Clearance certificate

As the legal representative, you may want to get a clearance certificate before you distribute any property under your control. A clearance certificate certifies that all amounts for which the deceased is liable to us have been paid, or that we have accepted security for the payment. If you do not get a clearance certificate, you can be liable for any amount the deceased owes. A clearance certificate covers all tax years to the date of death. It is not a clearance for any amounts a trust owes. If there is a trust, a separate clearance certificate is needed for the trust.

To request a certificate, complete Form TX19, Asking for a Clearance Certificate, and send it to your regional tax services office. The addresses of these offices are listed on Form TX19. Do not include Form TX19 with a return. Send it only after you have received the notices of assessment for all the returns required to be filed and paid or secured all amounts owing.

If you have not sent us the following documents, attach them to Form TX19:

• a complete and signed copy of the taxpayer’s will, including any codicils, renunciations, disclaimers, and all probate documents if applicable. If the taxpayer died intestate (without a will), attach a copy of the document appointing an administrator (for example, the Letters of Administration or Letters of Verification issued by a provincial court);
• a copy of the trust agreement or documents for inter vivos trusts;
• any other documents that are necessary to prove that you are the legal representative;
• a detailed list of the assets that were owned by the deceased at the date of death, including all assets that were held jointly and all registered retirement savings plans and registered retirement income funds (including those with a named or designated beneficiary), their adjusted cost base (ACB) and fair market value (FMV) at the date of distribution by the estate;
• a list, description and the ACB of all assets, transferred to a trust as well as the FMV at the date of distribution;
• a detailed statement of distribution of the assets of the trust or the deceased’s estate to date;
• a statement of proposed distribution of any holdback or residual amount or property;
• the names, addresses, and social insurance numbers of any beneficiaries of property other than cash; and
• a completed Form T1013, Authorizing or Cancelling a Representative, signed by all legal representatives, authorizing a representative such as an accountant, notary, or lawyer if you want us to communicate with any other person or firm, or if you want the clearance certificate sent to any address other than your own.

If you need more information about clearance certificates, call 1-800-959-8281. You can also see IC82-6, Clearance Certificate.

Forms and publications

• Guide T4011, Preparing Returns for Deceased Persons
• Form TX19, Asking for a Clearance Certificate
• IC82-6, Clearance Certificate
• Form T1013, Authorizing or Cancelling a Representative

Related topics

• Legal representative