TEI Holds 2017 Liaison Meetings with Canada Revenue Agency and Department of Finance
TEI Files Comments on Canada’s Technical Paper Regarding Federal Carbon Pricing Backstop
TEI Comments on Standards for Valuing the Personal Use of Corporate Aircraft
On February 10, 2017, TEI submitted comments to the Canada Revenue Agency suggesting how it should formalize its procedures for valuing an employee’s personal use of the employer’s corporate aircraft. The comments generally suggest that such valuation should be made by comparison to the highest available commercial airfare for a comparable itinerary because such a standard would be predictable, neutral among taxpayers, and simple to administer.
TEI Holds 2016 Liaison Meetings with Canada Revenue Agency and the Canadian Department of Finance
On November 15-16, 2016, representatives from Tax Executives Institute, led by 2015-2016 International President for Janice Lucchesi, met with officials from Canada Revenue Agency and the Canadian Department of Finance to discuss tax policy and administrative matters.
The agendas for the meetings on income tax matters were prepared by the Institute's Canadian Income Tax Committee, whose 2016-2017 chair is Paul Magrath of AstraZeneca Canada, Inc. John Schoenecker of the Institute's legal staff coordinated the preparation of its agendas.
CRA and Finance Responds to Questions TEI Posed at November 2016 Liaison Meeting
On November 15 and 16, 2016, members of TEI’s Canadian Income Tax Committee met with members of the Canada Revenue Agency and Department of Finance Canada to discuss various tax administrative and enforcement issues. CRA and Finance have provided TEI with responses to the questions posed.
Download CRA Responses
Download Department of Finance Responses
TEI Suggests Changes to CRA on Regulation 102 and Form RC473
On March 17, 2016, TEI submitted a letter to the Canada Revenue Agency recommending certain changes to paperwork requirements surrounding Regulation 102, specifically to Form RC473. The letter discusses concerns that taxpayers might have with completing that form, as well as other requirements that might be counterproductive toward encouraging taxpayer compliance with Regulation 102.
TEI's Canadian Income Tax Committee prepared this letter. Grant Lee chairs the Committee, and TEI Tax Counsel John Schoenecker coordinated the preparation of TEI's comments
TEI Comments on Proposed Canadian Legislation Effecting Reporting of Qualified Non-Resident Employees
On October 12, 2015, TEI submitted a letter to the Canadian Department of Finance suggesting further legislative changes surrounding Regulation 102 in the form of (1) allowing self-certification as to “qualifying non-resident employer” status and (2) eliminating the $10,000 threshold for T4 reporting requirements. The proposed legislation would require employers to obtain advance certification from the CRA before being considered a “qualifying non-resident employer” as well as reporting on form T4 of all “qualifying non-resident employees” who make more than $10,000.
TEI Comments on Proposed Canadian Legislation Effecting Income Tax Act Section 55
On October 12, 2015, TEI submitted a letter to the Canadian Department of Finance stating that a proposed expansion of the Income Tax Act's subsection 55(2), which is an anti-avoidance provision, would unduly apply to routine transactions that have no anti-avoidance purpose. The proposed legislation would expand the “purpose test” to capture instances in which dividends are paid on a share, not to reduce a capital gain, but instead to (i) significantly decrease the fair-market value of any share, or (ii) significantly increase the total property costs to the dividend recipient.
TEI Comments on Proposed Canadian Legislation Effecting Synthetic Equity Arrangements
On August 28, 2015, TEI submitted a letter to the Canadian Department of Finance urging exception for stock-based compensation programs from potential representation requirements at issue in proposed legislation regarding synthetic equity arrangements. The legislation would require participants in synthetic equity arrangements to affirmatively represent that they are Canadian taxpayers in order to claim a dividends-received deduction in certain transactions involving stock hedging.
TEI Responds to Proposed Amendments to Canadian Nonresident Withholding Rules
On June 12, 2015, TEI submitted comments on the Canadian Government's proposals to provide targeted relief from the withholding and remittance requirements that otherwise apply to non-resident employers of non-resident employees who perform work in Canada. TEI expressed appreciation for the Government's interest in reducing red tape and excessive administrative and tax compliance burdens for businesses, but noted several areas where the proposals fall short.