Translation disclaimer
This translation was prepared by Tax Interpretations Inc. The CRA did not issue this document in the language in which it now appears, and is not responsible for any errors in its translation that might impact a reader’s understanding of it or the position(s) taken therein. See also the general Disclaimer below.
Principal Issues: Whether, in a particular situation, subsection 84(2) would apply to deem a dividend to have been received by individuals who held shares of a particular corporation. Whether the application of subsection 84.1(1) to the transfers of shares of such corporation would result in a dividend being deemed to be paid to the said individuals. Finally, whether subsection 245(2) would apply in such circumstances.
Position: Subsection 84(2) would not apply to deem a dividend to have been received by individuals who held shares of a particular corporation. The application of subsection 84.1(1) to the transfers of shares of such corporation would not result in a dividend being deemed to be paid to the said individuals. Subsection 55(2) could technically apply to the dividends deemed to have been received by two corporations under subsection 84(2). It is the Income Tax Rulings Directorate's practice to comment on the application of subsection 245(2) only after reviewing all the facts and circumstances of a transaction, in the context of an advance tax ruling. However, subsection 245(2) could apply, depending on the facts and circumstances surrounding a particular situation, to transactions or series of transactions similar to those described in this letter. Certain schemes could involve surplus stripping.
Reasons: Wording of the Act.
XXXXXXXXXX 2003-002159
S. Prud'Homme
(613) 957-8975
June 26, 2003
Dear Sir,
Subject: Request for a technical interpretation of section 84.1 and subsections 84(2) and 245(2) of the Income Tax Act
This is in response to your letter of May 27, 2003, in which you requested our opinion regarding the application of section 84.1 and subsections 84(2) and 245(2) of the Income Tax Act (the "Act") in a particular situation.
Unless otherwise indicated, all statutory references herein are to provisions of the Act.
It appears to us that the situation described in your letter and summarized below may be an actual situation involving taxpayers. As explained in Information Circular 70-6R5, it is not the practice of this Directorate to provide comments on proposed transactions involving specific taxpayers otherwise than in the form of an advance income tax ruling. If your situation involves specific taxpayers and one or more completed transactions, you should submit all relevant facts and documentation to the appropriate Tax Services Office for its opinion. However, we are able to offer the following general comments that may be helpful. It should be noted that the application of one or more provisions of the Act generally requires an analysis of all the facts relating to a particular situation. Consequently, and given that your letter only briefly describes a hypothetical situation, the comments we provide below may not be fully applicable in a particular situation.
(1) Particular Situation
You have presented us with the situation described below (the "Particular Situation") as part of your request for a technical interpretation.
(a) A particular corporation ("Xco") was a "Canadian-controlled private corporation" as defined in subsection 125(7). The only assets held by Xco were debt obligations issued by public corporations with which Xco was dealing at arm's length.
We have assumed herein that Xco was incorporated after 1971.
(b) All of the issued and outstanding shares of the capital stock of Xco were held, at a particular time, by an inter vivos trust ("Trust"). Specifically, the Trust held, at a given time, 600 common shares of the capital stock of Xco. The paid-up capital ("PUC") and adjusted cost base ("ACB") to the Trust of those shares was $600. The fair market value ("FMV") of such Xco common shares was $1,200,000. Those common shares of the capital stock of Xco were the only assets held by the Trust.
We have assumed that the common shares of the capital stock of Xco held by the Trust were "capital property" of the Trust within the meaning of section 54.
The Trust had a single trustee who was not related to any of the beneficiaries of the Trust. That trustee was resident in Canada at all relevant times. We therefore understand that the Trust was also resident in Canada at all relevant times.
(c) The beneficiaries of the Trust were six individuals ("A", "B", "C", "D", "E" and "F", collectively the "Beneficiaries") who were resident in Canada at all relevant times and 18 years of age or older.
We have assumed that each Beneficiary’s' interest in the Trust had not been acquired for any consideration and that the Trust was a "personal trust" as defined in subsection 248(1).
