Income Tax Severed Letters - 2003-05-09

Ruling

24 April 2003 Ruling 2003-0009843 - RPP PENSIONABLE EARNINGS STOCK OPTION

Unedited CRA Tags
6 7 147.1

Principal Issues: Can employee stock option benefits be included as pensionable earnings for a registered pension plan?

Position: Yes

Reasons: "Compensation" in subsection 147.1(1) includes amounts in respect of office or employment that are required by section 5 or 6 to be included in income. Benefits calculated under s.7 are included in income pursuant to 6(1)(a) of the Act.

2003 Ruling 2002-0169903 - PHANTOM STOCK UNITS DIRECTORS

Unedited CRA Tags
REG 6801(d)

Principal Issues:
Will a phantom stock plan for directors be excluded from the salary deferral arrangement rules by paragraph 6801(d)?

Position: Yes

Reasons: The conditions in paragraph 6801(d) of the Regulations are satisfied.

Technical Interpretation - External

9 May 2003 External T.I. 2003-0013555 - RPP TRANSFER TO RRSP

Unedited CRA Tags
147.1(3) 147.3

Principal Issues: Can an amount be transferred from an RPP to an RRSP.

Position: Only as a normal RRSP contribution.

Reasons:
An amount can only be transferred under a special transfer provision of the Act if it is a single amount as defined in the Act.

7 May 2003 External T.I. 2003-0182755 F - Superficial Loss on Shares

Unedited CRA Tags
40(2)(g)(i) 40(2)(g)(iv)(B) 53(1)(f)
transactions for sale by individual to her husband circumvented s. 40(2)(g)(i) through the sale by him back to her RRSP, and could be GAARable
sale by individual to her husband followed by immediate sale by him to her RRSP, circumvented s. 40(2)(g)(iv)(B)

Principal Issues:
In the particular situation:
1. Whether 40(2)(g)(i) will apply where an individual disposes of shares to her spouse.
2. Whether 40(2)(g)(i) or 40(2)(g)(iv)(B) will apply where an individual disposes of shares to her spouse and after a 31 day period her spouse disposes of same shares to individual's self-directed RRSP.
3. Whether 40(2)(g)(i), 40(2)(g)(iv)(B) or GAAR will apply where an individual disposes of shares to her spouse and immediately thereafter her spouse disposes of same shares to individual's self-directed RRSP.

Position:
1. Yes.
2. 40(2)(g)(i) and 40(2)(g)(iv)(B) apply.
3. GAAR may apply.

Reasons:
1. The spouse is affiliated with the individual.
2. The spouse is affiliated with the individual and he retains shares for more than 30 days. Wording of 40(2)(g)(iv)(B) with respect to the disposition of the shares to the RRSP.
3. See E 2001-0112055

7 May 2003 External T.I. 2002-0178305 - DISPOSITION OF WATER RIGHTS

Unedited CRA Tags
14 110.6

Principal Issues: Whether disposition of water rights, originally capitalized to the cost of the associated farmland, would be considered a disposition of land or eligible capital property; If it is ECP, could any of the original cost be reallocated to the CEC pool; Could a 14(1.01) election me made with respect to the disposition?

Position: Given the change in Albert legislation, proceeds would probably result in an eligible capital amount; Prior to change in law, costs were correctly capitalized to the land, and there is no provision in the Act allowing these costs to be reallocated to CEC; Question of fact whether 14(1.01) election could be made.

Reasons: Meets the mirror image test in subsection 14(5) in that, now that these 14(1) rights can be sold separately from the land, the purchaser could make a reasonable argument that they are eligible capital property; Since these rights were correctly considered to be part of the land, there is no mechanism to transfer the costs to the CEC pool because of a change in the provincial legislation; All of the facts of a particular situation must be considered before any definitive comments can be made on subsection 14(1.01).14(5)

7 May 2003 External T.I. 2003-0183345 - ACCUMULATED PROFITS CONSOLIDATED

Unedited CRA Tags
20(1)(c)(1)

Principal Issues:
Whether, in determining interest deductibility in a situation that is within the exceptional circumstances category, CCRA's position on computing the "accumulated profits" could be expanded such that it would allow the retained earnings of a parent corporation and its subsidiaries to be computed on a consolidated basis.

