Canada Steps Up Efforts To Combat Aggressive Tax Planning

by Mike Godfrey, Tax-News.com, Washington

11 August 2005

John McCallum, Canada's Minister of National Revenue, has announced the creation of 11 centres of expertise across Canada in an ongoing effort to address aggressive tax planning.

"I am committed to ensuring a level playing field for all Canadians, and that is why I take the issue of tax havens seriously," Mr McCallum announced on Tuesday at the London Tax Services Office, where one of the centres is located.

"The CRA (Canada Revenue Agency) is continually challenging aggressive international tax planning structures and the new Centres of Expertise will equip the CRA with even more tools to ensure that everyone is paying their required share of taxes," he added.

In a statement released in conjunction with McCallum's announcement, the CRA added that:

"The Centres of Expertise represent a new way of doing business for the CRA. By bringing together audit professionals from the areas of international tax, special audits and tax avoidance to create teams of experts, the CRA is ensuring a more coordinated approach in addressing aggressive international tax planning and the abusive use of tax havens."

Besides London, other Centres of Expertise will be located at Tax Services Offices in Laval, Halifax, Saint John, Montréal, Toronto West, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Calgary, Vancouver and Burnaby.

The initiative has been made possible by an annual $30 million investment announced in the 2005 Federal Budget to enhance the CRA's compliance activities.

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