Income Tax Severed Letters - 2011-06-17

Ruling

2011 Ruling 2010-0390291R3 - Loss Consolidation

Unedited CRA Tags
20(1)(c) 55(3)(a)

Principal Issues: Loss Consolidation

Position: Favourable rulings issued.

Reasons: Meets statutory and administrative requirements.

Ministerial Correspondence

7 June 2011 Ministerial Correspondence 2011-0404131M4 F - Bourse postdoctorale

Unedited CRA Tags
56(1)n); 6(1)a); 56(1)o)

Principales Questions: Quel est le traitement fiscal des bourses d'études qui sont octroyées aux stagiaires postdoctoraux?

Position Adoptée: Les bourses de perfectionnement postdoctorales sont généralement imposables.

Raisons: Les stagiaires postdoctoraux ne sont pas des étudiants qui sont admissibles au crédit d'impôt pour études.

7 June 2010 Ministerial Correspondence 2010-0367511M4 - Contribution of GIC into a TFSA

Unedited CRA Tags
207.01(1) "advantage", "qualified investment" "swap transaction"

Principal Issues: Can an individual contribute GICs into a TFSA of which the individual is the holder?

Position: Yes, if it is a direct contribution to the TFSA since proposed amendments are disallowing swap transactions.

Reasons: Wording of the Act and proposed amendments.

Technical Interpretation - External

9 June 2011 External T.I. 2010-0391671E5 - Active business income - property management

Unedited CRA Tags
125(7)

Principal Issues: If a CCPC earns income by providing property management services by employing one of the shareholders for rental properties co-owned by its shareholders, is it ABI?

Position: Question of fact, but likely.

Reasons: In providing property management and landscaping services to a variety of clients, Landco would not be carrying on a SIB or PSB.

8 June 2011 External T.I. 2011-0399171E5 - Cellular Phone Allowance

Unedited CRA Tags
6(1)(a); 6(1)(b)

Principal Issues: 1. Is a monthly allowance paid to an employee for the use of a cellular phone service a taxable benefit? 2. Is a reimbursement paid to an employee for the cost of a cellular phone a taxable benefit if it is used primarily to perform duties of employment?

Position: 1. Question of fact. 2. Yes

Reasons: 1. In accordance with CRA's administrative policy, when an employee receives a reimbursement of the cost of a basic cellular phone plan and the primary purpose is to perform duties of employment, the reimbursement would generally not be considered a taxable benefit as long as all of the following conditions are met: the plan's cost is reasonable; the plan is a basic plan with a fixed cost; and the employee's personal use of the service does not result in additional charges over the basic plan cost. 2. When a reimbursement by an employer relates to an asset purchased and owned by an employee, the employee benefits from the assistance and is generally required to include the amount of the reimbursement in income in accordance with paragraph 6(1)(a) of the Act.

7 June 2011 External T.I. 2011-0396431E5 - Indian- AgriInvest and AgriStability Payments

Unedited CRA Tags
81(1)(a), 12(10.2), 12(10.3), 9, Reg 201(1)(e), Reg 234(2)

Principal Issues: 1. Are payments received by an Indian farming on a reserve under the AgriInvest or AgriStability programs taxable?
2. Are crop insurance payments received by an Indian farming on a reserve taxable?

Position: 1. The payments received from the government under both AgriInvest and AgriStability will be taxed in the same manner as the farming income. In this situation, the payments are likely exempt from tax. Investment income earned on any payments or contributions will be taxed according to the principles set out in Recalma.
2. Crop insurance proceeds are farm income and will be treated in the same manner as the farm income to which they relate.

Reasons: 1. and 2. The payments must be sufficiently connected to a reserve to be exempt from tax. Connecting factor analysis.

6 June 2011 External T.I. 2011-0407091E5 - Medical Practitioner

Unedited CRA Tags
118.4(2)

Principal Issues: Is the CRA of the view that a pharmacist is a medical practitioner?

Position: Yes

Reasons: The term "medical practitioner" can include individuals such as a pharmacist provided that he or she is authorized to practice in the profession according to the laws of the jurisdiction in which the service is rendered.

