Buy, sell or rent your property: What you need to know about taxes

Buying, selling or renting a property has significant tax consequences. Here is a brief overview of what you need to know when filing your income tax return.

• Also read: Taxes for Deceased People: Some Tips to Ease This Burden

• Also read: Income tax return: Are there professions that require less tax?

Buying a property

“[L’achat d’une propriété] has no tax consequences unless it is our first home,” H&R Block spokesperson Yannick Lemay said in an interview with QMI Agency.

If this is your first home, you may be eligible for the federal Home Purchase Tax Credit (CIAPH) and the provincial Home Purchase Tax Credit.

Mr. Lemay also recalls the existence of the Home Buyers' Plan (RAP), which makes buying a first home easier by withdrawing money from your RRSP.

“There are no restrictions on how the funds can be used, so you can use them to purchase both a curtain and a deposit.”

Also in operation since April 1, 2023, the Tax-Free Savings Account for the Purchase of a First Home (CELIAPP) set up by the federal government is a type of real estate TFSA that makes it possible to “support the purchase of a first home through a contribution.” up to $40,000, tax-deferred.

Rent out your property

If you have decided to rent out your property during the tax year, there are certain changes to be aware of.

“[À ce moment-là]“There is a so-called change of use, i.e. the conversion of a main residence into a property that is used to generate income,” explained the expert.

“It will then be assumed that we have sold the property to ourselves. It has the same consequence as selling a house, meaning we sold it to ourselves at fair market value.”

Therefore, the resulting capital gain must be reported in the year of the change in use.

However, it is possible to exercise the election provided for in paragraph 45(2) of the Income Tax Act, which allows you to designate the property as your principal residence for a maximum of four years, provided you do not claim depreciation and you reside in Canada, even if rented and you don't live there.

Sell ​​your residence

When you sell your property, you will typically need to report any capital gain or loss made on the sale. Generally, half of a capital gain is taxable, but the capital loss realized on the sale is not deductible.

However, designating a property as your primary residence allows you to avoid paying taxes on some or all of your taxable capital gain. To claim this exemption, the property must have been your primary residence for the entire time you owned it.

“If we have owned our house for 20 years and have not sold any other houses or owned any other houses in those 20 years, the problem does not arise. “We can be exempted from the entire property,” the spokesman said.

However, if part of our property is taxable or the sale is a second home, certain expenses can be deducted when calculating the capital gain, such as sales costs or notary fees.

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Opill, an over-the-counter birth control pill, will soon be available

The drug, called Opill, which was approved for over-the-counter sale by the Food and Drug Administration last year, will be the most effective birth control method without a prescription, research shows – more effective than condoms, spermicides and other over-the-counter methods.

Reproductive health experts said its availability could be particularly useful for teenagers, young women and others who have difficulty dealing with the time, cost or logistical hurdles associated with visiting a doctor to obtain a prescription.

Some experts said this could be a particularly good option for teenagers who might otherwise rely on condoms.

Lupe M. Rodriguez, executive director of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice, said in a statement Monday that “over-the-counter access to contraception will significantly reduce barriers such as transportation, cost, language and documentation.”

Opill is not a new drug – it was approved for prescription use 50 years ago. Reproductive health experts and members of an FDA advisory panel noted the long history of safety and effectiveness. With typical use, it is 93 percent effective at preventing pregnancy. Women with certain medical conditions – especially breast cancer or undiagnosed vaginal bleeding – should not take Opill. But for most women, “the risk is very low and almost non-existent if they read and follow the label,” Karen Murry, deputy director of the FDA's Division of Non-Prescription Drugs, said in a memo explaining the approval decision .

Since the Supreme Court struck down the nation's right to abortion in 2022, contraceptive accessibility has become an increasingly pressing issue. But long before that, the move to make an over-the-counter pill available to all ages had received widespread support from reproductive and adolescent health specialists and groups.

Opill's approval faced little public opposition from conservative groups that are often critical of measures to improve access to abortion, emergency contraception and sex education. The resistance seemed to come primarily from some Catholic organizations and Students for Life Action.

In a 2022 survey by health research organization KFF, more than three-quarters of women of childbearing age said they prefer an over-the-counter pill, primarily because of convenience.

Opill is called a “mini-pill” because it contains only one hormone, progestin, as opposed to “combination pills,” which contain both progestogen and estrogen. Cadence Health, a company that makes a combination pill, is also in discussions with the FDA about applying for over-the-counter status.

Perrigo said Monday that Opill was available for pre-order at some online retailers. A three-month supply of Opill is also sold by retailers at a price of $49.99. The company's website, Opill.com, also sells the three-month supply as well as a six-month supply for $89.99.

