Budget 2021 – Tax enforcement, audits, and oral interviews
Recently, Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, presented the 2021 Budget on behalf of the Government of Canada (“GOC”). Debits and Credits. The cornerstone of any accounting textbook. For the federal government, the debits (spending) have not...
Budget update – Sales, excise, and digital services tax
On April 19, 2021, the federal budget was tabled by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland (“Budget 2021”). Budget 2021 confirmed the measures first announced on November 30, 2020 in Supporting Canadians and Fighting COVID-19: Fall Economic Statement...
What a non-resident vendor of goods needs to know about Canadian sales tax
When the federal goods and services tax (“GST”) was introduced in 1991, “Seinfeld” was on the air and most consumer goods were purchased at brick and mortar stores. Fast forward to 2021 and puffy shirts can be purchased online from...
Expansion to BC PST registration and collection rules effective April 1, 2021
In Provincial Budget 2020, measures were announced that would require businesses not otherwise carrying on business in British Columbia (“BC”) to register for and collect PST. Amendments to the Provincial Sales Tax Act (British Columbia) (“BC PSTA”) were supposed to...
COVID-19 relief for resource companies: Resource issuers may rely on proposed extensions
Resource companies that have issued flow-through shares shortly before or during the global COVID-19 pandemic may have faced difficulties, including the shutdown of mines, incurring eligible resource expenses within the normal timelines required under the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the...
Proposed limits on employee stock option deductions
Introduction The long-standing tradition of using employee stock options to reward and retain employees in Canada is expected to change for some employees due to limits proposed by the federal government to the current advantageous tax treatment available to employees...
GST/HST relief on face masks and face shields
On November 30, 2020, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, released Supporting Canadians and Fighting COVID-19: Fall Economic Statement 2020 (the “Economic Statement”). To support public health during the COVID‑19 pandemic, the Economic Statement announced...
Fall Economic Statement 2020: GST/HST measures targeted at the digital economy
On November 30, 2020, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, tabled Supporting Canadians and Fighting COVID-19: Fall Economic Statement 2020 (the “Economic Statement”). The Economic Statement announced major changes to the GST/HST regime as it...
Audit First, Pay GST/HST Tax Refunds (Much) Later
Canadian Tax Focus, Volume 10, Number 4, November 2020
GST/HST registrants who commonly make zero-rated supplies often file a return claiming a net tax refund, relying on the prompt payment of that refund in order to finance their businesses. The minister is required to pay the refund “with all...
No appeal of tax court decision in CanLII v. MNR
The decision of the Tax Court of Canada in CanLII v. MNR will not be appealed by the Minister of National Revenue. The case was argued on behalf of the registrant CanLII (Canadian Legal Information Institute) by Miller Thomson partners...
