Friedlan Law Podcast – Episode 2: Colitto Reversed

In this episode of the Friedlan Law Podcast find out about the recent decision of the Federal Court of Appeal in Canada v. Colitto, 2020 FCA 70. The decision of the Federal Court of Appeal overturned the decision of the Tax Court and the victory of the taxpayer. The central question of this case is when an assessment under paragraph 227.1(1) of the Income Tax Act, which relates to directors liability, crystallizes, such that it can give rise to a derivative assessment under Section 160.

 

 

Friedlan Law Podcast – Episode 1: Eyeball Networks Inc.

In this the first episode of the Friedlan Law Podcast the subject of discussion is the recent case of Eyeball Networks Inc. v. Her Majesty the Queen, 2019 TCC 150, which considers the application of section 160 to a scenario colloquially referred to by tax practitioners as a related party butterfly. In a wide ranging discussion Adam and Phil consider some of the critical issues relating to the case including the wider of significance of the case to the world of tax planning.

 

 

Hoch v. The Queen, 2019 TCC 99 (CanLII)

For grammar enthusiasts see the case of Hoch v. The Queen, which hinged on whether the word “or” at the end of subparagraph 8(1)(c)(iii) is disjunctive or conjunctive. The Rabbi owned 3/8 of a property and Aish owned the other 5/8th. The Rabbi was trying to claim two clergy deductions one aimed at properties provided to the clergyman and the value of which is included in income under section 6 and one deduction for self-owned or rented properties. The Rabbi had to claim a deduction under both sub-paragraphs because of the ownership split between himself and Aish. Unfortunately, the structuring of the provision didn’t seem to contemplate an ownership split necessitating claiming a deduction under both (iii) and (iv). Technically the decision seems right but it does seem like the result probably isn’t in accordance with the intent of the legislation.

https://lnkd.in/gjSG72S

Notice of Ways and Means Motion to amend the Income Tax Act

The new legislation restricting the availability of the stock option deduction under 110(1)(d) is out. Very roughly speaking securities issued by corporations other than CCPCs or other corporations meeting other prescribed criteria are ineligible for the 110(1)(d) deduction for options in excess of an amount set out in the formula (roughly $200K per vesting year but with certain modifications). It seems as though the government couldn’t define the criteria that would make a company non-qualifying and will accomplish this by regulation. Also it looks like 110(1)(d.1) wasn’t touched (which is somewhat interesting as you could have a very large CCPC – the only downside is the the two year hold). Any thoughts?

https://www.fin.gc.ca/drleg-apl/2019/nwmm-amvm-0619-2-l-eng.asp

Eyeball Networks Inc. v. The Queen, 2019 TCC 150 (CanLII)

Tax practitioners should check out the recent case of Eyeball Networks Inc. v. The Queen. The case looked at the interaction between section 160 and a related party butterfly transaction. Simplified, the owner manager (“Owner”) of an opco (“Opco”) desired to spin out assets from Opco to a new corporation (“Newco”) because opco had been involved in a market segment with some moral taint. To do so Owner transferred some of his shares of Opco to Newco for shares of Newco employing section 85 to defer any gain. Then Newco purchased some of the assets of Opco in exchange for its own shares and the assumption of certain liabilities (again using section 85 to defer any gain). Then the two sets of shares were redeemed for equal amounts and the redemption prices paid by the issuance of promissory notes of equal face value. The two sets of notes were then set-off. This resulted in a completely tax deferred transfer of assets from Opco to Newco. Opco was then reassessed for taxes and the Minister attempted to chase Newco for them. It was accepted by the parties that although the assessment for Oldco was issued after the butterfly the tax was already exigible under the Act and so that part of 160 had been satisfied.

Newco contended that section 160 did not apply because consideration of equal amount was given for any assets purchased. The Minister wanted to apply 160 in a manner similar to MacDonald (essentially looking through the transactions steps to the end result where Newco gets Opcos assets without paying anything). The Court rejected this approach finding that section 160’s provision carving out its application to assets purchased for fair market value consideration should be applied on a point in time basis.

The Court held that while the purchases using the shares were for equal consideration the set-off of the notes had occurred for inadequate consideration as no third party purchaser would have paid full face value for the note from Oldco (which by then had no assets). This case is interesting because it makes clear that 160 applies at a point in time. However, with due respect to the Court the holding that the fair market value of note from Oldco was not equal to its face value at the time of the debt set-off seems wrong as Oldco had one asset the promissory note from Newco which could be enforced pursuant to the terms of the promissory notes. I’d be interested to know what others think of this case.