In its announcement, Perrigo said the company would offer a “cost assistance program” to “help qualified, uninsured, low-income individuals obtain Opill at little or no cost.”

Making the pill affordable for all women remains a goal of reproductive health advocates, many of whom said Monday that the cost is prohibitive for some populations.

“As a high school student in Texas who struggled to take the pill under the current system and faced social stigma along the way, I know firsthand how important it is to make sure young people walk into a store and can easily access the contraceptives they need,” Maia Lopez, 17, a member of the nonprofit Advocates for Youth's FreeThePill Youth Council, said in a statement. “Although today is a great step forward, the price is still high for many teenagers I know.”

The Affordable Care Act requires health insurance companies to cover the cost of prescription contraceptives, but not over-the-counter methods. Some states have laws requiring coverage of over-the-counter contraceptives, but most do not.

The KFF survey found that 10 percent of women would be unable or unwilling to pay for contraceptives out of pocket. About 40 percent would pay $10 or less per month, and about a third would pay between $11 and $20.

Three Democratic senators – Patty Murray of Washington, Mazie Hirono of Hawaii and Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada – issued a statement Monday calling for the passage of a law requiring insurers to cover over-the-counter contraceptives. They have also pushed the federal government to do something similar under an executive order signed by President Biden last year to improve access to contraceptives.

“The work doesn’t stop here – more needs to be done to ensure every American has access to and can afford the over-the-counter pill,” the senators said.

Opill, an over-the-counter birth control pill, will soon be available Read More »

Opill, the first over-the-counter birth control pill in the United States, is shipped to retailers and costs about $20 for a month's supply

CNN –

Opill, the first oral contraceptive approved for over-the-counter use in the United States, will be available in stores and online this month. The manufacturer's suggested retail price is $19.99 for a one-month supply and $49.99 for a three-month supply, according to Perrigo, the company behind the product.

Perrigo announced Monday that Opill has been shipped to major retailers and pharmacies and will be available for pre-order at select retailers starting this week. Once the product hits the shelves, everyone can buy it without a prescription. It will also be available on Opill.com.

“From an online perspective, it should be available to order almost immediately,” said Triona Schmelter, executive vice president and president of consumer self-care Americas at Perrigo.

As for availability, “I expect it will take a couple of weeks to get through the distribution pipeline, we'll ship it to the retailers' distribution facilities and then they'll ship it to their stores,” she said. But once the product is on shelves, “consumers can find it in the family planning section of most retailers and should be able to pick it up at their convenience.”

Perrigo said Opill will be available in stores and online in one-month and three-month packs. And a six-month supply is available at Opill.com for $89.99.

According to Perrigo, when taken as directed at the same time every day, Opill has been shown to prevent pregnancy by 98%. Most birth control pills can prevent pregnancy by up to 99% when taken every day as directed.

“We are happy about it. “It’s looking very good,” Patrick Lockwood-Taylor, Perrigo’s president and CEO, said of the Opill launch in a company earnings call last week. “The product is here, waiting to be distributed.”

Walgreens and CVS have announced they will offer the product.

“Opill will be available on CVS.com and through the CVS Pharmacy app in late March,” spokesman Matt Blanchette wrote in an email Friday. “In early April, more than 7,500 CVS Pharmacy locations will offer Opill, and for increased privacy and convenience, customers will be able to choose between same-day delivery or purchase online and pick up in store.”

Some online retailers, such as women's health center Stix, are also willing to offer the product. Stix founders Jamie Norwood and Cynthia Plotch said they were “thrilled” about the significant milestone Opill marks for contraceptive accessibility, but were “very aware” of the impact costs could have on access.

A 2022 survey conducted by the nonprofit KFF found that 39% of women who said they were likely to use over-the-counter birth control pills were willing and able to pay up to $10 per month for them, 34% would be willing and able to pay up to $20 per month – the recommended cost of a month's supply of Opill – and only about 16% said they would pay more than $20. Under the Affordable Care Act, most insurance plans are required to offer contraceptive coverage with no deductible, making it free.

“With these insights, Stix is ​​committed to reducing financial barriers and ensuring vital healthcare products and services are accessible to all,” said Norwood and Plotch.

Plotch said Opill “will be truly amazing for people who otherwise don't have access to the prescription form of oral contraception that is covered by health insurance.”

Perrigo Company plc

A three-month supply of Opill has a suggested retail price of $49.99.

Last year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Opill for over-the-counter availability, meaning it is available without a prescription. Since then, there have been ongoing questions about how much it would cost.

