On July 18, 2017, Canada’s Finance Minister Bill Morneau released a document entitled Next Steps in Improving Fairness in the Tax System by Closing Loopholes and Addressing Tax Planning Strategies. This was no surprise-the Minister had hinted at this some months ago at a tax conference. In a nutshell, the Minister, and his many left-leaning… Continue Reading
Category Archives: Cross-border transactions
CANADIANS MOVING TO U.S. WITH CANCOS SHOULD CONSIDER “S CORP. BAILOUT”
Many Canadians who move to the U.S. are the sole shareholders of a Canadian corporation (“Canco”) that is either used for investment purposes, or which has substantial retained earnings generated from an active business. In such cases, they will generally face a Canadian tax hit when they leave (“departure tax”) in the form of a… Continue Reading
CANADIAN EXPATS CAN RECEIVE SALARIES FROM CANADA TAX FREE
Often, a Canadian expat will continue to receive salary payments from a Canadian corporation (“Canco”) after he or she ceases to be a Canadian resident for tax purposes. This can apply to a situation where the sole shareholder of Canco emigrates and still continues to operate Canco. It can also apply to a situation where… Continue Reading
TRUMP CORPORATE TAX CUTS COULD TRIGGER CANADIAN TAX ON DIVIDENDS FROM U.S. SUBS
Shhhh! There is a dirty little secret that not many people know or talk about. A large percentage of U.S. subsidiaries (“Usco”) of Canadian companies (“Canco”) are actually resident in Canada based on traditional rules for determination corporate residency that are mainly derived from UK tax cases. This is because their “central management and control”… Continue Reading
HOW CANADIAN COMPANIES CAN USE EXEMPT SURPLUS TO REDUCE TAXABLE GAINS ON SALE OF FOREIGN SUBSIDIARIES
Envision the following situation: Canco, a private corporate based in Ontario, has just gotten an offer to buy its wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary (“Usco”) for $10 million US. This is far more that the management of Canco thought it was really worth, so they jump at the offer. They ask Joe Numbers, their VP Finance to… Continue Reading
TRUMP’S CORPORATE TAX PROPOSAL MAY HAVE FAPI CONSEQUENCES FOR CANADIANS
Donald Trump’s proposal to lower U.S. federal corporate tax rates to 15% will be welcome news for Canadians who are shareholders of a profitable U.S. corporation (“Usco”). However, in certain cases, the Canada Revenue Agency will have its hands outstretched for a piece of the tax savings. In cases where Usco is a “controlled foreign… Continue Reading
NEW TAX TREATY BETWEEN CANADA AND ISRAEL CLOSES LITTLE-KNOWN LOOPHOLE
On September 23, 2016, I got an email from the Ministry of Finance announcing a new tax treaty between Canada and Israel. The actual posting on the Ministry’s website contained the following statement: “A new Convention between the Government of Canada and the Government of the State of Israel for the Avoidance of Double Taxation… Continue Reading
CANADIAN CORPORATIONS DOING BUSINESS IN U.S. VIA LLCs FACE BIG TAX PENALTY!
A Canadian corporation (“Canco”) which earns profits from carrying on business in the U.S. through a “permanent establishment” (“PE”) there will generally be subject to US federal taxes on its income derived from that PE. In addition to the normal federal income taxes on that income, as well as possibly state taxes, there is the… Continue Reading
BIG CANADIAN TAX HIT CAN RESULT FROM SALE OF CERTAIN PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS TO FOREIGN BUYERS
Many types of businesses (including the ownership of real estate) are structured as partnership. The partners can be individuals, corporations or even other partnerships. If the interest in the partnership is sold, then normally a capital gain or loss will result from the disposition of the partnership. It is well established that an interest in… Continue Reading
CANADIAN TAX ISSUES WITH ALIMONY PAYMENTS TO AND FROM NON-RESIDENTS
Under the Income Tax Act (“the Act”) alimony[1] paid by a separated or divorced spouse will generally be deductible in computing income of a Canadian resident. This assumes that it is paid pursuant to a written agreement or court order, and paid as an “allowance” on a periodic basis. Similarly, a Canadian resident recipient of… Continue Reading