Principal Issues: The correspondent urged the Minister to consider the assertions of Atlantic groundfish fishers who allege they improperly paid tax on the payments received upon retirement of their licences.
Position: The correspondent was advised that the Tax Court of Canada has confirmed that the payments are taxable.
June 26, 2008
XXXXXXXXXX
Dear XXXXXXXXXX :
Thank you for your correspondence received on April 9, 2008, expressing support for the fishers XXXXXXXXXX who received payments from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans under the Atlantic Groundfish Licence Retirement Program.
I understand that the fishers are seeking reimbursement of the federal income tax remitted on the payments because they are of the view that the tax was improperly or incorrectly collected. This opinion may be at least in part due to the erroneous assertions reported in the media that many fishers paid no tax on the payments they received under the Program. Additionally, as you may be aware, the Tax Court of Canada recently rendered its decision on the tax treatment of such payments in a case called "Ross Winsor v. Her Majesty the Queen." The Tax Court determined that the payments are taxable under the provisions of the Income Tax Act. The situations of the fishers fall within the precedent established in the Winsor case.
I trust that the information provided clarifies the position of the Canada Revenue Agency on this matter.
Sincerely,
The Honourable Gordon O'Connor, P.C., M.P.
Renée Shields
(613) 957-2049
2008-027457
May 8, 2008