A and B were brothers and were related to each other pursuant to paragraphs 251(2)(a) and 251(6)(a). A and B each held 50% of the issued and outstanding shares of the capital stock of a particular corporation ("ABco"). ABco was a holding company that held stock market investments, bonds and 50% of the shares of the capital stock of a particular corporation carrying on a business ("Opco").
C and D were also brothers and were related to each other pursuant to paragraphs 251(2)(a) and 251(6)(a). C and D each held 50% of the issued and outstanding shares of the capital stock of a particular corporation ("CDco"). CDco was a holding company that held stock market investments, bonds and 50% of the shares of the capital stock of Opco.
E and F were also brothers and were related to each other pursuant to paragraphs 251(2)(a) and 251(6)(a). E and F did not hold any shares of the capital stock of any corporation.
A and B were cousins of C and D, and of E and F. C and D were also cousins of E and F.
(d) In accordance with the terms of the Trust Indenture and on the date set for its winding up, the Trust distributed the 600 common shares of the capital stock of Xco for the benefit of the Beneficiaries, in equal shares among them. This distribution was made in full satisfaction of each of the Beneficiaries' interest in the capital of the Trust. In this regard, the Trust made an election under subsection 107(2.001) in prescribed form filed with the Minister with its return of income for its taxation year in which the shares of the capital stock of Xco were distributed. As a result of this election, subsection 107(2) did not apply.
Thus, we understand that, pursuant to the terms of paragraph 107(2.1)(a), the Trust would have been deemed to have disposed of the 600 common shares of the capital stock of Xco for proceeds equal to their FMV at that time, i.e., $1,200,000 (and thus $200,000 for each block of 100 common shares distributed to the Beneficiaries). A capital gain of $1,199,400 ($1,200,000 - $600) would therefore have resulted to the Trust from this disposition.
We also understand that each of the Beneficiaries would have been deemed to have acquired 100 common shares of the capital stock of Xco at a cost equal to $200,000 (i.e. $1,200,000 / 6).
In addition, the proceeds of disposition for each of the Beneficiaries of a capital interest in the Trust would have been deemed to be equal to the amount, if any, by which the FMV at that time of the 100 Xco shares distributed (i.e., $200,000) [sic, should also refer to reduction for capital gain distributed] exceeded the cost amount of those shares to the Trust immediately before that time (i.e. $100). The proceeds of disposition to each of the Beneficiaries of their capital interest in the Trust would therefore have been deemed to be equal to $100. In addition, paragraph 107(1)(a) provides, among other things, that where a taxpayer has disposed of all of the taxpayer’s capital interest in a personal trust, for the purpose of computing the capital gain from the disposition, the ACB to the taxpayer of all of that interest immediately before the disposition is deemed to be equal to the greater of the taxpayer's ACB otherwise determined before the disposition and the taxpayer's cost amount immediately before the disposition. In this regard, the definition of "cost amount" in subsection 108(1) provides, among other things, that the cost amount to a taxpayer of a capital interest in a trust means, where property of the trust has been distributed by the trust to the taxpayer in satisfaction of the taxpayer's capital interest (whether on the winding-up of the trust or otherwise), the total of all amounts each of which is the cost amount to the trust, immediately before the distribution, of each such property. Under the Particular Situation, the ACB to each of the Beneficiaries of that beneficiary’s entire interest, immediately before the disposition, would therefore have been deemed to be equal to $100, such amount being deemed to be equal to the greater of the beneficiary’s ACB otherwise determined before the disposition (being an amount of nil) and the cost amount as defined in subsection 108(1) (being an amount of $100 in the circumstances, being the cost amount to the Trust of 100 common shares of Xco immediately before the distribution). Based on the foregoing and in summary, the proceeds of disposition and the ACB to each of the Beneficiaries of their capital interest in the Trust would both have been deemed to be $100. We therefore understand that the disposition by each of the Beneficiaries of a capital interest in the Trust would not have generated any capital gain to them.
Finally, we have assumed that the common shares of the capital stock of Xco would constitute "capital property" to each of the Beneficiaries within the meaning of the definition in section 54.
