Income Tax Severed Letters - 2004-06-18

Ruling

Unedited CRA Tags: 
20(1)(c) 20(1)(f)

Principal Issues: 1. Is interest on the Note the proceeds of which are used for the purpose of earning income from a business deductible under 20(1)(c)? 2. Is a discount paid in satisfaction of the principal amount deductible under 20(1)(f)?

Position: 1. Yes 2. Yes

Reasons: use of the funds is capital. Shallow Discount may apply

Unedited CRA Tags: 
56(1)(d) 104

Principal Issues: Does the income keep its tax-free status where a trust is interposed to pay a non-resident Claimant under a structured settlement?

Position: YES on the annuity payments contributed to the trust and paid to the beneficiaries

Reasons: Nature of funds to the trust is the annuity payment from the structured settlement- IT-365R position is still applicable.

Unedited CRA Tags: 
248(1) 69(1) 181.2

Principales Questions: 1. Un contribuable transfère un immeuble à Nouco qui agit à titre de mandataire et de prête-nom du contribuable à l'égard de ce transfert. Selon la convention de prête-nom, le contribuable demeure propriétaire de l'immeuble. Est-ce qu'il y a disposition aux fins de la Loi lors de ce transfert?
2. Dans le cadre de son mandat, le mandataire contracte un emprunt hypothécaire pour et au nom du mandant. Aux fins de la Loi, est-ce que le contribuable sera considéré comme étant le débiteur hypothécaire?

Position Adoptée: 1. Il n'y aura pas de disposition aux fins de la Loi lors du transfert et le paragraphe 69(1) de la Loi ne s'appliquera pas à l'égard de ce transfert. Par conséquent, en ce qui concerne le contribuable, il n'y aura pas de revenu, de gain en capital ni de récupération de l'allocation du coût en capital à inclure dans son revenu en raison du transfert effectué dans le cadre du mandat. Aux fins de la Loi, le contribuable demeurera propriétaire de l'immeuble transféré au mandataire.
2. Le contribuable sera considéré avoir contracté l'emprunt hypothécaire qui a été contracté par son mandataire au nom du mandant.

Raisons: La convention établit une relation mandant-mandataire entre le contribuable et Nouco et constitue également une contre-lettre. Le contribuable demeure le vrai propriétaire et l'hypothèque contractée par la société à titre de mandataire du contribuable ne constitue pas une dette de Nouco mais une dette du contribuable.

Unedited CRA Tags: 
20(1)(c) 18(4) 88(1)(d)

Principal Issues: 1) Is interest deductible on a loan used to purchase shares of a Targetco? 2) Is interest deductible by Amalco after sub and target have been amalgamated? 3) Are there any thin cap issues? 4) Is the bump available to Amalco under 88(1)(d)?

Position: 1) Yes 2) YES 3) No 4) YES

Reasons: 1) loan used to acquire property - the shares of the outgoing shareholders 2) See par. 21 IT-533. 3) not a back to back loan 4) property is capital and reading of section 87 and 88.

Technical Interpretation - External

Unedited CRA Tags: 
14(5)

Principal Issues: A medical doctor who immigrated to Canada is required to pay exam fees to obtain a licence to practice medicine in Canada. Are the exam fees an "eligible capital expenditure" for the business?

Position: Yes.

Reasons: Interpretation Bulletin IT-357R2, Expenses of Training, indicates that certain training costs that provide an enduring benefit to a taxpayer may be considered an eligible capital expenditure. Training costs would be considered to provide an enduring benefit to a taxpayer where they are incurred to obtain a new skill or qualification. This would include, for example, the costs incurred by a general medical practitioner to qualify as a specialist. On a similar basis, where an immigrant who is already a medical doctor incurs exam fees that are necessary to acquire a license to practice medicine in Canada, the exam fees would also qualify as an eligible capital expenditure.

Unedited CRA Tags: 
248(1)

Principal Issues: Is a payment in lieu of reasonable notice of termination a retiring allowance.

Position: No.

Reasons: Our position is that it is income from employment.

