Subsection 261(1) - Definitions
Canadian Tax Results
Administrative Policy
26 May 2016 IFA Roundtable Q. 3, 2016-0642111C6 - PUC of Shares of a FC Reporter
CRA considered that a Canadian corporation (“Issuer”) which has the U.S. dollar as its elected functional currency nonetheless is required to...
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|---|---|---|
| Tax Topics - Income Tax Act - Section 84 - Subsection 84(3) | Canadian corporation with a USD functional currency can be subject to Part XIII withholding obligations on its USD prefs resulting from FX fluctuations | 129 |
Elected Functional Currency
Administrative Policy
S5-F4-C1 - Income Tax Reporting Currency
One-time election
1.11 ... A taxpayer need not make an election every year as the language of the requirement described at s. 262(3) is such that,...
Functional Currency
Administrative Policy
S5-F4-C1 - Income Tax Reporting Currency
One-time requirement
...The requirement to have a functional currency need only be met for the first tax year to which the taxpayer intends the...
28 November 2010 Annual CTF Roundtable, 2010-0385891C6 - Functional Currency Tax Reporting - CTF 2010
A Canadian public company (Canco), which carries on business primarily in Canada, incorporates Subco to hold its shares of a U.S. controlled...
Articles
Eric Bretsen, Heather Kerr, "Tax Planning for Foreign Currency", 2009 Conference Report (CTF), C. 35.
Removal in new definition of principal business and consolidated financial statement requirements (pp. 35:32-33)
The new definition removed the...
| Locations of other summaries | Wordcount | |
|---|---|---|
| Tax Topics - Income Tax Act - Section 261 - Subsection 261(18) | 168 | |
| Tax Topics - Income Tax Act - Section 261 - Subsection 261(20) | 175 |
Relevant Spot Rate
Administrative Policy
S5-F4-C1 - Income Tax Reporting Currency
Potential CRA acceptance of average rate
1.6 ... [I]t may be possible to use an average exchange rate to convert certain items of income.
10 October 2014 APFF Roundtable Q. 9, 2014-0538631C6 F - 2014 APFF Roundtable, Q. 9 - Currency conversions average foreign exchange rate
When asked to comment on the exchange rate to use for interest, dividends and capital gains, CRA stated, after referring to the reference in the...
Tax Reporting Currency
Administrative Policy
9 March 2016 Internal T.I. 2015-0612501I7 - ITA 261(21) anti-avoidance
CRA considered that s. 261(21) did not apply to deny an FX loss sustained by a Canadian subsidiary (“Holdco”) of a non-resident parent...
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|---|---|---|
| Tax Topics - Income Tax Act - Section 261 - Subsection 261(20) - Paragraph 261(20)(b) | s. 261(21) cannot apply to an FX hedging contract between a Canco which has the Canadian dollar as its functional currency and its parent which uses another currency | 274 |
Subsection 261(2) - Canadian currency requirement
Cases
Canada v. Agnico-Eagle Mines Limited, 2016 FCA 130
The taxpayer ("Agnico-Eagle") issued US$143M of convertible debentures (the equivalent of Cdn.$230M) and they were mostly converted into shares at...
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|---|---|---|
| Tax Topics - Income Tax Act - Section 39 - Subsection 39(2) | conversion of a U.S.-dollar convertible debenture resulted in no FX gain based on the appreciation in the underlying shares | 331 |
Korfage v. The Queen, 2016 TCC 69 (Informal Procedure)
On his retirement from a U.S. employment in September 2000, the taxpayer (a Canadian resident) elected under the terms of his pension plan to...
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|---|---|---|
| Tax Topics - Treaties - Article 18 | deduction for U.S. pension income deduction translated at exchange rate for year of receipt | 140 |
See Also
Agnico-Eagle Mines Limited v. The Queen, 2015 DTC 1008 [at 43], 2014 TCC 324, aff'd 2016 FCA 130
In 2002, the taxpayer ("Agnico") issued US-dollar denominated debentures which were convertible at the holders' option into common shares at a...
| Other locations for this summary | |
|---|---|
| Tax Topics - Income Tax Act - Section 39 - Subsection 39(2) | U.S. dollar principal of a convertible debenture should be considered on conversion to have been settled at the historical exchange rate when the conversion price was set |
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|---|---|---|
| Tax Topics - General Concepts - Evidence | expert opinion on domestic law excluded | 33 |
Ferlaino v. The Queen, 2016 TCC 105 (Informal Procedure)
Smith J rejected arguments of the taxpayer that the computation of his s. 7(1)(a) benefits on exercising options on the shares of the listed U.S....
