Income Tax Severed Letters - 2012-11-14

Ruling

2012 Ruling 2012-0432341R3 - XXXXXXXXXX Common Contractual Fund

CRA Tags
94(1), Part XIII

Principal Issues: Characterization of XXXXXXXXXX CCF for purposes of the Act

Position: A contractual arrangement.

Reasons: The investors maintain an undivided co-ownership interest in the property held by the CCF.

Ministerial Correspondence

13 September 2012 Ministerial Correspondence 2012-0458321M4 - Dividend Gross-Up

Principal Issues: Whether there is another way of calculating income by using the actual amount of dividends received, not the gross-up amount.

Position: No

Reasons: There is no discretion to calculate income without the gross-up factor.

Technical Interpretation - External

23 October 2012 External T.I. 2012-0463841E5 - Cumulative Canadian Development Expenses

CRA Tags
66.2, 2005-0111431E5, IT-125R4, 66.2(2), 66.2(5)

Summary under s. 66.2(5).

Principal Issues: 1. Whether a taxpayer can deduct the balance in the CCDE pool after the disposition of all resource properties?

Position: No

Reasons: The pool can only be deducted under the rules in subsection 66.2(2).

22 October 2012 External T.I. 2012-0452491E5 F - Repas fournis dans le cadre d'une formation

CRA Tags
67.1(2)(a), 67.1(2)(c), 20(10), 18(1)(h), 18(1)(a), 67, 9, 67.1(3), 67.1(1)
Pink Elephant followed/potential exception for training business where it breaks out meals on its invoices
trainees required to break out meal portion of their invoices even if not separately identified
training expenses deductible (subject to s. 67.1(1)) provided that no new skill or qualification is acquired
deductibility of meal portion of training charges may be denied under s. 18(1)(h)

Principal Issues: (1) L'Agence du revenu du Canada accepte-elle les conclusions de la décision de la Cour canadienne de l'impôt Pink Elephant?
(2) Dans le cas où un formateur exploite une entreprise et facture aux participants un montant forfaitaire qui comprend les frais de formation et des repas et pauses café, une exception à la limite de 50% du paragraphe 67.1(1) de la Loi de l'impôt sur le revenu (la "Loi") peut-elle s'appliquer à cette entreprise?
(3) Un participant à la formation peut-il déduire la totalité des frais afférents à la formation, qui comprend un montant pour les repas même si celui-ci n'est pas indiqué distinctement sur la facture de formation?

POSITION ADOPTÉE: (1) L'ARC n'est pas liée à une décision de procédure informelle, qui ne crée pas un précédent jurisprudentiel, mais acceptera d'accorder le traitement fiscal énoncé par la Cour canadienne de l'impôt à des situations similaires.
(2) Question de fait. Possiblement, si toutes les conditions des alinéas 67.1(2)a) ou c) de la Loi sont respectées.
(3) Non, la portion des dépenses reliées aux aliments et boissons est soumise à la limite de 50% même si la dépense est faite dans le but de gagner du revenu d'entreprise, n'est pas personnelle et est raisonnable.

Raisons: 1. La décision de la Cour s’applique à des situations similaires.
2. Question de fait.
3. Puisque les dépenses des participants ne sont pas visées par aucune des exceptions du paragraphe 67.1(1), ce dernier s'applique pour l'ensemble de la Loi incluant les alinéas 18(1)a) et 18(1)h), à l'exclusion toutefois des articles 62, 63, 118.01, et 118.2.

16 October 2012 External T.I. 2012-0454451E5 - Donation of flow-through shares

CRA Tags
118.1(6), 248(35), 110.1(3), 248(31)

Principal Issues: Under the proposed split-receipting amendments, where a taxpayer donates flow-through shares issued by a resource company that is a "private corporation" to a registered charity, is the taxpayer able to claim a donation tax credit relating to the gift?

Position: Based on the facts provided, proposed subsection 248(35) and subsection 66.3(3) of the Act would apply. As a result, the eligible amount of the gift is considered to be nil. General comments provided.

Reasons: The issue identified is one of tax policy. A legislative amendment would be required to change the tax result.

16 October 2012 External T.I. 2012-0437911E5 - Donation of flow-through shares

CRA Tags
40(12), 38(a.1)

Principal Issues: The taxpayer requested clarification of the measures enacted in Bill C-13 (2011 Federal budget) with respect to the donation of publicly-listed securities to registered charities.

Position: General comments provided.

Reasons: Legislation.

15 October 2012 External T.I. 2012-0458201E5 - Ontario FIT / microFIT Programs

CRA Tags
ITR 1100(27), ITR 1100(26), ITR 1100(29), ITR 1100(24), ITR 1100(28), ITR 1100(25)

Principal Issues: Are there exceptions to the restrictions on the "specified energy property" rules in subsection 1100(24) to (29)?

Position: Yes.

Reasons: 1. If you are a sole proprietor or corporation, your business must use greater than 50% of energy.
2. If you are a corporation you must be an eligible corporation, whose principal business is mining, processing, manufacturing, the sale/ distribution/production of energy.

12 October 2012 External T.I. 2012-0436251E5 - Allowable Business Investment Losses

Principal Issues: Whether a guarantee of a loan qualifies as an ABIL in the situation described.

Position: A question of fact but probably yes.

Reasons: Consistent with the findings in The Queen v. E. Byram 99 DTC 5117. Probably reasonable to conclude in the situation described that the taxpayer's motivation for the guarantee was to earn dividend income regardless of whether or not he was a direct shareholder of the corporation for which he guaranteed the loan. The ability to earn income indirectly exists.

12 October 2012 External T.I. 2012-0450291E5 - Mortgage Investment Corporation investing

CRA Tags
130.1(6)
property management subsidiary

Summary under s. 130.1(6).