XXXXXXXXXX 2004-006914
J. Gibbons, CGA
June 14, 2004

Unedited CRA Tags: 
20(1)(a) Schedule III 111(5.1) 13(21.2)

Principal Issues: Application of Schedule III in various situations

Position: See letter

Reasons: Provisions of Income Tax Act

Unedited CRA Tags: 
89(1) 20(1)(e.2)

Principal Issues: Does the fact that a private corporation deducted the cost of life insurance premiums in calculating its income effect the addition of the net proceeds of a life insurance policy to its capital dividend account?

Position: No

Reasons: Legislation

Unedited CRA Tags: 
12(3) 12(1)c)

11 June 2004 External T.I. 2004-0076291E5 F - Renonciation aux intérêts à recevoir -- attach -- Subsection 12(3)

renunciation of accrued interest during the year means that there is no inclusion of such interest during the year under s. 12(3) or 12(1)(c)

During the second year (2000-B) of a loan accruing interest at 5% per annum (which had been treated by the parties as requiring the interest to be...

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Principales Questions: 1) Les dispositions du paragraphe 12(3) ou de l'alinéa 12(1)c) de la Loi s'appliquent-elles au créancier lorsqu'il accepte de renoncer aux intérêts à recevoir sur un prêt accordé à un débiteur et constaté par un billet à demande? 2) Dans l'affirmative, le créancier pourra-t-il se prévaloir des dispositions du sous-alinéa 20(1)p)(i) ou du paragraphe 50(1) de la Loi?

Position Adoptée: 1) Non; 2) sans objet

Raisons: Le billet à demande représente une promesse de payer de l'émetteur. Par conséquent, au moment de la renonciation, les intérêts de l'année en question ne sont pas encore dus. Ainsi, lors de la renonciation, le créancier n'a plus aucun droit de recevoir ces intérêts.

Unedited CRA Tags: 
19

Principal Issues: Whether a Canadian licensed real estate agent who advertises in a foreign newspaper for the purpose of encouraging clientele in the foreign country to purchase real estate that the agent has listed for sale in Canada, is restricted in the deductibility of the advertising expense because of section 19 of the Income Tax Act.

Position: Section 19 of the Act will not preclude the deduction of an otherwise deductible advertising expense for an advertisement in a non-Canadian newspaper or periodical that is directed at a market located outside of Canada.

Reasons: Section 19 of the Act precludes the deduction of advertising expenses to the extent they are incurred for advertisements directed at the Canadian market and placed in newspapers or periodicals that do not meet certain Canadian ownership criteria.

Unedited CRA Tags: 
3

Principal Issues: Whether a certain payment received by a taxpayer from an estate is taxable.

Position: No.

Reasons: The payment was received as gift.

Unedited CRA Tags: 
153(1)

Principal Issues: Whether amounts paid to the self-employed individuals are "commissions", and whether self-employed individuals other than real estate and life insurance agents can earn commissions.

Position: The term "commissions" generally refers to amounts earned by a person that are computed with reference to the volume or dollar amount of sales the person makes on behalf of another person. Any person, regardless of his or her profession and who is paid an amount that is calculated on this basis, has earned commissions that are taxable under the Act.

Reasons: The term is not defined in the Act or Regulations.

Unedited CRA Tags: 
126(2) 124

Principal Issues: (i) Where a corporate taxpayer has permanent establishments in several provinces and in a foreign country, whether the formula in section 400 of the Income Tax Regulations and Schedule 5 of the T2 should be used to allocate taxable income to the provinces and the foreign country for the purposes of computing the provincial abatement under subsection 124(1) of the Income Tax Act (the "Act")? (ii) Where foreign tax paid is for a period not coincided with the taxation year of the taxpayer, whether the foreign tax paid should be apportioned to the period in the taxation year? (iii) For purposes of computing foreign business tax credit under subsection 126(2) of the Act, whether the amount of the net qualifying income referred to in subparagraph 126(2.1)(a)(i) would be the amount of the taxable income allocated to the foreign branch computed in accordance with the formula in section 400 of the Income Tax Regulations?

Position: (i) Yes. (ii) Yes. (iii) No.