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|---|---|---|
| Tax Topics - Income Tax Act - Section 7 - Subsection 7(1) - Paragraph 7(1)(a) | exercise price of employee stock options to be translated at the exercise-date spot rate | 215 |
| Tax Topics - Income Tax Act - 101-110 - Section 110 - Subsection 110(1.5) - Paragraph 110(1.5)(a) | purpose of satisfying exe4rcise price test | 273 |
Administrative Policy
20 November 2015 External T.I. 2014-0539951E5 - Foreign Currency Denominated Dividends
A U.S.-listed corporation, which has not filed a s. 261(3) election, periodically declares and pays dividends in U.S. dollars. Can it make...
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|---|---|---|
| Tax Topics - Income Tax Act - Section 89 - Subsection 89(14) | U.S.-dollar dividends translated at spot rate on payment date | 49 |
24 November CTF Annual Roundtable, Q.10
Where a specified non-resident shareholder of a Canadian corporation (“Canco”) makes a foreign currency loan to Canco, what foreign exchange...
9 October 2015 APFF Financial Strategies and Financial Instruments Roundtable Q. 5, 2015-0588981C6 F - Foreign currency stock market transactions
As CRA considers that shares sold on a stock exchange are disposed of on the settlement rather than trade date, it considers that the U.S. dollar...
10 June 2014 Ministerial Correspondence 2014-0529961M4 - Capital gains on property in foreign currency
On the sale of capital property in foreign currency, the proceeds of disposition are converted using the exchange rate at the time of the sale,...
4 June 2014 External T.I. 2014-0517151E5 - S. 17.1 and debt denominated in foreign currency
A non-resident corporation owes a foreign-currency denominated amount to a CRIC which is a pertinent loan or indebtedness (a "PLOI"), as defined...
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|---|---|---|
| Tax Topics - Income Tax Act - Section 17.1 - Subsection 17.1(1) | prescribed interest on foreign currency PLOI translated at spot rate when loan made | 194 |
14 January 2011 External T.I. 2004-0098601E5 - Foreign currency borrowings and ss 214(7) and (8).
In our view, pursuant to subsection 261(2) of the Act, the discount and yield tests set out in paragraph 214(8)(c) of the Act for a...
| Locations of other summaries | Wordcount | |
|---|---|---|
| Tax Topics - Income Tax Act - Section 214 - Subsection 214(15) | 93 | |
| Tax Topics - Income Tax Act - Section 214 - Subsection 214(7) | FX movements can cause deemed interest | 89 |
| Tax Topics - Income Tax Act - Section 214 - Subsection 214(8) - Paragraph 214(8)(c) | 113 |
Articles
Chris Van Loan, Peter Lee, "Agnico Eagle Mines Limited v. The Queen", International Tax, Wolters Kluwer CCH, No. 80, February 2015, p.1.
Amount paid by Agnico for the extinguishing of its debentures was fond to be U.S.$1,000, being the amount for which the common shares were issued...
Janette Y. Pantry, Soraya M. Jamal, "The Thin Cap Rules: Revisiting the Foreign Exchange Anomaly", Corporate Finance, 2011, p. 1934
Discussion of effect of s. 261(2)(b) on the thin capitalization rule.
Patrick Marley, Amanda Heale, "New Foreign Currency Rules: Are They Functional?", International Tax, CCH, December 2007, No. 37, p. 7.
Subsection 261(3) - Application of subsection (5)
Forms
T1296 "Election, or Revocation of an Election, to Report in a Functional Currency"
[F]or tax years that begin after July 12, 2013, the election to...
Subsection 261(5) - Functional currency tax reporting
Paragraph 261(5)(a)
Administrative Policy
S5-F4-C1 - Income Tax Reporting Currency
Election not relevant to other tax-payer's results
1.21 ...[I]t is only the Canadian tax results of the taxpayer electing into the functional...
11 July 2013 Internal T.I. 2012-0471111I7 - functional currency
In response to a query as to the basis for CRA's conclusion that s. 261(11)(d ) (which applies only to taxes that are computed "for the particular...
