Alexander Marino is quoted in an article titled “‘Scary’: Why US expats are tossing their citizenships – and it’s not just Trump” in The Sydney Morning Herald, November 1, 2024
Kenneth Keung is quoted in the Investment Executive article titled “Quirk in capital gains tax rules raises risks for incorporated clients,” published on July 24, 2024.
Kenneth Keung is quoted in the Investment Executive article titled “How should trusts flow out capital gains to beneficiaries in 2024?”, July 5, 2024.
Kim G C Moody, Kenneth Keung, and Christopher Ellett are quoted in the Investment Executive article titled “When is the latest clients can sell assets prior to June 25?”, published on May 17, 2024.
Alexander Marino recently appeared on the Global Investment Voice Podcast to discuss the benefits of renouncing US citizenship on March 14, 2024.
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Donation of private corporation shares and real estate – new Canadian legislative proposals released
A number of years ago, the government introduced legislation (under paragraph 38(a.1) of the Income Tax Act – the “Act”) that exempts from taxation realized capital gains when publicly traded securities are gifted directly to registered charities. Subsequent to the introduction of such rules, many commentators have suggested that donations to charities from proceeds realized upon the disposition of real estate and private corporation shares should also be subject to a similar capital gains exception. The government has resisted introducing such measures until the 2015 Federal Budget (the “Budget”) which was released on April 21, 2015.
A rare example of a one-client business found by the Tax Court to not be a personal services business
On August 12, 2015, the Tax Court of Canada (“TCC”) released its judgment in C.J. McCarty Inc. v The Queen1. McCarty is one of many personal services business (“PSB”) reassessment cases published in the recent years, but what makes this case interesting is that it is one of few where the taxpayer emerges successful despite having only one significant client and being compensated at a fixed hourly rate. In this short article, we will examine the unique facts that led the court to its judgment.
Planning using principal residence trusts for immigrants to Canada
As many of our readers know, the Canadian Income Tax Act (the “Act”) provides for an unlimited exemption from the imposition of Canadian income tax on the gains resulting from a disposition of a “principal residence”. Access to the principal residence exemption can be valuable, especially in cities (e.g. Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary) where residential properties have enjoyed robust appreciation.
Increases to Alberta Tax Rates
For better or worse, on June 18, 2015, Alberta’s newly elected NDP provincial government released Bill 2, which immediately received First Reading in the Legislature and passed. Even though the Bill is still not law, it will undoubtedly pass into law soon. Bill 2 contains corporate and personal tax increases that are, quite frankly, shocking. While “shocking” may not be a correct description, especially since the NDP had campaigned on the tax increases that are contained in the Bill, many Alberta tax practitioners, like us, are still shocked that such abrupt increases are actually going to see the light of day.
If it quacks like a Partnership, it is a… Corporation?
At the Canada Revenue Agency (“CRA”) Roundtable session during the International Fiscal Association Conference on May 28, 2015, the CRA was once again asked to comment on the issue of foreign entity classification. In contrast to the CRA’s usual response of merely reaffirming the use of the “two-step” approach, the CRA revealed several surprising insights about their views. The CRA indicated that they are currently analyzing entity classification for Florida and Delaware Limited Liability Limited Partnerships (“LLLPs”) as well as Florida Limited Liability Partnerships (“LLPs”), none of which have previously been the subject of specific determination by the CRA with respect to their classification.
No Social Security number, goodbye passport?
As another season of summer travel starts, Canadian residents with US ties should make sure they are thinking carefully about their tax obligations. Tax compliance may not be first in the minds of most people planning trips to the US, but Congress and the Obama administration certainly are thinking about the combination of travel and taxation. If a proposed law is enacted, US passport holders with tax debt or without a valid Social Security number could, as soon as 2016, find themselves losing that passport and maybe even being forced to remain in the US until the issues are resolved.
Alexander Marino is quoted in an article titled “‘Scary’: Why US expats are tossing their citizenships – and it’s not just Trump” in The Sydney Morning Herald, November 1, 2024
Kenneth Keung is quoted in the Investment Executive article titled “Quirk in capital gains tax rules raises risks for incorporated clients,” published on July 24, 2024.
Kenneth Keung is quoted in the Investment Executive article titled “How should trusts flow out capital gains to beneficiaries in 2024?”, July 5, 2024.
Kim G C Moody, Kenneth Keung, and Christopher Ellett are quoted in the Investment Executive article titled “When is the latest clients can sell assets prior to June 25?”, published on May 17, 2024.
Alexander Marino recently appeared on the Global Investment Voice Podcast to discuss the benefits of renouncing US citizenship on March 14, 2024.
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