Principal Issues: Is splitting the income of a single-income family permitted for income tax purposes?
Position: No.
Reasons: There is no provision in the Act that permits splitting the income of a single-income family for income tax purposes.
Signed on September 27, 2006
XXXXXXXXXX
Dear Colleague:
I am writing in reply to an email received from your office on September 7, 2006, along with the email you received from your constituent, XXXXXXXXXX, concerning the issue of income splitting 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 splitting the income of a single-income family 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.
I trust that this will be helpful.
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 14, 2006
2006-020515