The trouble with moving stocks to a TFSA

Moving shares directly into a TFSA sounds like a tidy way to shelter future growth, but it can carry a tax surprise that catches people off guard. This piece takes up the situation of an investor who bought shares through a private placement, received a certificate they had to hold for several months, and then planned to transfer those shares straight into their tax-free account. The wrinkle is that contributing securities in kind is treated as if you sold them, so any gain since you bought becomes taxable in the year of the transfer, while a loss is simply denied. The column works through what that means and how to think about timing and the cost base, so the move doesn't quietly create a bill. It's a practical read for anyone holding shares outside registered accounts who assumes shuffling them into a TFSA is free.