A group of advocates called Free the Pill is calling for a lower price. In January, Free the Pill sent a letter to Perrigo asking the company and retailers to price Opill at just $15 for a three-month supply.

“We also urge Perrigo to implement a robust and accessible consumer assistance program for those who cannot afford this price,” the letter said. “Perrigo and retailers’ decision to make Opill affordable can help address contraception inequities that already exist in the United States and are rooted in systemic racism and other forms of oppression.”

Perrigo's Schmelter said advocacy groups like Free the Pill have been “essential to building the research, educating the public and us, and advocating for the introduction of a birth control pill without a prescription.”

She added that Perrigo will offer a cost assistance program for qualified low-income and uninsured people in the coming weeks.

“We really wanted to think about all consumers when developing our pricing strategy to ensure it was accessible to our consumers and ensured both affordability and on-shelf availability,” Schmelter said.

According to Perrigo, policyholders may be able to have Opill paid for or reimbursed through flexible spending or health savings accounts.

Cost and insurance issues may mean Opill is still out of reach for some people, but overall an over-the-counter birth control pill is a “big step forward,” Dr. Colleen Denny, director of family planning at NYU Langone Hospital – Brooklyn, in an email.

“Having an over-the-counter, highly effective contraceptive method on the shelves is potentially a big step forward in improving access to quality contraception. We know that obtaining a prescription medication, which is required for all other birth control pills in the United States, can potentially be a significant hurdle for patients,” she wrote. “A pill you can buy at the store could potentially help with this.”

Opill works as a “mini pill” and uses only the hormone progestin to prevent pregnancy. Combined hormonal birth control pills that contain both progestin and estrogen increase the risk of blood clots more than birth control pills that contain only progestin, Dr. Asima Ahmad, Chief Medical Officer and Co-Founder of Carrot Fertility, a global fertility care platform.

“Progestin-only pills do not increase the risk of a blood clot like combined OCPs, which may make them a great option for some people who cannot take combined OCPs,” Ahmad wrote in an email, referring to oral contraceptives.

“Although the pill must be taken at the same time every day to be effective,” she said, “if it is not taken regularly and at about the same time every day, the effectiveness decreases.”

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Because Opill is a progestin-only oral contraceptive, it is “incredibly safe” for the vast majority of people who may be interested in taking it, Dr. Ashley Brant, director of complex family planning at the Cleveland Clinic.

Combined birth control pills may pose risks for people with uncontrolled high blood pressure or blood clot risks for smokers over 35. Contraindications for progestin-only pills include medical conditions such as breast cancer or liver disease or taking certain medications.

“Birth control pills contain either progestogen only or estrogen plus progestin. For most people, both birth control pills are safe, but the progestin-only pill in particular has very few contraindications. There are very few medical reasons why a progestin-only pill would be unsafe for someone,” Brant said, adding that overall Opill is a “big step” toward making contraception more accessible.

“Now there will still be a lot of people who would rather go to their trusted doctor, talk about other options, get a prescription and use their insurance to cover a prescription – and that type of contraception will not work.” , she said. “This is just an additional option for contraception that we didn’t have before.”

Opill, the first over-the-counter birth control pill in the United States, is shipped to retailers and costs about $20 for a month's supply Read More »

Alaska Airlines passengers sue for $1 billion

Three of the passengers on Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 are suing both the airline and Boeing for $1 billion, according to a lawsuit obtained by CBS News.

The lawsuit, filed by passengers Kyle Rinker, Amanda Strickland and Kevin Kwok, alleges that negligence caused the Jan. 5 incident in which a shutter on the plane exploded mid-flight, forcing a horrific emergency landing.

According to the complaint, all three passengers allegedly suffered “severe mental, emotional and psychological injuries, including post-traumatic stress, and physical injuries” that were a “direct result of the horrific, fatal failure of the Boeing aircraft.” ”

The lawsuit also cited specific bodily harm and alleged that the sudden change in pressure in the cabin “caused some passengers to bleed from their ears,” according to CBS.

In a press release, Jonathan W. Johnson, LLC — the Atlanta-based aviation law firm that filed the complaint on behalf of the passengers — wrote that “it seeks to hold Boeing accountable for its negligence, which caused extreme panic, fear, etc. “Post-traumatic stress.”

The jet passengers boarded Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 after the emergency landing.

Mathieu Lewis-Rolland/Getty

The lawsuit also seeks “substantial punitive damages from Boeing for a preventable incident and because the manufacturing defects affected numerous other aircraft and threatened the lives of passengers on all Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft,” the release said, noting that all 737 Max 9 jets were grounded by the FAA after the flight.

Alaska Airlines' 737-9 fleet returned to the air in late January after being inspected for safety and cleared for use by the FAA.