Reasons: (i) Interpretation of the law. (ii) This is a reasonable and acceptable practice. (iii) The amount of taxable income allocated to the foreign branch for the purposes of computing the provincial abatement under subsection 124(1) of the Act does not have any bearing on the computation of the qualifying income for the purposes of computing foreign tax credit under subsections 126(2) and 126(2.1) of the Act.

Technical Interpretation - Internal

Unedited CRA Tags: 
118.5(1)

Principal Issues: Can a University issue form T2202A to a student in respect of a prior year when tuition fees are not paid until the current year?

Position: Yes

Reasons: Subsection 118.5(1) of the Act, for purposes of the tuition tax credit, does not require that tuition fees have to be paid in a particular year, only that fees are paid "in respect of the year". As there is no requirement under the Act nor in the Regulations that requires or precludes an educational institution from issuing form T2202A, in circumstances where eligible fees under subsection 118.5(1) are paid to the institution in respect of the year, the form T2202A may be issued.

Unedited CRA Tags: 
81(1)(a)

Principal Issues: Is the employment income of certain status Indian employees working at a location near a reserve taxable?

Position: Yes

Reasons: None of the Guidelines apply and there is insufficient connection between the employment income and a reserve to satisfy an "extenuating factors" analysis.

Unedited CRA Tags: 
147(2)(k.2)(ii) 251(2)

Principal Issues: Would executives of a corporation that offers a DPSP for some of its employees be prohibited from becoming plan members by virtue of their shareholdings in other corporations within the corporate group

Position: Yes.

Reasons: Based on the fact scenario in the example, all three would be specified shareholders and thus prohibited pursuant to paragraph 147(2)(k.2) of the Act from becoming beneficiaries of the DPSP.

Unedited CRA Tags: 
12(1)c) 81(1)g.1)

10 June 2004 Internal T.I. 2004-0073781I7 F - Orphelins et orphelines de Duplessis - intérêts -- attach -- Paragraph 3(a)

interest earned on tax-free injury award was taxable

The taxpayer received a lump sum under the National Reconciliation Program for Duplessis Orphans (the "Program") (which the Directorate indicated...

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Principales Questions: Est-ce qu'un montant d'intérêts généré d'un montant d'aide non-imposable reçu en vertu du Programme national de réconciliation des orphelins et orphelines de Duplessis est imposable?

Position Adoptée: Oui.

Raisons: Application de 12(1)c). De plus, l'alinéa 81(1)g.1) n'est pas applicable et il ne s'agit pas d'un montant d'intérêts pré-jugement.

Unedited CRA Tags: 
18(1)a) 20(16)

8 June 2004 Internal T.I. 2004-0067401I7 F - Dépenses d'une entreprise illégale -- attach -- Computation of Profit

onus on taxpayer, who did not keep records, to displace the net worth assessment method results

The taxpayer, had been charged for carrying on an illegal activity, and had not kept books and records. The TSO performed a net worth assessment....

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Locations of other summaries Wordcount
Tax Topics - General Concepts - Onus onus on taxpayer, who did not keep records, to displace the net worth assessment results, with documentation or other “acceptable evidence” 130
Tax Topics - Income Tax Act - Section 20 - Subsection 20(16) terminal loss when illegal equipment was forfeited to the Crown by court order 122
Tax Topics - Income Tax Act - Section 13 - Subsection 13(21) - Disposition of Property disposition when illegal equipment was forfeited to the Crown by court order, rather than when it was seized by the RCMP 167
Tax Topics - Income Tax Act - Section 18 - Subsection 18(1) - Paragraph 18(1)(a) - Legal and other Professional Fees legal fees incurred to defend criminal charges for carrying on an illegal drug business were non-deductible 138

8 June 2004 Internal T.I. 2004-0067401I7 F - Dépenses d'une entreprise illégale -- attach -- Onus

onus on taxpayer, who did not keep records, to displace the net worth assessment results, with documentation or other “acceptable evidence”

The taxpayer, who had been charged for carrying on an illegal activity, and had not kept books and records, was then proposed to be assessed under...