2 June 2011 External T.I. 2011-0399501E5 - TCP distributed by N/R trust to N/R beneficiary

Unedited CRA Tags
104(4), 104(5), 104(5.2), 107(2), 107(2.1), 107(5), 108(1) "trust", 116, 248(1) "TCP"

Principal Issues: 1) Whether subsection 107(2) would apply to TCP distributed by a non-resident trust to a non-resident beneficiary?
2) Whether a Certificate of Compliance under section 116 would be required to be obtained?
3) Whether the non-resident trust is subject to the deemed disposition rule of paragraph 104(4)(b)?

Position: 1) No, subsection 107(2.1) applies.
2) General comments.
3) Yes.

Reasons: Wording of the ITA and previous positions.

31 May 2011 External T.I. 2011-0399091E5 - Duties of a Temporary Nature

Unedited CRA Tags
6(1), 6(6)

Principal Issues: Whether employees seconded to work in Canada on a project for two to four years are considered to be performing duties of a temporary nature for the purpose of subsection 6(6) of the ITA.

Position: Yes

Reasons: Even though the period in which the employees may be at the work location is beyond the two-year period noted in the general guidelines of paragraphs 5 and 6 in IT-91R4, the facts of this situation are such that the duties of employment are considered of a temporary nature for purposes of subsection 6(6) of the Act.

4 April 2011 External T.I. 2010-0387161E5 - Salary Deferral Arrangement

Unedited CRA Tags
definition "salary deferral arrangement" in 248(1)

Principal Issues: Whether any part of an employee bonus deferred by an employer over a period greater than 3 years, meets the requirement of paragraph (k) of the definition of "salary deferral arrangement" in subsection 248(1) of the Income Tax Act?

Position: No.

Reasons: Paragraph (k) of the definition of "salary deferral arrangement" requires that the amount must be paid within 3 years following the end of the year in which the services were rendered.

15 March 2011 External T.I. 2009-0350851E5 - XXXXXXXXXX District School Board - DSLP

Unedited CRA Tags
Regulation 6801(a)

Principal Issues: Does the plan qualify as a DSLP?

Position: Question of fact.

Reasons: If it meets the required conditions set out in Regulation 6801(a).

10 March 2011 External T.I. 2010-0383461E5 - Deferred Salary Leave Plans

Unedited CRA Tags
248(1) "Salary Deferral Arrangement", 6801(a) Income Tax Regulations

Principal Issues: What are the tax implications where an employee who is currently enrolled in a DSLP with their employer terminates the arrangement before taking their leave of absence and enrols in a new DSLP with the same employer, where the leave period under the new DSLP commences beyond the six year time limit allowed under the original DSLP

Position: Question of fact - general comments provided

Reasons: Such a determination would depend on the main purpose for establishing both the original DSLP and the new DSLP.

21 January 2011 External T.I. 2010-0385471E5 - Direct transfer btw EPSP

Unedited CRA Tags
s.248(1) "disposition"

Principal Issues: Is there a disposition where all the property in respect of an employee is transferred from one employer's EPSP to another employer's EPSP?

Position: No, as long as all the conditions in paragraph (f) of the definition of disposition under s.248(1) are met.

Reasons: Wording of the Act.

5 January 2011 External T.I. 2009-0328861E5 - TFSA - Foreign Exchange Trading

Unedited CRA Tags
204, 207.1(1), 146.2(6), 146.2(8)

Principal Issues: Whether foreign currency trading is permitted in a trust governed by a tax-free savings account

Position: General comments provided.

Reasons: Application of the provisions of the Act.

5 January 2011 External T.I. 2010-0381031E5 - TFSA - Foreign Exchange Trading

Unedited CRA Tags
204, 207.1(1), 146.2(6), 146.2(8)

Principal Issues: Whether foreign currency trading is permitted in a trust governed by a tax-free savings account.

Position: General comments provided.

Reasons: Application of the provisions of the Act.

8 December 2010 External T.I. 2009-0319261E5 - RRSP qualified investment

Unedited CRA Tags
ITR 4900(1)(j)

Principal Issues: Various questions concerning a mortgage as an RRSP qualified investment

Position: General comments provided

3 June 2010 External T.I. 2010-0355931E5 - Home Buyers' Plan

Unedited CRA Tags
146.01

Principal Issues: Whether an individual who owns a home but does not reside there is considered a first-time homebuyer with respect to the purchase of a new home intended to be inhabited as the individual's principal place of residence.

