Canada’s diverse scenic landscapes and waters have drawn Americans north for recreation and investment for generations. As a result, Americans own property in many of Canada’s most ecologically significant and internationally beloved areas. Canadian entities that conserve their country’s important natural resources have long sought opportunities to partner with Americans who own priority lands in Canada. And Americans who are motivated to protect their Canadian properties support Canadian land trusts with financial gifts, and in some instances have donated land or interests in their land (such as conservation easements), directly to Canadian conservation organizations.
This section contains links to information for conservation-oriented U.S. taxpayers who own land in Canada, and the tax and legal professionals who are advising them. The documents highlight key issues, provide potentially useful resource and reference materials, and introduce American Friends of Canadian Conservation (American Friends), a U.S. charity created to facilitate “cross border” gifts (referring to transactions involving a U.S. taxpayer and Canadian property).
Visit American Friends of Canadian Conservation’s website: conservecanada.org
Save Some Green: A handbook for U.S. taxpayers who own land in Canada is a comprehensive resource created by American Friends and Ontario Land Trust Alliance. Read it here.
Cross-Border Conservation Gifts: Fact Sheet for Potential Donors of Land or Conservation Easement is a three-page overview document for U.S. owners of land in Canada. Read it here.
Cross-Border Conservation Gifts by U.S. Taxpayers: Fact Sheet for Donor Advisors is a four-page overview document for advisors of U.S. owners of land in Canada. Read it here.
Cross-Border Conservation Gifts: Fact Sheet for Potential Donors of Land or Conservation Easements is a larger fact sheet for U.S. owners of land in Canada. Read it here.
Cross-Border Conservation Gifts by U.S. Taxpayers: Fact Sheet for Donor Advisors is a larger fact sheet for advisors of U.S. owners of land in Canada. Read it here.
Create a Conservation Legacy in British Columbia, Incentives for U.S. Taxpayers is a brochure jointly created by LTABC and AFCC. Read it here.
In November 2019, American Friends, Grant Thornton LLP, ad Mayne Island Conservancy presented a workshop at the LTABC Speaker Series in Victoria BC. Here is a link to a pdf of their PowerPoint presentation.