7 May 2003 External T.I. 2003-0004735 - CAPITAL COST ALLOWANCE

Unedited CRA Tags
Class 43 Class 8

Principal Issues:
Whether certain bakery equipment is included in Class 43 of Schedule II of the Regulations.

Position: Question of fact.

Reasons:
Provided the equipment was acquired after February 25, 1992 and would otherwise have been included in Class 29, it will qualify for inclusion in Class 43.

7 May 2003 External T.I. 2003-0184005 - ACCUMULATED PROFITS CONSOLIDATED

Unedited CRA Tags
20(1)(c)(i)

Principal Issues:
Whether, in determining interest deductibility in a situation that is within the exceptional circumstances category, CCRA's position on computing the "accumulated profits" could be expanded such that it would allow the retained earnings of a parent corporation and its subsidiaries to be computed on a consolidated basis.

7 May 2003 External T.I. 2002-0164995 F - SENS DE ENSEMBLE DES BENEFICIE

Unedited CRA Tags
110.6(14)c)
whether meaning of “beneficiary” outside ss. 104-108 includes those in the class who have not been designated depends on the context
“all of the beneficiaries” only references those of the potential class who have been designated as beneficiaries

Principales Questions:
Est-ce que l'expression " l'ensemble des bénéficiaires " utilisée au sous-alinéa 110.6(14)c)(ii) de la Loi vise tant les bénéficiaires éventuels pouvant être désignés par le fiduciaire que les bénéficiaires déjà nommés au moment de la vente des actions ?

Position Adoptée:
Seulement les bénéficiaires déjà nommés au moment de la vente des actions.

6 May 2003 External T.I. 2003-0013545 - Grandfathering Rules for Subsection 112(3.2)

Unedited CRA Tags
112(3.2)

Principal Issues: Impact of a Stock Split or Consolidation on the status of grandfathered shares for the purpose of subsection 112(3.2).

Position: Status not affected if all conditions in IT-65 are met.

Reasons: There is no disposition or acquisition of any share.

6 May 2003 External T.I. 2003-0181495 F - DEDUCTIBILITY DES INTERETS

Unedited CRA Tags
20(1)(c) 20.1
post-Ludco, CRA accepts that interest borrowed at a rate higher than the fixed-return for the investment, is generally deductible

Principales Questions:
1. Un contribuable peut-il continuer à déduire les intérêts sur de l'argent emprunté lorsqu'il n'a plus la source de revenu s'y rapportant?
2. Quel est le sens du mot revenu à l'alinéa 20(1)c) de la Loi.

2 May 2003 External T.I. 2003-0183995 - ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE

Unedited CRA Tags
28(5)

Principal Issues:
Can a cash basis farmer transfer an account receivable to a corporation pursuant to subsection 85(1) of the Act? If so, can the corporation report, as income, the amount realized on such receivables in the year of receipt?

Position:
Section 85(1) of the Act cannot be used by a cash basis farmer for accounts receivable.

Reasons: Paragraph 15 of IT-433R

2 May 2003 External T.I. 2003-0006395 - US RETIRING ALLOWANCE PAID TO CANADIAN

Unedited CRA Tags
60(j.1)

Principal Issues:
1. Will a severance payment received by a Canadian resident from his or her former U.S. employer be taxable as a retiring allowance?
2. Will the income taxes paid to the U.S. be eligible for the foreign tax credit?

Position:
1. Yes.
2. Yes.
REASONS:
1. Retiring allowance included in income under 56(1)(a)(ii) of the Act.
2. The foreign tax credit will apply in accordance with section 126 of the Act.

