A rollover is a tax provision that allows property to be transferred without triggering an immediate disposition, deferring any accrued gain until a later event. Rollovers preserve the existing tax cost rather than resetting it, so the deferred gain remains embedded in the property.
Canadian tax law contains many rollovers. Examples include the section 85 transfer of property to a corporation, the section 86 share-for-share exchange in a reorganization, the spousal rollover on death, and the transfer of trust property to a capital beneficiary. Each rollover has its own conditions, and some require a joint election while others apply automatically when the requirements are met. Rollovers are foundational tools in incorporations, estate freezes, and succession planning.