Federal Budget Commentary 2019 - Administrative Matters

ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS

Electronic Demands for Information by CRA

Both the Income Tax Act and Excise Tax Act provide CRA the power to serve notice on taxpayers and non-residents that carry on business in Canada, requiring production of information, including foreign-based information. The CRA may also demand third-party information from institutions such as financial institutions.

The current rules generally require the Minister to personally serve or to send by registered mail the notice demanding the information.

The Budget proposes to permit the CRA to serve such notice electronically to a bank or credit union that has provided consent to receive such notices electronically.

These measures are applicable to both the Income Tax and Excise Tax Acts and come into force January 1, 2020.

PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED INCOME TAX MEASURES

Budget 2019 confirms the government’s intention to proceed with previously announced income tax measures. Some of the key measures are summarized below.

Measures from the Fall Economic Statement

In its November 21, 2018, Fall Economic Statement, the government announced several income tax measures.

Accelerated Investment Incentive

The Accelerated Investment Incentive was introduced to allow businesses in Canada that acquire capital property on or after November 21, 2018, but before 2028, to be eligible for an enhanced first-year CCA deduction. This incentive will not apply to Classes 53, 43.1, and 43.2, which will instead be eligible for full expensing as discussed below.

To qualify for the incentive, the property cannot have been previously owned by the taxpayer or a non-arm’s-length person, nor can it be transferred to the taxpayer on tax-deferred “rollover” basis.

In the year that a capital asset becomes available for use, the taxpayer will be able to deduct three times the CCA that would have been deductible in the absence of this measure. The mechanics to achieve this result entail the suspension of the half year rule and the application of 1.5 times the CCA rate that would have otherwise applied (i.e., twice the CCA base multiplied by 1.5 times the CCA rate is equal to 3 times the CCA deduction). The larger deduction in the first year is ultimately offset by smaller deductions in the future years.

This measure will be phased out for capital assets that become available for use after 2023, as follows.

For capital property that would normally be subject to the half-year rule and becomes available for use between 2024 and 2027, the half-year rule will still be suspended, but the normal CCA rate will apply. The result is twice the CCA deduction in the first year.

For capital property that would not normally be subject to the half-year rule, the enhanced CCA deduction will be equal to 1.25 times the normal first year deduction.

Full expensing for manufacturing and processing equipment

Canadian businesses will be able to deduct 100 per cent of the cost of machinery and equipment acquired on or after November 21, 2018, that is used to manufacture and process goods in Canada.

A phase-out will begin for assets that become available for use in 2024, where the first-year deduction is reduced to 75 per cent. In 2026, the first-year deduction is further reduced to 55 per cent. For assets that become available for use after 2027, this measure will not apply.

To qualify for the enhanced write-off, the asset cannot have been previously owned by the taxpayer or a non-arm’s-length person, nor can it be transferred to the taxpayer on tax-deferred “rollover” basis.

Full expensing for clean energy equipment

Specified clean energy equipment acquired on or after November 21, 2018, will be eligible for a 100 per cent deduction in the year that the asset becomes available for use in a business.

This measure will phase out in the exact same manner as the phase-out of the full expensing for manufacturing and processing equipment discussed above.

To qualify for the enhanced write-off, the asset cannot have been previously owned by the taxpayer or a non-arm’s-length person, nor can it be transferred to the taxpayer on a tax-deferred “rollover” basis.

Extension of mineral exploration tax credit

The 15 per cent Mineral Exploration Tax Credit is extended from March 31, 2019, to March 31, 2024. This credit applies to specified mineral exploration expenses incurred in Canada and renounced by a corporation to individual flow-through share investors.

Trusts — Reporting Requirements

Budget 2018 proposed extensive new reporting requirement for most family trusts, effective for returns required to be filed for 2021 taxation years.

Intergenerational Business Transfers

The government will continue its initiative to develop new proposals to ensure that intergenerational transfers of businesses are better accommodated under the tax system. Budget 2019 specifically mentions Canadian farmers and fishers, but adds that this initiative also applies to other types of business owners.

 

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