Cases
International Nickel Co. of Canada Ltd. v. MNR, 71 DTC 5332, [1971] CTC 604 (FCTD)
The taxpayer made continual outlays on scientific research carried out by its personnel in order to identify improvements to its methods for processing ores. In accepting the taxpayer's position that these expenditures (which were deducted by it under s. 72 of the pre-1972 Act) were not deductible from its resource profits for purposes of the depletion allowance. After asserting that "if a patent is obtained the patent will represent a capital asset" (p. 5349), Cattanach J. went on to state that he was "unable to distinguish between an expenditure on scientific research which results in a patent and a similar expenditure which does not result in a patent but does result in the accumulation of a store of new knowledge upon which the appellant can draw and does draw to keep itself to the forefront of the particular trade in which it is engaged" (p. 5349).
| Locations of other summaries | Wordcount | |
|---|---|---|
| Tax Topics - General Concepts - Accounting Principles | 90 | |
| Tax Topics - Income Tax Act - Section 18 - Subsection 18(1) - Paragraph 18(1)(b) - Capital Expenditure v. Expense - Know-How and Training | 145 | |
| Tax Topics - Income Tax Act - Section 37 - Subsection 37(1) | s. 37 permits deduction of capital expenditures on research | 114 |
| Tax Topics - Income Tax Regulations - Regulation 1204 - Subsection 1204(1) | 145 | |
| Tax Topics - Statutory Interpretation - Interpretation Act - Section 16 | 59 |
See Also
Setchell v. The Queen, 2006 DTC 2279, 2006 TCC 37 (Informal Procedure)
Before going on to find that an individual who had been making serious and continuing efforts to establish a business of providing for personal software services (albeit unsuccessful to date) was entitled to deduct the costs of a four-week course she took with an enterprise software company in order to upgrade her skills, Woods J. stated (at p.2281):
"The general principle is that training costs will be deductible as a current expense if they are incurred to maintain, update or upgrade an already existing skill or qualification."
| Locations of other summaries | Wordcount | |
|---|---|---|
| Tax Topics - Income Tax Act - Section 18 - Subsection 18(1) - Paragraph 18(1)(b) - Capital Expenditure v. Expense - Know-How and Training | 93 |
Shaver v. The Queen, 2003 DTC 2112, 2004 TCC 10
Expenses incurred by the taxpayer, an Amway distributor, in attending "business training seminars" (characterized by the court as conventions) in Canada and the U.S. were found to be on capital account given that "the acquisition of new skills and increased knowledge by the attendees forms an integral part of those seminars" (p. 2119).
Shaw Flexible Tubes v. MNR, 68 DTC 443 (TAB)
The taxpayer agreed with a U.S. corporation ("Moore") that in consideration for an exclusive licence for the use in Canada by the taxpayer of Moore's technical information respecting methods for manufacturing and producing flexible tubes, the taxpayer would pay $25,000 on signing plus an additional formula royalty based on its sales from the related products. In finding that the $25,000 initial payment was a capital expenditure, Mr. Davis noted that no portion of this amount was refundable by Moore if the agreement were terminated, and that it was clear that the payment was not based on the use made of the information.
| Locations of other summaries | Wordcount | |
|---|---|---|
| Tax Topics - Income Tax Act - Section 18 - Subsection 18(1) - Paragraph 18(1)(b) - Capital Expenditure v. Expense - Know-How and Training | 103 |
British Sugar Manufacturers, Ltd. v. Harris (1937), 21 TC 528 (C.A.)
The taxpayer agreed to pay 20% of its net profits to other corporations in consideration for their provision of managerial services and advice on technical matters. In finding the payments by the taxpayer to be deductible as "money wholly and exclusively laid out or expended for the purposes of the trade", Sir Greene, M.R. noted that although where a person purchases a share of profits, a payment of profits to that person will not be deductible, here "it is not cash that passes in exchange for these profits; it is services, and the badge of such a contract is remuneration for services ..." (p. 546).