Position: No.

Reasons: Based on the facts presented, the individual had an owner-occupied home in the relevant period.

2 June 2010 External T.I. 2010-0358111E5 - Transfer of Retiring Allowance to an RRSP

Unedited CRA Tags
60(j.1), 251(2)

Principal Issues: Whether a taxpayer's years of service with a previous employer can be included in the calculation of the amount that is eligible to be transferred to a registered retirement savings plan?

Position: No.

Reasons: Does not satisfy the requirements of 60(j.1)(v) which provides that a "person related to the employer" includes a previous employer if the employee's years of service with the previous employer is recognized in the determining the retiree's pension benefits.

Conference

10 June 2011 Roundtable, 2011-0408111C6 - Journée d'études fiscales - Round Table-CTF

Principal Issues: Questions number 6, 8, 11 and 13 of the CTF's Round Table held in Montreal on June 10, 2011.

Technical Interpretation - Internal

9 June 2011 Internal T.I. 2011-0395001I7 F - Co-propriété indivise d'un duplex

Unedited CRA Tags
40(2)(b); 54-"résidence principale"
2 equal co-owners of duplex could each claim the principal residence exemption for “their” unit
although each 50% co-owner of a duplex has an undivided interest in the whole dwelling, the FMV of her interest relates exclusively to the housing unit occupied by her
co-ownership interest is in the whole but valuation of the part occupied should reflect rights of exclusive possession

Principales Questions: Un duplex est détenu en parts égales par deux individus en copropriété indivise. Chaque individu habite normalement son unité de logement. Ils disposent de la propriété. Chaque individu peut-il éliminer la totalité du gain en capital sur l'unité qu'il habite en réclamant l'exemption sur la résidence principale ou cette exemption est-elle limitée au pourcentage qu'il détient dans l'unité qu'il habite (soit 50%)?

Position Adoptée: Nous sommes d'avis que chaque individu peut réclamer l'exemption pour résidence principale relativement à l'unité de logement qu'il habite.

Raisons: Même si juridiquement une personne vend sa participation indivise dans un immeuble, la valeur de sa quote-part est attribuable au logement qu'il habite et qu'il dispose pour les fins de la Loi.

7 June 2011 Internal T.I. 2011-0397921I7 F - Financement inter-sociétés

Unedited CRA Tags
15(2); 15(2.1); 17(1) 214(3); 80.4(2); 212(2); 227(6.1)
notwithstanding Gillette, a connected “person” may include a partnership
refund of withholding tax on repayment of loan
s. 80.4 would not apply to a s. 15(2) loan if it is not repaid

Principales Questions: Le client désire savoir si le paragraphe 15(2) peut s'appliquer à une société de personnes compte tenu de la définition du terme " personne rattachée à un actionnaire d'une société ", tel que prévu au paragraphe 15(2.1) de la Loi ainsi que connaître la portée de diverses autres dispositions.

Position Adoptée: Nous maintenons toujours notre position quant à notre interprétation 2003-0045851E5 et notre commentaire F2004-0088411C6. Nous continuons de croire que le terme " personne rattachée à un actionnaire d'une société " tel que prévu au paragraphe 15(2.1) de la Loi peut comprendre une société de personnes.

Raisons: L'ARC n'a pas eu gain de cause devant la Cour canadienne de l'impôt (voir Gillette c. La Reine, 2003 DTC 5078) qui a conclu que si une personne pouvait être rattachée à un actionnaire d'une société aux termes du paragraphe 15(2.1), il n'en était pas de même pour une société de personnes. La Cour d'appel fédérale a également donné raison au contribuable mais pour des motifs différents.

16 December 2010 Internal T.I. 2010-0354101I7 - Salary Deferral Arrangement

Unedited CRA Tags
248(1); 6801(a)(iii)

Principal Issues: Does the receipt of additional salary equal to 20% of usual wages from the employer violate subparagraph 6801(a)(iii) of the Income Tax Regulations?

Position: Yes.

Reasons: Pursuant to 6801(a)(iii) of the Income Tax Regulations an employee cannot receive any salary or wages from the employer (or anyone not dealing at arm's length with the employer) during the leave of absence, other than deferred amounts or regular fringe benefits.