CRA will change its practices so as to start denying partial ITC claims by orthodontists

Brian Hurd found that an incorporated orthodontic practice was making a single supply of exempt orthodontic health services rather than (as argued by it) two supplies comprised of a zero-rated supply of medical equipment (the orthodontic appliance) and of exempt orthodontic services (e.g., adjustment and maintenance services). (Zero-rating would have generated input tax credits.)

CRA has indicated that, as a consequence, it will be withdrawing its current administrative practice – which was to allow orthodontists to treat 35% of most of their taxable expenses as eligible for input tax credits provided that their invoices to their patients broke out a separate charge for the orthodontic device. (A similar practice respecting dental implants also will go.) However, it will provide advance notice of when this practice is being withdrawn so that “stakeholders … can prepare accordingly.”

Neal Armstrong. Summary of 8 March 2018 CBA Commodity Tax Roundtable, Q.5 under Sched. V. Pt. II, s. 5.