(e) As noted above in (d), a capital gain of $1,199,400 ($1,200,000 - $600) would therefore have resulted from the disposition by the Trust to the Beneficiaries of the 600 common shares of the capital stock of Xco. We understand that this $1,199,400 would have been the amount of the Trust's "net taxable capital gains" as that term is defined in subsection 104(21.3). For tax purposes, a taxable capital gain in the amount of $599,700 (i.e., $1,199,400 / 2) realized by the Trust should have been included in computing its income. However, we understand that $599,700 was deducted in computing the Trust's income for the particular taxation year in the Particular Situation under subsection 104(6).
We also understand that an amount of $99,950 (i.e., $599,700 / 6) was included in the income of each of the Beneficiaries pursuant to subsection 104(13). In addition, we understand that this portion of the Trust's net capital gains was allocated under subsection 104(21) to each of the Beneficiaries in that beneficiary’s income tax return filed for the year. Consequently, $99,950 was deemed to be a taxable capital gain for the particular year of each of the Beneficiaries from the disposition of a capital property.
We also understand that, at all relevant times, the common shares of the capital stock of Xco were not "qualified small business corporation shares" within the meaning of the definition in subsection 110.6(1). Consequently, no amount would have been allocated by the Trust to the Beneficiaries pursuant to subsection 104(21.2). In addition, none of the Beneficiaries claimed a capital gains deduction pursuant to of subsection 110.6(2.1) in computing taxable income in respect of the taxable capital gain allocated by the Trust and resulting from the disposition by the Trust of the common shares of the capital stock of Xco described above.
(f) Thereafter, A and B each transferred to ABco their 100 common shares of the capital stock of Xco. In return, ABco issued to each of A and B a term note with a principal amount equal to the FMV, at the time of the transfer, of the Xco shares, namely $200,000. Each such term note issued by ABco was payable as follows:
- 1/3, 12 months after the transfer date;
- 50% of the balance 18 months after the transfer date;
- the balance, 26 months after the transfer date.
Any outstanding balance of the note would bear interest at 6% per annum, the same rate as the debt securities held by Xco. Interest was payable at the same time as the principal payments.
You indicated that the share transfers described above would not result in a capital gain or loss to A and B, as the proceeds of disposition ($200,000) were equal to the ACB ($200,000) to those taxpayers of the shares of the capital stock of Xco transferred.
We understand that, immediately after the share dispositions described above, Xco was connected with ABco. We also understand that under subparagraph 84.1(2)(a.1)(ii), each of A and B reported an amount of nil as the amount in respect of which a deduction was claimed under section 110.6.
(g) On the same day as the share transfers described in (f) above, C, D, E and F each transferred to CDco their 100 common shares of the capital stock of Xco. In return, CDco issued to each of C, D, E and F a term note with a principal amount equal to the FMV, at the time of the transfer, of the Xco shares, being $200,000. Each such term note issued by CDco was payable as follows:
- 1/3, 12 months after the transfer date;
- 50% of the balance 18 months after the transfer date;
- the balance, 26 months after the transfer date.
Any unpaid balance of the note would bear interest at 6% per annum, the same rate as the debt securities held by Xco. Interest would be payable at the same time as the principal payments.
You indicated that the share transfers described above would not result in a capital gain or loss to C, D, E and F, as the proceeds of disposition ($200,000) were equal to the ACB ($200,000), to those taxpayers, of the shares of the capital stock of Xco transferred.
We understand that, immediately after the share dispositions described above, Xco was connected to CDco. Furthermore, we have assumed for the purposes hereof that each of E and F did not deal at arm's length with CDco. Finally, we understand that pursuant to subparagraph 84.1(2)(a.1)(ii), each of C, D, E and F reported an amount of nil as the amount in respect of which a deduction was claimed pursuant to section 110.6.
(h) The dates of the various principal payments in respect of the term notes issued by ABco and CDco would coincide with the maturity of debt securities in public companies held by ABco and CDco. Thus, when an investment of ABco or CDco in a public company matures, ABco or CDco would not renew such investment but would use the cash thus released to make the principal payments on the term notes. ABco and CDco's investment policy for several years has been to hold their debt securities until maturity.
(i) During the 26 month period following the share transfers described in f) and g) above, Xco would continue its normal investment management activities with no changes to its portfolio.
