2024-1003541C6 STEP 2024 – Q5 – Post-Mortem Planning and GAAR

Principal Issues: Can CRA provide any guidance on post-mortem pipeline transactions in light of recent amendments to the general anti-avoidance rule (amended GAAR)?

Position: The Income Tax Rulings Directorate will continue to issue favourable rulings on the non-application of the amended GAAR.

Reasons: See below.

Author: Boychuk, Daryl
Section: 245(4); 245(4.1)

2024 STEP CRA Roundtable – June 4, 2024

QUESTION 5. Post-Mortem Planning and GAAR

To assist estates in managing the potential for double-taxation that can occur when a deceased dies while owning shares of a Canadian private corporation, the CRA has a long history of providing guidance and advanced income tax rulings on post-mortem planning strategies known as pipelines and subsection 164(6) loss carry back plans. New subsection 245(4.1) of the general anti-avoidance rule (“GAAR”) provides that if an avoidance transaction is significantly lacking in economic substance it is an important consideration that tends to indicate that the transaction results in a misuse or abuse under subsection 245(4).

Can the CRA provide any updates on its guidance on post-mortem pipelines and subsection 164(6) loss carry back plans in light of this amendment to the GAAR?

CRA Response

In CRA document 2023-0987941I7, dated February 29, 2024, the Income Tax Rulings Directorate made the following comments regarding the potential application of the amended GAAR to post-mortem pipeline transactions:

The Directorate does not consider the use of a pipeline transaction as a means to preserve the capital gain arising on the death of a shareholder while limiting double taxation on the subsequent distribution of Opco’s assets to be a misuse described in paragraph 245(4)(a) or an abuse within the meaning of paragraph 245(4)(b). Accordingly, the Directorate will continue to issue favourable Rulings on the non-application of the amended GAAR in the context of post-mortem pipeline transactions that meet our existing administrative guidelines described in document 2018-0748381C6.

The Income Tax Rulings Directorate is not aware of any specific concerns regarding the potential application of the amended GAAR in circumstances involving the carry back of losses under subsection 164(6) and has not provided any general guidance in this respect.

Daryl Boychuk
2024-100354

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