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Locations of other summaries Wordcount
Tax Topics - Income Tax Act - Section 9 - Computation of Profit onus on taxpayer, who did not keep records, to displace the net worth assessment method results 177
Tax Topics - Income Tax Act - Section 20 - Subsection 20(16) terminal loss when illegal equipment was forfeited to the Crown by court order 122
Tax Topics - Income Tax Act - Section 13 - Subsection 13(21) - Disposition of Property disposition when illegal equipment was forfeited to the Crown by court order, rather than when it was seized by the RCMP 167
Tax Topics - Income Tax Act - Section 18 - Subsection 18(1) - Paragraph 18(1)(a) - Legal and other Professional Fees legal fees incurred to defend criminal charges for carrying on an illegal drug business were non-deductible 138

8 June 2004 Internal T.I. 2004-0067401I7 F - Dépenses d'une entreprise illégale -- attach -- Subsection 20(16)

terminal loss when illegal equipment was forfeited to the Crown by court order

The RCMP conducted a search of the business premises of the taxpayer, whose activity was illegal, and seized all equipment related to that...

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Locations of other summaries Wordcount
Tax Topics - Income Tax Act - Section 9 - Computation of Profit onus on taxpayer, who did not keep records, to displace the net worth assessment method results 177
Tax Topics - General Concepts - Onus onus on taxpayer, who did not keep records, to displace the net worth assessment results, with documentation or other “acceptable evidence” 130
Tax Topics - Income Tax Act - Section 13 - Subsection 13(21) - Disposition of Property disposition when illegal equipment was forfeited to the Crown by court order, rather than when it was seized by the RCMP 167
Tax Topics - Income Tax Act - Section 18 - Subsection 18(1) - Paragraph 18(1)(a) - Legal and other Professional Fees legal fees incurred to defend criminal charges for carrying on an illegal drug business were non-deductible 138

8 June 2004 Internal T.I. 2004-0067401I7 F - Dépenses d'une entreprise illégale -- attach -- Disposition of Property

disposition when illegal equipment was forfeited to the Crown by court order, rather than when it was seized by the RCMP

The RCMP conducted a search of the business premises of the taxpayer, whose activity was illegal, and seized all equipment related to that...

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Locations of other summaries Wordcount
Tax Topics - Income Tax Act - Section 9 - Computation of Profit onus on taxpayer, who did not keep records, to displace the net worth assessment method results 177
Tax Topics - General Concepts - Onus onus on taxpayer, who did not keep records, to displace the net worth assessment results, with documentation or other “acceptable evidence” 130
Tax Topics - Income Tax Act - Section 20 - Subsection 20(16) terminal loss when illegal equipment was forfeited to the Crown by court order 122
Tax Topics - Income Tax Act - Section 18 - Subsection 18(1) - Paragraph 18(1)(a) - Legal and other Professional Fees legal fees incurred to defend criminal charges for carrying on an illegal drug business were non-deductible 138

8 June 2004 Internal T.I. 2004-0067401I7 F - Dépenses d'une entreprise illégale -- attach -- Legal and other Professional Fees

legal fees incurred to defend criminal charges for carrying on an illegal drug business were non-deductible

The taxpayer was charged, convicted and imprisoned regarding an illegal activity, along with having the equipment of that business seized and...

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Locations of other summaries Wordcount
Tax Topics - Income Tax Act - Section 9 - Computation of Profit onus on taxpayer, who did not keep records, to displace the net worth assessment method results 177
Tax Topics - General Concepts - Onus onus on taxpayer, who did not keep records, to displace the net worth assessment results, with documentation or other “acceptable evidence” 130
Tax Topics - Income Tax Act - Section 20 - Subsection 20(16) terminal loss when illegal equipment was forfeited to the Crown by court order 122
Tax Topics - Income Tax Act - Section 13 - Subsection 13(21) - Disposition of Property disposition when illegal equipment was forfeited to the Crown by court order, rather than when it was seized by the RCMP 167

Principales Questions: 1. Est-ce qu'un contribuable qui se livre à une activité illégale peut déduire des dépenses dans le calcul de son revenu provenant de cette activité ?
2. Quel est le traitement fiscal à donner aux biens saisis par la GRC qui étaient utilisés dans le cadre de l'exploitation de l'activité illégale ?
3. Est-ce que les frais légaux encourus par le contribuable pour se défendre d'accusations liées à son activité illégale sont déductibles ?

