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CRA’s Offshore Tax Informant Program

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The Program

Over the past year the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has implemented an ‘Offshore Tax Informant Program’ in hopes of fight international tax evasion. The CRA promises to compensate individuals who help catch tax evaders.

Program Success 

The Financial Post has reported  that this program has generated over 1,000 calls and has led to over 100 active cases. The success of this program banks on the CRA actually putting forth resources to investigate these cases which can take number of years.

Why Now?

Programs like this have been around for number of years,  the Internal Revenue Agency (IRS)  in the United States has had a similar programs since 2006. Other agencies such as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have similar programs as well. It was just a matter of time before the CRA followed suit.

With falling tax revenues and increasing deficits the governments are scrambling to find a solution. These program have been launched in hopes of  ensuring public confidence in the tax system and to increase tax revenues.

At the beginning of April 2013 the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) released a report which indicated the issue of world tax evasion and included names of 450 Canadians. In the months following Gail Shea the National Revenue Minister committed $30 Million to find tax evaders. The report by ICIJ help shed the light on how much money was actually being stored offshore. Other governments around the world are also taking note of this problem.

In the Future

However despite having knowledge of the individuals that hold off shore bank accounts the CRA has yet to prosecute anyone. The investigations will be time consuming and complex, it could be years before we see any cases in court.

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Foreign Income Reporting T1135: Tax Accountant

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Foreign Income Reporting T1135: Tax Accountant

T1135 Foreign Income Reporting

T1135 Foreign Income Reporting

 

Canadians that have accumulated wealth in other parts of the world need to be aware of the Canadian reporting requirements. If you are a Canadian resident you are required to report foreign assets which have a cost value of over $100,000. On a personal income tax return you must answer “Did you own or hold foreign property at any time in the year with a total cost of more than $100,000 Canadian?” If the answer is yes to this question, then you would be required to file the T1135. Over the past few years the foreign reporting requirements have changed which are outlined on the newly redesigned T1135 (Foreign income Verification Statement) tax forms.

Where to disclose my foreign assets?

Canadian resident taxpayers are required to file T1135, with their T1 personal income tax return if at any time in the year the total foreign property they hold was more than $100,000 (Canadian). The CRA will impose hefty penalties if this form is not filed. For 2014, taxpayers can file form T1135 electronically, but corporations must still file a paper version of the form.

Examples of foreign property that needs to be disclosed?

Cash, stocks, bonds, land and buildings which are located outside Canada. Other foreign property that would be disclosed on the T1135:

  • Funds held in foreign bank accounts
  • Shares of foreign corporations, foreign mutual funds
  • Foreign investments
  • Interest in foreign insurance policy

For the full list refer to the T1135 form.

Examples of foreign property that does not needs to be disclosed?

You are not required to report personal properties such as art, jewelry, or vacation properties that you use primarily for personal use. Also you are not required to report a personal residence, or property exclusively related to your active business.

Penalties for not reporting foreign income? 

The Canada Revenue Agency imposes hefty penalties for not reporting foreign assets over $100,000. The current penalty is $25 a day to a maximum of $2,500 per year. The foreign reporting requirement was implemented back in 1998. To avoid the penalties this reporting can be made through the Voluntary Disclosure Program (VDP). 

Download Foreign Income Reporting T1135: Tax Accountant

Download (PDF, 16KB)

SDVC LLP – Chartered Professional Accountants  is an accounting firm located in Mississauga, Ontario. We can professionally prepare pare your personal income taxes and make sure that your foreign income is reported correctly on the T1135. We can help file the T1135 for past years and for over due returns. We can help reduce the penalties and interest by using the Voluntary Disclosure Program.