In the 2018 Federal Budget, the Department of Finance released another chapter in its saga to overhaul how private corporations and their shareholders are taxed. Finance’s initial consultation paper of July 18, 2017 (see our summary here) was met…
The Tax Court of Canada recently decided a new case under the general anti-avoidance rule (“GAAR”) in section 245 of the Income Tax Act. In Birchcliff Energy Ltd. v. The Queen, the Court held that the GAAR applied to restrict…
On July 18, 2017, the Department of Finance released its consultation policy paper on the taxation of private corporations first announced in Budget 2017, along with proposed legislation on some of the topics addressed.
The Minister’s introductory letter acknowledges the…
“Rectification”, a means to “fix” a mistake made in the implementation of an agreement, has been a popular topic in tax law since the Supreme Court of Canada’s decisions limiting the availability of rectification for tax planning errors in AG…
Canadian taxpayers have a statutory right to information under the government’s control, subject only to limited and specific exceptions (Access to Information Act, s. 2(1)). One such exception is for information protected by solicitor-client privilege. In The Information Commissioner…
In a well-reasoned technical interpretation (2014-0525501E5, just released), the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) concluded that payments by Canadian companies (Usercos) to UK and US resident companies (Ownercos) for the right to use customer lists owned by the Ownercos are exempt…
In the CRA’s long-standing view, proceeds realized on a hedge contract cannot be on capital account if there is no sale (or proposed sale) of the underlying item being hedged. Such could be the case if a hedge is entered…
In 2014-0529981I7, the CRA Rulings Directorate considered a case where partnership interests and a debt obligation (Particular Note) owed by a partnership were sold mid-year. No portion of the partnership’s loss for the year was allocated to the selling…
In Repsol Canada Ltd. v. The Queen, 2015 TCC 21, the Tax Court of Canada found that a deep water pier and plant (Facility) in New Brunswick qualified as a processing asset included in Class 43 for the 2007…
In 2013-0509771E5, the CRA confirmed that oil & gas royalties earned by a U.S. resident are subject to tax in Canada and no relief is available under the Canada-US tax treaty (Treaty). Such royalties constitute income from immovable property…