(j) After the term notes issued by ABco and CDco were paid in full, Xco would be wound up and all of the property owned by Xco immediately prior to that time would be distributed to ABco and CDco, pro rata to their shareholdings. Sections 84(2) and 88(2) would apply to this winding-up.
Pursuant to paragraph 69(5)(a) and for the purposes of computing its income for the particular year, Xco would be deemed to have disposed of the property that was distributed to its shareholders, ABco and CDco, immediately before the winding-up for proceeds equal to its FMV. In addition, pursuant to paragraph 69(5)(b), each of ABco and CDco would be deemed to have acquired that property at a cost equal to its FMV immediately before the winding-up.
(2) Your questions about the Particular Situation
You wish to know whether the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (the "CCRA") considers that the provisions of subsection 84(2) would apply as a result of and by reason of the transactions described in (1) above to deem Xco to pay to the Beneficiaries, and the Beneficiaries to receive, a dividend on the common shares of the capital stock of Xco.
You also wish to know whether the CCRA considers that the provisions of section 84.1 would apply to deem a dividend to be paid by ABco to A and/or B, or by CDco to C and/or D and/or E and/or F, and received by the intended Beneficiary(ies) at the time of the disposition of the common shares of the capital stock of Xco described in (1)(f) and (g) above.
Finally, you wish to know whether the CCRA considers that the provisions of subsection 245(2) would apply in the Particular Situation.
(3) Your comments on the Particular Situation
You are of the view that the provisions of subsection 84(2) should not apply as a result of and by reason of the transactions described in (1) above to deem Xco to pay to the Beneficiaries, and the Beneficiaries to receive, a dividend on the common shares of the capital stock of Xco. Your position in this regard is based, inter alia, on the following:
- No funds or property of Xco would be distributed or otherwise appropriated to the Beneficiaries. The property held by Xco would be returned to ABco and CDco after payment of the term notes issued by them, as part of the winding up of Xco.
- Xco would not be wound up and would not cease to carry on its investment management business upon the transfer of the common shares in the share capital of Xco described in (1)(f) and (g) above. Xco would only be wound up and therefore cease investment management activities after a period of 26 months from the time of such share transfers.
- The transactions described in (1) above would not constitute a distribution within the meaning in Smythe v. M.N.R., 69 DTC 5361 (S.C.C.), and Merritt v. M.R.N., 2 DTC 561 (S.C.C.).
You are also of the view that the provisions of section 84.1 should not apply in the context of the Particular Situation so that a dividend was deemed to be paid by ABco to A and/or B, or by CDco to C and/or D and/or E and/or F, and received by the intended Beneficiary(ies) at the time of the disposition of the common shares of the capital stock of Xco described in (1)(f) and (g) above. Your position in this regard is based, inter alia, on the fact that, in your view, section 84.1 expressly permits the transfer of non-share consideration equal to the ACB to the individual transferor, for purposes of section 84.1, of the shares sold to the purchaser-corporation without immediate tax consequences. You also point out that subsection 84.1(2) would not provide for any adjustment to the ACB, to the Beneficiaries, of the common shares of the capital stock of Xco in the Particular Situation.
Finally, you are of the view that the transactions described in (1) above should not trigger the application of the provisions of subsection 245(2) since, in your opinion, they would have the same effect as the proposed transactions described in advance ruling 2002-015422. In this regard, you point out that, as a result of the subsection 107(2.001) election made by the Trust, the Beneficiaries would have paid tax in respect of the capital gain generated on the deemed disposition of the common shares of the capital stock of Xco described in (1)(d) above.
(4) Our comments on the Particular Situation
We are of the view that, in general, the provisions of subsection 84(2) should not apply as a result of and by reason of the transactions described in (1) above to deem Xco to pay to the Beneficiaries, and the Beneficiaries to receive, a dividend on the common shares of the capital stock of Xco.
We are also of the view that the provisions of section 84.1 should not apply in the context of the Particular Situation so that a dividend is deemed to be paid, on the one hand, by ABco to A and/or B and, on the other hand, by CDco to C and/or D and/or E and/or F, and received by the Beneficiary(ies) at the time of the disposition of the common shares of the capital stock of Xco described in (1)(f) and (g) above.
