Contributing Lawyers

Canada

Cyndee Todgham Cherniak

United States

Susan Kohn Ross

Australia

Andrew Hudson

New Electronic GST/HST Return Filing Requirements Start July 1, 2010

To little fanfare and no media attention, on January 4, 2010, The Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of National Revenue and Minister of State (Agriculture and Agri-Food) announced proposed changes to electronic filing...

Canada Revenue Agency HST Webcasts - The New Horror Flicks

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is developing and posting webcasts to help businesses prepare for harmonized sales tax (HST).  The three that are available can be found at this link -...

2010 Federal Budget Contains GST Landmine for Financial Services Industry

The March 4, 2010 Canadian Federal Budget attaches a Ways and Mean Motion amending the "financial services" definition in the Excise Tax Act (a.k.a. the GST Legislation).  These legislative amendments are not discussed in...

Suppliers to the Ontario Government Will Have to Start Charging HST As Early As May 1, 2010

As the present time, the Ontario Government does not pay goods and services tax on any supplies of property and services. The reason is that the Federal Government does not currently pay goods and services tax is that it cannot,...

Suppliers In Non-HST Provinces Beware: Proposed HST Place of Supply Rules for Goods (Tangible Personal Property)

On February 25, 2010, Canada's Department of Finance released its proposed harmonized sales tax (HST) place of supply rules which will be used to determine whether a supplier must charge, collect and remit HST in connection with...

Canada Border Services Agency Makes Changes to Administrative Monetary Penalty Regime

On February 26, 2010, the Canada Border Services Agency released Customs Notice CN-10-002 "Key Changes to the Administrative Monetary Penalty System (AMPS) Regime as a Result if the AMPS Fundamental Review". Please go to the...

Would You Like To Play Audit Roulette In Ontario?

Last week at the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants Commodity Tax Symposium West in Calgary, a representative of Ontario stated to the audience that Ontario planned to conduct retail sales tax audits of most businesses...

Sales Tax & Customs Compliance vs Initiative

I am a huge fan of Seth Godin. However, he scared me this morning by beating me to a post. While Seth's post entitled "It's easier to teach compliance than initiative" (go to the following link - sethgodin.typepad.com) has...

Proposed HST Place of Supply Rules Are Game-Changers

On February 25, 2010 (88 days until harmonization implementation in Ontario and British Columbia), the Department of Finance released the proposed harmonized sales tax (HST) place of supply rules. Here is a link to the pages of...

Canada's CBSA Makes Final Determination of Dumping and Subsidization on OCTG Goods

On February 22, 2010, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has issued final determinations of dumping and subsidizing in respect of oil country tubular goods, made of carbon or alloy steel, welded or seamless,...

Canada's CBSA Concluded Reivestigation of Antidumping Duties on Waterproof Footwear

On February, 23, 2010, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) concluded a reinvestigation of normal values and export prices regarding certain waterproof footwear and bottoms made of plastic or rubber from the People's Republic...

Canada's CBSA Commences Reinvestigation of Antidumping Duties on Bikes

Canada has imposed antidumping duties on bicycles from China and Taiwan for over 17.5 years.  On February 22, 2010, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) commenced a reinvestigation of normal values and export prices on...

Canada Border Services Agency Gives Self Mixed Review in Internal Audit

On February 22, 2010, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) posted an internal audit report concerning the adequacy and effectiveness of the control framework for the administration of permit, licence and other requirements...

Canada's CBSA's Behind Closed Door Discussions Include 10+2 Reporting for All Modes

The rumour mill is that the Canada Border Services Agency is considering implementing 10+2 reporting requirements on all modes of importation. The 10+2 reporting requirements are to be implemented by way of regulation. This means...

The Rumour Mill Says that the UAE is Iran's Back Door

There is information available on the Internet that the United Arab Emirates is the back door or intermediary for the flow of goods to Iran. Please see this article -...

Canada's Dept of Finance Taking Away GST/HST Exemption for Financial Advisors Re Share Transactions

It used to be that persons, such as financial advisors, that provided advice regarding share transactions (as opposed to asset transactions), were considered to be "arranging for a financial service", which is exempt from...