Boeing told PEOPLE, “We have nothing to add” to the litigation. Alaska Airlines did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.

An Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft.

Stephen Brashear/Getty

All 177 passengers aboard Flight 1282, flying from Portland, Oregon, to Ontario, California, survived the emergency landing that occurred after a plug door exploded at 16,000 feet, leaving a gaping hole in the side of the plane.

All 171 passengers and six crew members returned to the airport safely, although some passengers “suffered injuries that required medical attention,” an Alaska Airlines press release said at the time.

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About a week after the emergency landing, Alaska Airlines offered passengers compensation. In a statement to PEOPLE, the airline said it issued a full refund to each guest.

NTSB via Getty

“As an immediate gesture of care, we also made a cash payment of $1,500 within the first 24 hours to cover any incidental costs and ensure their immediate needs are met,” the statement said.

The airline also said it offers “24/7 access to mental health resources and counseling” and will “continue to work with them to address their specific needs and concerns.”

One of the survivors documented the harrowing experience on Tiktok.

A passenger named Courtney, who appears on the app as @imsocorny. known, recalled in a video shared on the platform the moment she heard part of the plane's fuselage being torn off shortly after takeoff, and the terrifying minutes that followed.

“We all heard a really loud bang, a jolt and a blast of air that came back at us really quickly,” she says in the video. “Immediately, the next moment, the oxygen masks came down from the overhead compartment.” Everyone quickly put their masks on without any announcement needed, she says.

Sitting at the front of the plane, she added that she had no idea what happened. The oxygen masks blocked the view through the cabin, but she knew something was definitely wrong.

“I really thought it was the engine – I thought an engine had broken or a wing had failed. That second was so loud and shocking. I thought we were going to take a nosedive at any moment. For a full 15 to 20 minutes that felt like a lifetime, every second that passed I thought we were going to start nose diving.”

Shortly after the incident, Portland resident Sean Bates went viral after sharing photos of an iPhone he believes came from the Alaska Airlines flight in a post X.

He said the phone was “still in airplane mode with half battery and open for baggage claim.” #AlaskaAirlines ASA1282” when he found it.

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Bank of America's youngest company expects positive stock results for 2024

Another Wall Street strategy team is out with an optimistic forecast about how far stocks will go this year.

In a note to clients on Sunday, Bank of America's U.S. equity and quantitative strategy team, led by Savita Subramanian, raised its year-end target for the S&P 500 (^GSPC) to 5,400 from 5,000. That forecast and a recent note from UBS are the most optimistic forecasts for the benchmark average this year among strategists tracked by Yahoo Finance.

“Bulls markets end in euphoria – we are not there yet,” Subramanian wrote. “Mood has improved, but areas of euphoria are limited (AI, GLP-1).”

BofA's move marks the fifth increased price target from strategists tracking Yahoo Finance in the last month. The more optimistic outlook comes as stocks rose earlier in the year. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) just completed their best February performance since 2015, helped by a second straight quarter of earnings growth and increased confidence in the direction of the US economy.

Subramanian noted that fourth-quarter earnings rose 4% year over year and that analysts are not lowering their forecasts for the current quarter by the usual amount. This comes as Bank of America's economic research team just upgraded its growth outlook for this year as well. This combination of an elevated earnings outlook and a more optimistic outlook for the U.S. economy was a common thread cited in Wall Street's recent year-end target hikes for the S&P 500.

However, Bank of America strategists don't expect the stock's upward trend to be linear. Subramanian's team noticed a sort of retreat from the current state Levels could be on the horizon. Since 1929, the S&P 500 has experienced 5% pullbacks on average three times a year, and typically one of those pullbacks results in a 10% correction, according to a Bank of America study.

“We are due after four months with no significant decline,” Subramanian wrote.

The story goes on

The team also emphasized that history shows that volatility in stocks will increase as the 2024 presidential election approaches, but that “a rally typically follows” once uncertainty subsides.

And when that year-end rally comes, Bank of America expects it to be driven by a broader group of stocks than the technology stocks that are currently driving the S&P 500 higher.

“We expect the lead to widen as the gap between the Magnificent 7's earnings growth and the rest of the S&P 500 narrows,” Subramanian wrote.

A chart from Bank of America shows that earnings for the 493 S&P 500 stocks not included in the Magnificent 7 tech stocks are expected to rebound in the second half of 2024. A chart from Bank of America shows that earnings for the 493 S&P 500 stocks not included in the Magnificent 7 tech stocks are expected to rebound in the second half of 2024.

A chart from Bank of America shows that earnings for the 493 S&P 500 stocks not included in the Magnificent Seven are expected to rebound in the second half of 2024.