Position Adoptée: 1. Oui, en autant que les dépenses rencontrent les conditions de l'alinéa 18(1)a) de la Loi et ne soient pas restreintes par une autre disposition de la Loi.
2. Il y a disposition du bien saisi au moment où le bien est confisqué par une loi, et ce, pour un produit de disposition qui est nul.
3. Non.

Raisons: 1. L'imposition à titre de revenu d'entreprise des revenus provenant d'activités illégales est clairement établie en fiscalité canadienne. Il faut donc appliquer aux dépenses liées à ce genre de revenus les mêmes principes de déductibilité peu importe que l'activité exploitée soit légale ou illégale.
2. Nous sommes d'avis que les définitions des termes " disposition " et " produit de disposition " sont assez larges pour inclure la disposition des biens confisqués pour un produit de disposition nul. Pour les raisons énoncées au point 1, ces dispositions pourraient entraîner des pertes finales si les conditions de la Loi sont respectées.
3. Il s'agit de frais engagés pour défendre le contribuable personnellement et non pas pour défendre des pratiques commerciales de l'entreprise.

Unedited CRA Tags: 
18(1)b)

Principales Questions: Est-ce qu'une partie des montants que l'acheteur verse au vendeur pour l'acquisition de son établissement peut être considérée comme une "concession" et faire partie de la catégorie 14?

Position Adoptée: Non.

Raisons: Le permis d'exploitation est un BIA car il s'agit d'un bien intangible à durée illimitée. L'acheteur ne paie cependant pas pour le permis (valeur nominale) mais plutôt pour la possibilité d'être subventionné à la place du vendeur. Ça ne rencontre pas la définition d'une concession. Il s'agit d'un bien intangible (un peu comme l'achalandage) et donc, devrait être classé comme un bien en immobilisation admissible.

Unedited CRA Tags: 
81(1)h)

12 May 2004 Internal T.I. 2004-0061071I7 F - Assistance sociale - Famille d'accueil -- attach -- Paragraph 81(1)(h)

receipt of special allowance by the public institution under the CCTB program does not render the assistance to the individual taxable

The Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux du Québec (the "MSSS"), which through MSSS, through public institutions ("PIs"), may directly...

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Principales Questions: 1) Dans quelles circonstances le Particulier peut s'attendre à ce que les montants qu'il reçoit directement de l'usager soient exclus de son revenu en vertu de l'alinéa 81(1)h) de la Loi?
2) Est-ce que le fait d'avoir droit à l'allocation spéciale pour enfants en vertu de la LASE, affecte le statut, autrement non-imposable, de la rétribution que le particulier responsable de la ressource reçoit de l'Établissement public pour cet enfant?
3) L'alinéa 81(1)h) de la Loi peut-il s'appliquer si l'usager verse une rétribution directement à la ressource à partir d'indemnités de l'IVAC, de la CSST ou de la SAAQ qu'il a reçues en vertu de lois provinciales?

Position Adoptée: 1) Pour être un montant visé à l'alinéa 81(1)h), le particulier responsable d'une ressource (famille d'accueil) doit être en mesure de démontrer qu'il s'agit effectivement d'une prestation d'assistance sociale versée dans le cadre d'un programme prévu par une loi fédérale ou provinciale après examen des ressources, des besoins et du revenu de l'usager de la ressource.
2) Non.
3) Non.

Raisons: 1) Il s'agit d'une position énoncée dans le passé et qui n'a pas changé.
2) L'allocation spéciale pour enfants n'est pas une allocation familiale versée en vertu de la Loi sur les allocations familiales.
3) Les indemnités versées en vertu de l'IVAC, la CSSTou la SAAQ ne sont pas des prestations d'assistance sociale déterminées en considérant les ressources, les besoins et le revenu du bénéficiaire.