Principal Issues: Would a mortgage investment corporation lose its status if it invests in shares of a Canadian corporation that owns and manages real property?

Position: The investment in shares of the capital stock of a corporation resident in Canada would not, in and of itself, cause a mortgage investment corporation to lose its status as such.

10 October 2012 External T.I. 2012-0451751E5 F - Statut fiscal des artistes /présomption

CRA Tags
3
status as an employee not affected by presumption in Quebec Status of Artists Act that an independent contractor

Principal Issues: Dans la détermination du statut fiscal (travailleurs indépendants ou employés) d'artistes au sens d'une loi provinciale concernant le statut d'un artiste, l'ARC considère-elle une présomption incorporée dans cette loi provinciale qui détermine qu'un artiste est considéré comme un travailleur indépendant?

POSITION ADOPTÉE: Non, la détermination du statut fiscal d'un artiste s'effectue selon les critères énoncés dans notre publication RC4110 et le Bulletin d'interprétation It-525R.

Raisons: Politique interne de la Direction de la politique législative et des affaires réglementaires.

28 September 2012 External T.I. 2012-0462621E5 - Clarification--Alberta's Climate Change Act

Principal Issues: Clarification of our earlier letter (document 2012-044047) in which we provided the opinion that administrative penalties paid by an emitter for failing to rectify non-compliance with the Alberta's Climate Change legislation would not be deductible for ITA purposes because of section 67.6 of the ITA.

Position: Alberta's Climate Change legislation provides taxpayers the opportunity to comply with emission targets through the use of credits. Payments made to obtain credits in order to comply with the legislation are different than penalties paid for non-compliance. The payment of a penalty for non-compliance is not deductible due to section 67.6 of the ITA

Reasons: Wording of the legislation

Conference

5 October 2012 Roundtable, 2012-0454151C6 F - Registre des déplacements

CRA Tags
230, 6
onus on employer to support benefit computation if kilometer log
no stipulated documentary requirement for kilometer log

Principal Issues: Est-ce qu’un employeur est dans l’obligation d’obtenir un registre des déplacements de ses employés lorsqu’il fournit un véhicule à ces derniers?

POSITION ADOPTÉE: Nous sommes d’avis que la meilleure façon de déterminer l’utilisation à des fins personnelles d’un véhicule est de conserver un registre exact de tous les déplacements effectués pour toute l’année.

Raisons: Position de longue date.

5 October 2012 APFF Roundtable Q. 8, 2012-0454161C6 F - Computation of CDA and Acquisition of Control

CRA Tags
111(4)(a)
purchase of shares of cash-rich company could be part of abusive surplus strip
CDA deduction for net capital losses not affected by their denial under s. 111(4)(a)

Summaries under s. 89(1) - CDA, and s. 245(4).

Principal Issues: Whether the CDA of a corporation should be adjusted to take into account the fact that its net capital losses for a taxation year ending before its acquisition of control are not deductible in computing its taxable income for a taxation year ending after the acquisition of control?

POSITION ADOPTÉE: No.

Raisons: The law.

25 September 2012 CTF Roundtable Q. 8, 2012-0457541C6 - 2012 BC CTF Q8 - Subsection 40(3.61)

CRA Tags
164(6), 40(3.6), 40(3.61)

Principal Issues: The CTF has asked for CRA's comments on whether the relief afforded by subsection 40(3.61) should be extended to other trusts and as to the status of the CBA-CICA Joint Committee on Taxation 2005 submission to the Dep't of Finance on this issue.

Position: Not for CRA to comment.

Reasons: This is a tax policy question which is the purview of Dep't of Finance.

25 September 2012 B.C. CTF Roundtable, 2012-0459411C6 - Allocation of cross-border employee stock options

CRA Tags
115, Treaty Article XV, 7, 126

Summary under s. 115(1)(a)(i).

Principal Issues: Canada is changing its default method of allocating cross-border stock option benefits to be consistent with the OECD.

Position: See below

Reasons: See below

25 September 2012 BC Tax Conference Roundtable, 2012-0457551C6 - Application of 56(2) to discretionary trust

CRA Tags
56(2)
trustee as discretionary beneficiary

Principal Issues: Would we apply 56(2) where sole trustee & also beneficiary distributes trust income to other discretionary beneficiaries aside from him/herself

Position: Perhaps

Reasons: Depends on facts..... we would not automatically apply ss 56(2) in all situations...however we have seen several instances where elaborate arrangements are made to divert professional or business income where 56(2) would apply; also McClurg's outcome should be contained to similar situations...involving shares - not transferrable to trust situation where relationship between trustees & beneficiaries are different from those involving directors and shares.

Technical Interpretation - Internal

24 October 2012 Internal T.I. 2012-0454661I7 F - Conseils de planification financière

CRA Tags
6(1)(a), 6(1)(a)(iv)(B)
exclusion can extend to reimbursement or payment of fees for financial planning

Principal Issues: Quel est le traitement fiscal à accorder à un paiement fait pour des conseils de planification financière XXXXXXXXXX

POSITION ADOPTÉE: Dans la mesure où les montants payés pour des conseils de planification financière le sont pour la réaffectation des employés ou leur retraite, ces montants ne seront pas à inclure dans le calcul du revenu des employés en vertu du 6(1)a)(iv)(B).

Raisons: La loi.

20 September 2012 Internal T.I. 2012-0453071I7 - functional currency

CRA Tags
261

Summary under s. 261(5)(a).

Principal Issues: Whether the following must be reported in the taxpayer's elected functional currency: (1) Shareholders' Resolutions (2) capital dividend account and (3) Form T2054 (capital dividend election form)?

Position: (1) No (2) Yes (3) Yes

Reasons: See below.