24 August 1989 Income Tax Severed Letter AC58287 - Winding-up - When a Dividend is Deemed Paid and a Shareholder Considered to Have Disposed of Shares

Please note that the following document, although believed to be correct at the time of issue, may not represent the current position of the CRA.
Prenez note que ce document, bien qu'exact au moment émis, peut ne pas représenter la position actuelle de l'ARC.

5-8287
                   19(1)                             D. Watson
                                                     613-957-2121

August 24, 1989

Dear Sirs:

Re: Subsection 164(6) and 84(2)

This is in response to your letter of June 14, 1989 in which you requested our opinion regarding the application of subsections 164(6) and 84(2) of the Income Tax Act (the "Act") where a capital loss arises on the winding-up of a corporation by the executor of an estate. Specifically, you requested an opinion as to when subsection 84(2) of the Act deems a dividend to have been paid and when, during the course of a wind-up, a shareholder is considered to have disposed of shares for the purposes of subsection 164(6) of the Act.

Where subsection 84(2) is applicable, that is, where property is distributed on a winding-up, a dividend is deemed to have been paid when the property is distributed. Interpretation Bulletin IT-126R explains the words "on the winding-up" in general terms. However, in a specific situation the facts would have to be evaluated to determine that a wind-up is in progress and that a distribution of corporate property is part of the process.

With respect to your second question, it is the Department's view that there is no disposition of the shares of the corporation being dissolved until the certificate of dissolution has been issued and the corporation has been dissolved and there are no reasons to believe that the corporation may thereafter be revived. However, as set out in paragraph 5 of IT-126R , the Department is prepared to accept that there has been a wind up, and consequently a disposition of the shares of the corporation by a shareholder, where the formal dissolution of the corporation is not complete but there is substantial evidence that the corporation will be dissolved within a short period of time.

These comments do not constitute an advance income tax ruling and are not binding on the Department with respect to a specific taxpayer.

Your truly, for Direction Reorganizations and Non-Resident Division Specialty Rulings Directorate Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs Branch