Blog
Tax Disputes & Litigation
Woman Who Spent More than $20 Million at Luxury Department Store Fights Court Order to Reveal Source of Her Wealth
An Azerbajani woman recently became the first person targeted by a British procedure intended to seize money from individuals suspected of obtaining their wealth via corruption. The woman came under scrutiny after purchasing high-end properties in and around London, and spending $21 million USD over the course of a decade of shopping at luxury U.K. department store Harrods. Unexplained Wealth Orders The woman is the subject of two “unexplained wealth orders” (UWO)… Read More
Corporate Tax Planning
CRA Reveals Continued Crack Down on Restaurant Industry
CBC News reported this week that the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) will be reviewing data on beer, wine, and liquor sales in an attempt to crack down on tax avoidance in the bar and restaurant industry. As we blogged about earlier this year, this is not the first time that this sector has come under scrutiny. High-Risk Sector The CRA has said that it has identified the restaurant industry… Read More
NAFTA
Introducing the USMCA: Goodbye NAFTA
After more than a year of negotiations and mere hours before a midnight deadline, Canada, the U.S., and Mexico have reached a tripartite trade deal. No longer known as NAFTA, the new agreement is called the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA. In a joint statement, Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Chystia Freeland and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said, about the new agreement: It will strengthen the middle class, and… Read More
Corporate Tax Planning
Canada Takes Additional Steps on Implementing the MLI
Earlier this year, the federal government introduced Bill C-82 (An Act to implement a multilateral convention to implement tax treaty related measures to prevent base erosion and profit shifting). The Bill passed first reading in the House of Commons in June. If passed, it will bring into force the Multilateral Convention to Implement Tax Treaty Related Measures to Prevent Base Erosion and Profit Sharing (also known as the MLI). What is… Read More
Personal Tax Planning
Buying Property from a Non-Resident of Canada Can Leave You with Huge Tax Liability
As a recent Tax Court of Canada decision illustrates that if you are purchasing a condo, home, or cottage from an owner who is a non-resident of Canada, you may be personally liable for their Canadian capital gains tax, unless certain precautions are taken. Taxable Canadian Property: A Primer All Canadian residents must pay tax, in Canada, on their worldwide income (i.e. income earned both in Canada and anywhere outside of Canada). Read More