The new purpose tests in section 55 make creditor proofing problematic. The 55(3)(a) exception remains, however, for deemed dividends. Perhaps it’s possible, then, to achieve creditor proofing by engaging in a 55(3)(a) butterfly. Not so fast. The CRA’s comments at…
45(3) elections and the principal residence exemption
If you buy a home and then change its use, should you always file the 45(3) election to defer any gain? Maybe not, according to James Painter, “Principal-Residence Tax-Deferral Election May Be Inadvisable” (Feb 2016) 6:1 Canadian Tax Focus. Mr…
Employee theft
Mark Tonkovich, “Theft by Owners or Senior Employees: Deductibility of Losses” (Feb 2016) 6:1 Canadian Tax Focus, analyzes employee theft as discussed in Income Tax Folio S3-F9-C1, “Lottery Winnings, Miscellaneous Receipts, and Income (and Losses) from Crime”. The Folio sets…
Section 160 and shareholder benefits
Can the Minister assess a taxpayer under section 160 in respect of an amount already included in the taxpayer’s income under subsection 15(1)? From Justice Bocock, in Parihar v R, 2015 TCC 52 at ¶45: shareholder who has been…
Unpaid income tax and bankruptcy
In Schnier v Canada (Attorney General), 2016 ONCA 5, the Court held that an amount of tax owing (about $4.4 million) was a contingent claim because the relevant assessments were under appeal to the Tax Court. As a result, the…
A simpler T1135
My thanks to Fred Buzzelli, who sent me a link to a good article by Gabe Hayos on the simplified T1135.
Are step children related?
Mr X and Ms Y are common law partners. Each of them has a son from a previous relationship. Are the sons related for the purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada)? The CRA says “yes” because the step brothers…
Misrepresentation
From Justice Bocock, in Robertson v R, 2015 TCC 246, we read the following regarding whether a mistake of law amounts to a negligent misrepresentation: wise and prudent person is, generally by definition, not unknowledgeable of the law. However,…
No refund for you
A corporate payor doesn’t get a refund if it pays a dividend but fails to file its tax return for the year within three years. But at least RDTOH isn’t reduced either. See Dino Infanti, “FCA Agrees: Dividend Refund Timed…
55(2) This Week
Manu Kakkar and Marissa Halil, in “Subsection 55(2): The CRA’s Recent Positions” Tax for the Owner-Manager 16:1 (January 2016), provide a useful summary of the CRA’s pronouncements on 55(2) at the Tax Foundation conference. The CRA is concerned that deliberately…