Blog
Tax Disputes & Litigation
Couple Files Charter Claim Against CRA Over Costs of Surrogacy
A couple from Nova Scotia whose child was born via a surrogate earlier this year are pursuing a Charter challenge against the Canada Revenue Agency, on the basis that Income Tax Act treats parents of children born through surrogacy differently than adoptive parents, creating an inequality. The parents argue that the current provisions in the Act do not allow families using surrogates to recoup their legal and other costs. Surrogacy, Adoption, and Tax Credits in Canada… Read More
Corporate Tax Planning
A Look at Wealth Tax Proposals in Canada and the U.S.
Ahead of Canada’s federal election last week, we blogged about the tax platforms of Canada’s three largest political parties. One of them, the NDP, had introduced several proposed tax reforms, including a “super-wealth tax“, which would apply a 1% tax rate to any individuals with more than $20 million in wealth. South of the border, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, who is rapidly becoming a front runner for the Democratic presidential candidate in next… Read More
Corporate Tax Planning
Canada’s Federal Election: What Will it Mean for Your Taxes?
Canada’s federal election is happening on Monday, October 21. What are the top three parties promising in terms of tax proposals and how will this impact Canadians? The Liberals Personal Tax Rates Part of the Liberals’ platform includes a 15% increase in the basic personal tax amount, bringing it to $15,000 by 2023. This amount will be phased out for high-net-worth individuals in the second-highest tax bracket (with income of more than $147,667), and fully… Read More
Corporate Tax Planning
An Update on Canada and the MLI: What’s Next as We Near the Date It Comes Into Force?
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development ’s Multilateral Instrument (MLI) is set to come into force on December 1, 2019. This new legislation is set to have an impact on both foreign investors in Canada as well as Canadian companies which invest in countries which have adopted the new law. What is the MLI? We originally blogged about the MLI last year. The MLI is intended to decrease the opportunity for… Read More
Personal Tax Planning
Housing Speculation Tax Challenged in B.C.
We’ve regularly blogged about tax issues arising out of real estate transactions, including taxes being levied against foreign buyers in an increasing number of cities across Canada. We’ve also blogged about taxpayers fighting back against such levies. Now, a group of other taxpayers have launched a legal action against B.C’s Speculation and Vacancy Tax a move which appears to be the only major lawsuit to reach trial. Speculation and Vacancy… Read More