Josh Schafer is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow him on X @_joshschafer.

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JetBlue and Spirit Airlines call off $3.8 billion merger over antitrust hurdle

By David Shepardson and Aatreyee Dasgupta

WASHINGTON (Portal) – Budget airlines JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines terminated their $3.8 billion merger agreement on Monday, seeing no path forward after a U.S. judge blocked the deal in January over anti-competition concerns.

A successful deal would have created the fifth-largest airline in the United States and helped Spirit survive, but the deal has been on the rocks since a judge in Boston said it would harm consumers by reducing competition.

The decision is a victory for the Biden administration, which has taken a hard line against airline mergers and argues that the deal would increase ticket prices for consumers.

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said JetBlue's decision was “another victory for the Justice Department's work on behalf of American consumers” and said the merger “would have resulted in tens of millions of travelers facing higher fares and fewer choices.” “

The government has used antitrust and other enforcement efforts to try to lower prices for U.S. citizens in several industries.

“Given the federal court ruling and continued opposition from the Justice Department, the likelihood of receiving the green light to proceed with the merger in the foreseeable future is extremely low,” JetBlue CEO Joanna Geraghty told employees in an internal memo seen by Portal has seen.

“Even if the ruling were overturned on appeal, we simply see no path to regulatory approval by the required July 24 deadline.”

Spirit CEO Ted Christie said in a statement: “We have determined that current regulatory obstacles will not allow us to complete this transaction under the merger agreement in a timely manner.”

Under the agreement, JetBlue will pay Spirit $69 million. While the merger agreement was in effect, Spirit shareholders received advance payments totaling approximately $425 million.

Without the JetBlue deal, Spirit, the seventh-largest U.S. airline, faces a difficult road ahead. The ultra-low-cost carrier has struggled with weak demand in its key markets and is trying to return to sustainable profitability. Some analysts even believe the company could face bankruptcy if it can't shore up its finances.

The story goes on

Spirit shares fell 14% in late morning trading, while shares of JetBlue, the sixth-largest U.S. airline, rose 4%.

The ruling by U.S. District Judge William Young concluded that the proposed deal could harm competition in the U.S. airline market and increase ticket prices.

That led JetBlue to express doubts about the future of its deal, saying it may not be able to meet certain conditions required under the agreement.

JetBlue decided not to appeal a separate ruling that found Northeast's partnership with American Airlines anticompetitive.

JetBlue, which raised baggage fees last month, said it was working on numerous near-term efforts to increase revenue by more than $300 million and said it was on track to achieve cost savings of $175 million to $200 million $75 million from its structural cost program and $75 million in maintenance savings through fleet modernization.

A judge in May sided with the Justice Department and six states in a lawsuit challenging the joint venture called the Northeast Alliance that American and JetBlue entered into in 2020 and their powers to operate flights to and from New York City and Boston consolidated and coordinated schedules and revenue pooling.

Spirit said it is taking steps to ensure the strength of its balance sheet and ongoing operations and has retained Perella Weinberg & Partners and Davis Polk & Wardwell as advisers.

(Reporting by Aatreyee Dasgupta in Bengaluru and David Shepardson in Washington; Editing by David Gaffen, Devika Syamnath, Arun Koyyur and Nick Zieminski)

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Taxes for Deceased People: Some Tips to Ease This Burden

Losing a loved one is a challenge in itself, but how can you avoid adding additional stress when managing your taxes and inheritance?

• Also read: Taxes for deceased persons: Which declarations should be submitted?

• Also read: Five mistakes to avoid when filing your taxes

It can be difficult for the executor to manage a loved one's personal finances after their death, especially if they are unfamiliar with their financial situation. For this reason, organization is essential because the tax consequences can affect both the heirs and the surviving spouse, said Yannick Lemay, spokesman for H&R Block.

Here are some tips to help guide you:

1. First, you must notify the financial institution of the person's death so that the person's accounts can be frozen. The same applies to his joint accounts.

2. You will then need to consult the notary to carry out the will research to determine who the executor is. The latter is responsible for signing the deceased's declarations.

3. The expert then recommends consulting a tax advisor to avoid unpleasant surprises when processing tax returns.

4. It is important to wait to distribute funds from the estate to ensure that you can pay the amounts owed to the state. The executor must then apply for a clearance certificate, i.e. approval from the tax office to process the estate. This document prevents him from being held personally liable for the amounts owed if there is no money to pay the taxes.

5. It may happen that a person continues to receive certain income after their death. In such a case, a death notice is required so that these inflows of money can be stopped. Any amounts paid in excess must then be refunded.

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