Canadian Commodity Tax

On February 12, 2014, TEI filed a letter urging the British Columbia Ministry of Finance to address issues that would improve the administrability of the provincial sales tax (PST) system, including requesting additional guidance identifying products and services as nontaxable or exempt, and relief from the tax for export sales.

On December 3-4, 2013, representatives from TEI, led by 2013-2014 Vice President for Canadian Affairs Shiraz J. Nazerali, met with officials from Canada Revenue Agency and the Canadian Department of Finance to discuss tax policy and administrative matters.

On August 5, 2013, TEI submitted three recommendations for consideration by the Canadian government in connection with its annual Pre-Budget Consultations. The recommendations were submitted to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance through its web-based template form.

On March 29, 2013, TEI filed a letter to the Manitoba Ministry of Finance urging the province to establish a statutory four-year limitation period for assessments of the Provincial Sales Tax. Manitoba is the only jurisdiction in Canada without a legislated limitation period for tax audit assessments.

On March 4, 2013, TEI filed a letter urging the British Columbia Ministry of Finance to formally adopt a policy of administrative tolerance for Provincial Sales Tax (PST) audits during the first year of the "new" tax (the Province moved from the PST to a Harmonized Sales Tax in 2009, but voters approved a referendum in 2011 to return to the PST effective April 1, 2013).

On January 10, 2013, TEI submitted a letter to the British Columbia Ministry of Finance related to the province's transition from the Harmonized Sales Tax back to the Provincial Sales Tax that will occur on April 1, 2013. The Institute's letter focused on the administrative aspects of the PST Act and more specifically on the guidance included in PST Bulletin 002. The comments were designed to assist the Ministry of Finance with the practical, effective, and efficient administration of the new PST.

On December 7, 2012, TEI submitted a letter to the Canada Revenue Agency commending CRA for its efforts to modernize the GST/HST place of supply rules, and suggesting a number of clarifications to the CRA's draft Technical Information Bulletin that would make the document as useful, clear, and comprehensive as possible.

On December 4-5, 2012, a delegation of members from TEI's Income and Commodity Tax Committees met with representatives from Canada Revenue Agency and the Department of Finance in annual liaison meetings.

On September 14, 2012, TEI submitted a letter to the British Columbia Ministry of Finance urging the Province to use proceeds from the carbon tax to provide incentives for businesses that make investments in alternative fuel sources, methods for capturing emissions, or other "green" projects, and suggesting changes to make the tax more administrable.

On June 27, 2012, TEI submitted a letter to the government of Prince Edward Island and Finance Canada in response to the announcement that the province had entered into formal negotiations with the Canadian government to replace its provincial sales tax with a harmonized sales tax. TEI's letter summarizes the Institute's general support for the HST and makes recommendations to enable the Province and taxpayers to achieve the benefits of reducing the complexity and costs of compliance with the new tax system.