TFSA Pension: Get $5,000 a Year and Pay No Tax to the CRA

With a high-yield ETF like BMO Covered Call Utilities ETF (TSX:ZWU), you can get to $5,000 a year in a TFSA.

| More on:

Is it possible to get an “extra” $5,000 a year in income and pay no tax to the CRA?

Normally, the answer is no. All employment income is taxed, and the same goes for investments. While $5,000 in dividend income won’t generate massive taxes if it’s your only income, it could be taxed heavily when added to your salary.

However, there is one way to get up to $5,000 in investment income without paying tax to the CRA. If you have a lot of unused TFSA contribution room, you can build a high-yield investment portfolio and hold all of it in a tax-free environment. If your portfolio has a really high yield, then you may be able to get $5,000 a year, even with the TFSA’s relatively small contribution limit. Here’s how.

Yield needed to get $5,000 in a TFSA

There are two ways to get tax-free income in a TFSA:

  • Capital gains
  • Dividends/interest

Cashing out capital gains is not always a good idea. If you cash out while stocks are down, then you may run capital losses. So, for the purpose of this article, we’ll focus on dividend income.

It might look hard to get to $5,000 in annual income in a TFSA. The total contribution room for 2020 maxes out at $69,500, and you need a 7.2% yield to get $5,000 in dividends on that size of a portfolio. There are only a handful of investments out there that produce that kind of yield. However, they do exist.

These investments could get you there

There are several Canadian investments with yields north of 7%. Several REITs have yields in that range, as do some beaten-down energy stocks.

One ultra-high-yield energy stock you can buy today is Enbridge (TSX:ENB)(NYSE:ENB). At today’s prices, ENB yields 8.5%. That means you get $5,907 in dividends back for every $69,500 invested. This stock alone could take you well past $5,000 in tax-free dividend income. However, it’s subject to several risk factors. As an energy stock that transports oil to the U.S., it’s subject t0 regulatory risk. As an oil and gas company, it’s vulnerable to competition from alternative energy. Finally, it has suffered a revenue hit because of the effects of COVID-19. These are all real risks you need to be aware of. They’re serious enough that you shouldn’t put all of your TFSA money in ENB stock.

As an alternative to betting all your money on one horse, you could consider an ETF like BMO Covered Call Utilities ETF (TSX:ZWU). It’s a unique ETF that advertises an 8.5% yield, largely due to its yield-enhancement strategy. The ETF writes covered calls on its holdings, which lets it collect option premiums that boost the yield. Note, though, that the fund has a fairly high 0.65% fee. You can expect about a 7.75% yield after fees are taken out — more than enough to get you to $5,000 a year on a $69,500 position.

This article represents the opinion of the writer, who may disagree with the “official” recommendation position of a Motley Fool premium service or advisor. We’re Motley! Questioning an investing thesis — even one of our own — helps us all think critically about investing and make decisions that help us become smarter, happier, and richer, so we sometimes publish articles that may not be in line with recommendations, rankings or other content.

Fool contributor Andrew Button has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Enbridge.

More on Dividend Stocks

TFSA (Tax-Free Savings Account) on wooden blocks and Canadian one hundred dollar bills.
Dividend Stocks

Where to Invest Your $7,000 TFSA Contribution

The TFSA is attractive for investors who want to generate tax-free passive income.

Read more »

The TFSA is a powerful savings vehicle for Canadians who are saving for retirement.
Dividend Stocks

TFSA Investors: 3 Dividend Stocks Worth Holding Forever

These TSX stocks have the potential to grow their dividends over the next decade, making them top investments for TFSA…

Read more »

Tractor spraying a field of wheat
Dividend Stocks

Is Nutrien Stock a Buy for its Dividend Yield?

Nutrien is down more than 50% form the 2022 highs. Is NTR stock now oversold?

Read more »

golden sunset in crude oil refinery with pipeline system
Dividend Stocks

Best Stock to Buy Right Now: Enbridge vs TC Energy?

Enbridge and TC Energy rebounded nicely over the past year. Are more gains on the way?

Read more »

Electricity transmission towers with orange glowing wires against night sky
Dividend Stocks

2 Utility Stocks That Are Smart Buys for Canadians in November

Are you looking for some of the smart buys to consider in November? These utility stocks offer growth and a…

Read more »

View of high rise corporate buildings in the financial district of Toronto, Canada
Dividend Stocks

Is Power Corporation of Canada Stock a Buy for its 5% Dividend Yield?

Is Power Corporation of Canada (TSX:POW) stock's 5% dividend yield worth it? Discover why this resilient stock could be a…

Read more »

hand stacks coins
Dividend Stocks

Here Are My Top 3 Dividend Stocks to Buy Now

These three dividend stocks are ideal for strengthening your portfolio and earning a stable passive income.

Read more »

man touches brain to show a good idea
Dividend Stocks

3 No-Brainer REIT Stocks to Buy Right Now for Less Than $200

REITs have long been touted as some of the best dividend stocks out there if you want recurring, strong income.…

Read more »