Taxation

Our tax professionals advise and represent our clients in matters of income tax, consumption taxes, and customs duties and work closely with other practice groups. Our expertise with companies large and small in every sector of the economy covers a wide range of commercial operations and enables us to provide valuable advice on federal, provincial, or transborder taxation matters. For us, our clients are partners that we assist in reaching their goals, including taxation objectives.

We also advise and represent our clients in litigation against federal, provincial, and municipal tax authorities.

Sub-expertises in tax law

• Tax disputes and challenges to notices of assessment
• Tax, financial, and estate planning
• Transaction taxes
• Tax reorganizations
• Wealth management
• Trusts
• Voluntary disclosure
• Taxation of real estate

Client work

Our lawyers are called upon to deal with a variety of cases and issues, including:

• Taxes under the following laws: Income Tax Act, Taxation Act, Excise Tax Act, Act respecting the Quebec sales tax, and Tax Administration Act
• Taxation dispute resolution: Guidance in tax audits, objections to the Canada Revenue Agency and Agence du revenu du Québec, court appeals, and dispute settlement
• Negotiation of payment arrangements with tax authorities
• Representation in tax cases of a criminal nature and matters of voluntary disclosure
• Consumption taxes and customs duties
• Intergenerational transfer of company ownership and succession planning
• Business mergers and acquisitions
• Real estate taxation and financing
• Aboriginal taxation
• Farm taxation
• Joint ventures and partnerships
• Transaction taxes
• Corporate restructuring and reorganization
• International tax planning: Structures for Canadians investing abroad, profit repatriation, structures for non-residents doing business in Canada, and the most advantageous ways (from a taxation standpoint) to hold property in Canada
• Personal and estate tax planning for business owners: Asset-holding structures (family trusts, holding companies, and general partnerships), income-splitting structures, and increased capital gains exemption
• Taxation of charities and non-profit organizations
• Taxation of public and broader public agencies
• Advance rulings and technical interpretations
• Executive compensation
• Natural resources, including flow-through shares