Managing my LIRA – Update

What is a LIRA and where does it come from?

Recall a LIRA may be better known as a locked-in RRSP. These accounts originate from money held within a company pension plan. As long as you’re employed with that company your money may be invested (and vested) in a defined benefit or a defined contribution plan. When you leave the company you may have the choice to move the money accumulated into a LIRA. That’s what I did almost 10 years ago.

This is one of the main differences between a LIRA and a RRSP:
LIRAs hold pension money and because of this you cannot contribute money to it.

The second main difference is:
With RRSPs, you can take money out when you want (taxes will apply) and there are no limits how much you can take out if you do. With LIRAs, you are restricted on withdrawals.

Only some provinces allow the “unlocking” of LIRA monies. Certain circumstances must apply. Some of those conditions include: small balances in the account, becoming a non-resident of Canada, shortened life expectancy or financial hardship. Taxtips.ca in the past has a great page about LIRAs if you want to know how, or if, you can “unlock” your LIRA.

Managing my LIRA – Update

Back in July, I told you I wanted more U.S. exposure in my portfolio. Since I didn’t own any Coca-Cola (KO:US) yet, I decided it was time to get some to diversify my DIY stock portfolio. 

While I didn’t consider my Coca-Cola purchase a long-shot by any means, I did have one reservation – I was unsure if there would be U.S. withholding taxes for dividends paid inside my LIRA.

My financial hypothesis and personal research was saying “no” – no withholding taxes would apply although I didn’t know for sure. Unfortunately, after talking to at least seven (7) departments and various “tax specialists” at Revenue Canada about this concern and after multiple phone calls and emails to the Financial Services Commission of Ontario office, they didn’t know either. So, I made the transaction based on my own hunch – a LIRA would be treated the same as an RRSP account as they are both considered pension accounts  (therefore, no U.S. withholding taxes would apply). 

I was correct. 

What you should know about U.S. withholding taxes:

1.U.S. stocks held inside your RRSP or RRIF: you pay no withholding taxes (excellent)
2.U.S. stocks held inside your RESP or TFSA: you pay 15% withholding taxes (that stings)
3.U.S. stocks held in unregistered accounts: you pay 15% withholding taxes PLUS tax at your full marginal rate (ouch)

Managing my LIRA – Update

With or without a LIRA as part of your portfolio, I hope you’re putting your U.S. stocks in the right location. I learned something new and by reading this post, I hope you did too. Holding your U.S. stocks in various financial accounts definitely has tax implications – implications you should know about. As a DIY investor, I’m learning those tax laws more and more and trying to use that knowledge to my advantage. I hope you are too.

As the old saying goes, if you’re gonna play the game you should probably know the rules 🙂