CRA treats corporate-owned LP transparently to avoid a surplus anomaly re s. 91(5) dividend

Canco (and its Canadian sub) hold LP which received a $3,000 dividend from a wholly-owned foreign affiliate (FA). Although the dividend came out of FA’s exempt surplus of $3,000, it was deemed insofar as LP was concerned to be deductible as to $2,000 under s. 91(5) respecting previously earned foreign accrual property income.

S. 93.1(2)(d)(i) limits the s. 113 deduction of Canco to the portion of the $3,000 dividend that is included in its income under s. 96(1). Taking into account $300 of interest expense on acquisition debt of LP, the income of Canco (ignoring any other sources and rounding its partnership interest up to 100%) is $700 ($3,000 dividend - $2,000 s. 91(5) deduction - $300 interest expense). However, as CRA does not take into account interest relating to acquisitions by a partnership of FA shares for 93.1(2)(d)(i) limit purposes, the s. 113(1) deduction of Canco is $1,000 rather than $700 – so that in computing its taxable income, Canco would have a loss of $300 (i.e., partnership income of $700, minus a s. 113(1)(a) deduction of $1,000).

CRA considered this to be the appropriate result: there would have been the same $300 loss had Canco directly owned FA ($3,000 dividend - $3,000 s. 113(1) deduction - $300 interest expense). However, CRA considered that it is appropriate to “reinstate” $2,000 of exempt surplus of FA in respect of Canco, and to reduce its taxable surplus in respect of Canco by the same amount.

Neal Armstrong. Summary of 16 May 2018 IFA Roundtable, Q.3 under s. 93.1(2)(d)(i).