On the other hand, it appears that the dividends resulting from the winding-up of Xco and the distribution of Xco property to ABco and CDco described in (1)(j) above could technically give rise to the application of subsection 55(2), to the extent that one of the purposes of the transaction or series of transactions would be to significantly reduce the portion of the capital gain that, but for the dividend, would have been realized on the disposition of an Xco share at FMV immediately before the dividend and that could reasonably be considered to be attributable to anything other than income earned or realized by a corporation after 1971 and before the "safe income determination time" in respect of the series of transactions. In this regard, under subsection 55(1), the "safe income determination time" in respect of a series of transactions is defined as the earlier of
- the time that is immediately after the earliest disposition or increase in interest described in any of subparagraphs 55(3)(a)(i) to 55(3)(a)(v) that resulted from the series of transactions;
- the time that is immediately before the earliest time that a dividend is paid as part of the series of transactions.
In the context of the Particular Situation, it appears that the "safe income determination time" could be established as the time after the transaction described in (1)(d) above, to the extent that that transaction was part of the series of transactions under which ABco and CDco received dividends from Xco. Indeed, and in particular because of the terms of paragraph 55(5)(e)(i), each of the Beneficiaries would be an "unrelated person" within the meaning of paragraph 55(3.01)(a), i.e., a person to whom each of the recipients of dividends (ABco and CDco in this case) would not be related. Consequently, the distribution by the Trust of the 600 common shares in the capital stock of Xco to the Beneficiaries described in (1)(d) above would constitute a disposition of shares of the capital stock of Xco, the "dividend payer" in this case, to persons who were unrelated persons immediately before the particular time. This would therefore be an event described in paragraph 55(3)(a)(iii).
To the extent that it is determined that the transaction described in (1)(d) above was not part of the series of transactions, it appears that the "safe income determination time" could be determined to be the time after the transactions described in (1)(f) and (g) above. Indeed, and in particular because of the terms of paragraph 55(5)(e)(i), each of the Beneficiaries would be an "unrelated person" within the meaning of paragraph 55(3.01)(a), i.e., a person to whom each of the dividend recipients (ABco and CDco in this case) would not be related. Consequently, the disposition by each of the Beneficiaries of their shares of the capital stock of Xco to ABco or CDco would constitute a disposition of shares of the capital stock of Xco, the "dividend payer" in this case, to persons who would be unrelated persons immediately before the particular time. This would therefore be an event coming within paragraph 55(3)(a)(iii).
Note that the transactions described in (1)(d), (f) and (g) would all precede the time at which Xco would be wound up and deemed to have disposed of the distributed property for proceeds equal to its FMV (see the transaction described in (1)(j) above). Furthermore, it appears that paragraphs 55(3)(a) and 55(3)(b) would not preclude the potential application of subsection 55(2) in the context of the Particular Situation. It should be noted, however, that immediately after the transactions described in (1)(f) and (g) above, the ACB to each of ABco and CDco of the common shares of the capital stock of Xco that they would hold would be the FMV of those shares. Consequently, depending on the change in value of the Xco shares between the transactions described in (1)(f) and (g) and (1)(j) above, the capital gain that would result from the potential application of subsection 55(2) may not be significant.
Finally, the practice of the Income Tax Rulings Directorate is generally to rule on the application of subsection 245(2) only after examining all the facts and circumstances surrounding the transactions in the context of an advance ruling request. However, it is our view that transactions or series of transactions of the type described above could, depending on the facts and circumstances of a particular situation, trigger the application of subsection 245(2). Indeed, certain schemes could result in surplus stripping situations for a particular corporation.
Please note that this opinion is not an advance ruling and, as stated in paragraph 22 of Information Circular 70-6R5 dated May 17, 2002, it is not binding on the CCRA with respect to any particular factual situation.
We hope that our comments will be of assistance and look forward to hearing from you.
Maurice Bisson, CGA
for the Director
Corporate Reorganizations and Industrial Resources Division
Income Tax Rulings Directorate
Policy and Legislation Branch
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