XXXXXXXXXX 2003-000639

1 May 2003 External T.I. 2002-0178105 - ADVANTAGE IN AN RRSP

Unedited CRA Tags
146(2)(c.4)

Principal Issues:
Is a donation to a school or organization, given by a credit union when you purchase an RRSP, a prohibited advantage?

Position:
Yes, if the annuitant can direct the payment to the organization of his or her choice.

Reasons: Based on past positions taken with respect to paragraph 146(2)(c.4).

29 April 2003 External T.I. 2003-0007335 - NPO STATUS, CORPORATE REORGANIZATION

Unedited CRA Tags
149(1)(L)

Principal Issues:
Where an NPO is reorganized from a corporation with share capital to a corporation without share capital, various questions are asked pertaining to the NPO's status.

Position: In order to respond to each question, we would need all of the facts.

Reasons:
An advance income tax ruling should be requested. General information provided..

25 April 2003 External T.I. 2003-0013485 - RESTRICTED SHARE UNITS SDA RULES

Unedited CRA Tags
248(1)

Principal Issues:
Will we consider a specific restricted share unit (RSU) plan to be a salary deferral arrangement (SDA)?

Position:
Probably an SDA but it is a question of fact that should be the subject of an advance income tax ruling.

Reasons: RSUs have inherent value at the time of the grant .

24 April 2003 External T.I. 2003-0008355 - Foreign investment entity rule

Unedited CRA Tags
94.1(1)

Principal Issues: Whether a certain unit trust resident in Canada owns a participating interest in a non-resident entity in the situation outlined in the letter?

Position: Yes

Reasons: Paragraph (d) of the definition of "participating interest" would apply.

24 April 2003 External T.I. 2003-0012285 - TAXATION OF STATUS INDIANS EI BENEFITS

Unedited CRA Tags
81(1)(a)

Principal Issues: Would a status Indian's EI payments be exempt from tax?

Position: Probably not, based on the information provided.

Reasons: EI benefits can be tax exempt if the employment income to which they relate was tax exempt. This individual was working off reserve, for off-reserve employers. The employment income was likely not connected to reserve and not tax exempt.

17 April 2003 External T.I. 2003-0009105 - RETIRING ALLOWANCE-RRIF

Unedited CRA Tags
60(j.1)

Principal Issues: Can a retiring allowance be transferred to a RRIF?

Position: No.

Reasons: Paragraph 60(j.1) only allows rollovers to RPPs and unmatured RRSPs.

15 April 2003 External T.I. 2003-0004605 - Taxation of Canadian offices (XXXXXXXXXX )

Unedited CRA Tags
81(1)(c) XXXXXXXXXX

Principal Issues: Are profits attributable to the Canadian offices of a non-resident airline taxable in Canada?

Position: Generally, no.

Reasons: Paragraph 81(1)(c) of the Income Tax Act or the Shipping and Air Transport Article of bilateral tax treaties.

Technical Interpretation - Internal

28 April 2003 Internal T.I. 2003-0007327 - Barbados SRL

Unedited CRA Tags
Regulation s. 5907(1) 5907(11.2) Barbados Convention Treaty

Principal Issues: (1) Is a Barbados Society with Restricted Liability ("SRL") a corporation for purposes of the Act? (2) Are SRLs entitled to benefits under the Canada-Barbados Tax Agreement (the "Barbados Convention")? (3) Are SRLs resident in a designated treaty country for purposes of Part LIX of the Income Tax Regulations (Canada) (the "ITR")?

Position: (1) Yes. (2) No for an International/Exempt SRL; but yes for a Non-Exempt SRL. (3) Yes for both International/Exempt SRLs and Non-Exempt SRLs, assuming that they are resident in Barbados under the Canadian common law principles.

