Principal Issues: Can amounts paid from registered retirement savings vehicles be split between spouses for income tax purposes?
Position: No.
Reasons: There is no provision in the Act that permits income splitting of amounts paid from registered retirement savings vehicles.
Signed on September 20, 2006
XXXXXXXXXX
Dear Colleague:
Thank you for your letter received on August 28, 2006, and the attached correspondence from XXXXXXXXXX, concerning the splitting of pension income for income tax purposes.
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is responsible for administering and enforcing the income tax legislation as enacted by Parliament. There exists no law that would enable the CRA to accommodate the splitting of pension income for income tax purposes. Any proposed changes to tax policy or amendments to legislation would have to be considered by the Minister of Finance and approved by Parliament. I am therefore forwarding a copy of your letter to the Honourable James M. Flaherty, Minister of Finance, for his consideration.
Thank you again for having taken the time to write.
Sincerely,
The Honourable Carol Skelton, P.C., M.P.
c.c.: The Honourable James M. Flaherty, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Finance
House of Commons
Ottawa ON K1A 0A6
Gary Allen
952-9853
September 6, 2006
2006-020358