20 September 2012 Internal T.I. 2012-0453071I7 - functional currency
Where Canco (a Canadian resident corportion) has elected a functional currency (i.e. other than the Canadian dollar), it would be permitted to...
Articles
Geoffrey S. Turner, "New and Improved Functional Currency Proposals", International Tax, No. 43, December 2008, p. 1.
Subsection 261(6) - Partnerships
Administrative Policy
S5-F4-C1 - Income Tax Reporting Currency
Applies automatically to single-and multi-tier partnerships
1.34 ... [A]lthough the partnership is treated as if it had made a functional currency...
22 April 2013 External T.I. 2012-0471831E5 - Functional currency reporting for partnerships
In response to a query concerning the functional currency reporting requirements for partnerships where a corporate partner has made an election...
Subsection 261(6.1) - Foreign affiliates
Administrative Policy
S5-F4-C1 - Income Tax Reporting Currency
Staggered year ends / FAPI only
1.39 Note that, similar to where a functional currency taxpayer holds an interest in a partnership, it is possible...
Subsection 261(7) - Converting Canadian currency amounts
Administrative Policy
S5-F4-C1 - Income Tax Reporting Currency
No discretion to use other than spot rate
1.22 ... Subsection 261(7) provides that ... carried-forward amounts are to be converted from Canadian...
Paragraph 261(7)(h)
Administrative Policy
20 September 2013 External T.I. 2012-0471261E5 - conversion of CDA into functional currency
How should the capital dividend account of a Canadian corporation ("Canco") be converted from Canadian currency into US dollars, where Canco has a...
Subsection 261(8)
Administrative Policy
S5-F4-C1 - Income Tax Reporting Currency
No netting
1.24 ... [T]here is no provision in section 261 that allows for the netting of amounts payable to, and receivable from, another taxpayer.
Subsection 261(9)
Paragraph 261(9)(a)
Administrative Policy
7 October 2016 APFF Roundtable Q. 17, 2016-0652781C6 F - Functional currency and acquisition of control
Where a taxpayer with an elected functional currency (e.g., the USD) has an accrued FX loss on a debt obligation owing in another foreign currency...
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|---|---|---|
| Tax Topics - Income Tax Act - Section 111 - Subsection 111(4) - Paragraph 111(4)(e) | FX gains or losses on pre-transition debts not affected | 229 |
| Tax Topics - Income Tax Act - Section 40 - Subsection 40(10) | exclusion of pre-transition debts | 153 |
Subsection 261(10)
Administrative Policy
S5-F4-C1 - Income Tax Reporting Currency
Overview
1.28 Subsection 261(10) ... causes the accrued income, capital gain, loss or capital loss in respect of a particular pre-transition debt...
Subsection 261(11) - Determination of amounts payable
Administrative Policy
S5-F4-C1 - Income Tax Reporting Currency
Overview
1.53 ... In summary, paragraphs 261(11)(a) and (b) provide the following:
- instalment obligations under paragraph 261(11)(a):
- A...
Paragraph 261(11)(a)
Administrative Policy
21 January 2015 Internal T.I. 2014-0540631I7 - S.261 and loss carryback request
Canco, whose elected functional currency ("EFC") has been the U.S. dollar, deducted non-capital losses from subsequent years in computing its...
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|---|---|---|
| Tax Topics - Income Tax Act - Section 157 - Subsection 157(1) - Paragraph 157(1)(a) | instalment method of a functional currency reporter after loss carryback | 39 |
Subsection 261(12) - Application of subsections (7) and (8) to reversionary years
Administrative Policy
S5-F4-C1 - Income Tax Reporting Currency
Double conversion
1.43 Note that tax attributes that originate in a Canadian currency year of the taxpayer and that are unused at the time of...
13 February 2013 External T.I. 2011-0430921E5 F - S. 261 - Loss carry-back & loss carry-forward
The taxpayer elected in its December 31, 2009 taxation year to adopt the U.S. dollar as its functional currency in accordance with s. 261(2), and...
| Locations of other summaries | Wordcount | |
|---|---|---|
| Tax Topics - Income Tax Act - Section 261 - Subsection 261(15) | 95 |
Subsection 261(14)
Administrative Policy
S5-F4-C1 - Income Tax Reporting Currency
Integration wtih s. 39(2)
1.50 As is the case with subsection 261(10), where subsection 261(14) deems a taxpayer to make a gain or sustain a loss...