Reasons: (1) It has characteristics that more closely resemble a corporation under Canadian common law. (2) Article XXX(3) of the Barbados Convention applies to an International/Exempt SRL but does not apply to a Non-Exempt SRL. (3) Assuming that they are resident in Barbados under Canadian common law principles, an International/Exempt SRL would satisfy the condition in paragraph 5907(11.2)(c) of the Income Tax Regulations (the "ITR") and a Non-Exempt SRL would satisfy the condition in paragraph 5907(11.2)(a).

25 April 2003 Internal T.I. 2003-0009847 - RPP PENSIONABLE EARINGS STOCK OPTION

Unedited CRA Tags
6 7 147.1

Principal Issues: Can employee stock option benefits be included as pensionable earnings for a registered pension plan?

Position: Yes

Reasons: "Compensation" in subsection 147.1(1) includes amounts in respect of office or employment that are required by section 5 or 6 to be included in income. Benefits calculated under s.7 are included in income pursuant to 6(1)(a) of the Act.

23 April 2003 Internal T.I. 2003-0008767 F - Benefits Conferred on Shareholders

Unedited CRA Tags
15(1) 40(2)(g)(iii)
shareholder benefit where house sold to shareholder at a loss attributable to its having been built to his luxury specifications
house provided for use of the corporation’s shareholder (giving rise to s. 15(1) benefit) was personal-use property
policy of s. 46(4) supported the finding of a shareholder benefit when personal-use property of corporation sold at a loss (representing luxury elements that did not add value) to its shareholder

Principal Issues: Whether subsection 15(1) applies, in two particular situations where a corporation sold an asset to its shareholder for a price equal to the FMV of the asset but below the cost amount of the particular asset.

Position: Subsection 15(1) applies in the first particular situation only.

Reasons: In the first particular situation, the property sold is a personal use property of the corporation and the difference between the cost amount and the sale price of the property is considered to be the value of a benefit conferred on a shareholder on the basis of William H. Seeley v. MNR, 59 DTC 283 (TAB).
In the second particular situation, there was no benefit conferred on a shareholder because all the transactions were bona fide business transactions.

16 April 2003 Internal T.I. 2002-0168867 - Small business deduction; FTC Calculation

Unedited CRA Tags
125 126

Principal Issues: 1. Can a "penalty" amount for terminating a supply contract paid to a Canadian business by a U.S. resident be included in computing the limit for the Canadian business' small business deduction?
2. If the answer to 1. is yes, what is the effect on the SBD of a FTC for U.S. taxes paid with respect this income.

Position: 1. Based on the facts as presented, yes.
2. It is not clear that a foreign tax credit should be available in the circumstances of this case - why was the U.S. entitled to tax this income if it was income from a Canadian business with no PE in the U.S.? Assuming that the U.S. tax is not contrary to the Convention, then, since we consider this to be business income from a business carried on in Canada, it is the non-business income tax credit that is available (pursuant to the administrative position set out in IT-270). This means that it is subparagraph 125(1)(b)(i) that applies (i.e., the applicable fraction is 10/3 not 10/4 - the taxpayer's calculation used the 10/4 fraction from subparagraph 125(1)(b)(ii)).

Reasons: 1. 1. The income from the U.S. supplier appears to be income pertaining to or incidental to the business.
2. Administrative position from IT-270R2 and application of subparagraph 125(1)(b)(ii).

16 April 2003 Internal T.I. 2002-0160807 - Foreign exchange - Hedged receivables

Unedited CRA Tags
9

Principal Issues: Should foreign currency denominated accounts receivable be translated at the year-end exchange rate where the receivables are hedged by forward currency contracts?

Position: Yes but the foreign exchange gain or loss on the accounts receivable will be offset by the foreign exchange loss or gain on the forward currency contracts. In effect, it is equivalent to using the forward exchange rate to translate the receivables.

Reasons: GAAP and "truer picture" as the foreign exchange gain or loss was locked in at the time the forward contracts were entered into.