Subsection 261(15) - Amounts carried back
Administrative Policy
13 February 2013 External T.I. 2011-0430921E5 F - S. 261 - Loss carry-back & loss carry-forward
The taxpayer elected in its December 31, 2009 taxation year to adopt the U.S. dollar as its functional currency in accordance with s. 261(2), and...
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|---|---|---|
| Tax Topics - Income Tax Act - Section 261 - Subsection 261(12) | conversion to U.S. dollar and back again changed non-capital losses | 103 |
Paragraph 261(15)(a)
Administrative Policy
S5-F4-C1 - Income Tax Reporting Currency
Summary of base case
1.57 Paragraph 261(15)(a) applies in situations where the loss year is a functional currency year and the taxpayer wishes to...
Subsection 261(16)
Administrative Policy
S5-F4-C1 - Income Tax Reporting Currency
Summary of base cases
1.61 Where the subsidiary’s tax reporting currency is the Canadian dollar – either because it has never elected into the...
Subsection 261(17)
Administrative Policy
S5-F4-C1 - Income Tax Reporting Currency
Alignment with wind-up rules
1.65 Subsection 261(17) is designed to align the tax reporting currency of each predecessor corporation with that of...
Subsection 261(18) - Anti-avoidance
Administrative Policy
S5-F4-C1 - Income Tax Reporting Currency
Avoidance of prohibition
1.69
Example 3
Facts
Canco elects to report its Canadian tax results in U.S. dollars commencing with its 2008 tax...
Articles
Eric Bretsen, Heather Kerr, "Tax Planning for Foreign Currency", 2009 Conference Report (CTF), C. 35.
Carve-out for commerical transactions
Although this provision is now a broadly applicable anti-abuse rule, it contains a dual-step carve-out for...
| Locations of other summaries | Wordcount | |
|---|---|---|
| Tax Topics - Income Tax Act - Section 261 - Subsection 261(1) - Functional Currency | 131 | |
| Tax Topics - Income Tax Act - Section 261 - Subsection 261(20) | 175 |
Subsection 261(20) - Application of subsection (21)
Administrative Policy
6 December 2011 TEI-CRA Liason Meeting Roundtable Q. 4, 2011-0426981C6 - Functional Currency Reporting
CRA confirmed its position respecting the example (first raised at the May 2011 IFA Roundtable), that where a parent with a Canadian dollar...
Articles
Eric Bretsen, Heather Kerr, "Tax Planning for Foreign Currency", 2009 Conference Report (CTF), C. 35.
Loss denial arising where U.S. commercial paper issued through U.S. sub (pp. 35:42-43)
Canco…uses the Canadian dollar as its functional...
| Locations of other summaries | Wordcount | |
|---|---|---|
| Tax Topics - Income Tax Act - Section 261 - Subsection 261(1) - Functional Currency | 131 | |
| Tax Topics - Income Tax Act - Section 261 - Subsection 261(18) | 168 |
Paragraph 261(20)(b)
Administrative Policy
9 March 2016 Internal T.I. 2015-0612501I7 - ITA 261(21) anti-avoidance
In order to hedge a U.S.-dollar Loan made by it to its Canadian subsidiary (Opco, whose tax reporting currency was the U.S. dollar), Opco (whose...
| Locations of other summaries | Wordcount | |
|---|---|---|
| Tax Topics - Income Tax Act - Section 261 - Subsection 261(1) - Tax Reporting Currency | non-resident parent would have Canadian dollar as tax reporting currency | 80 |
Subsection 261(21) - Income, gain or loss determinations
Administrative Policy
S5-F4-C1 - Income Tax Reporting Currency
Automatic application of loss denial
1.72 ... The rule applies to deny a loss to the taxpayer where the loss can reasonably be considered to be...
| Other locations for this summary | |
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| Tax Topics |
2015 Ruling 2014-0561001R3 - Functional currency election
underline;">: CanULC financial reporting. CanULC, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco (a U.S. public company), which reports its consolidated...
Articles
John Lorito, Trevor O'Brien, "International Finance – Cash Pooling Arrangements", 2014 Conference Report, (Canadian Tax Foundation), 20:1-33
CRA relief where a cash pool head account has no presence in Canada and Canco has elected (p. 24)
Assume Canco…has elected to compute its...