Make Golf Tax-Deductible, Canadian Campaigners Say

by Mike Godfrey, Tax-News.com, Washington

05 January 2012

The Canadian golf industry is unfairly treated by the country's tax law, a group of campaigners has said, calling for game expenses to be deductible if business-related.

At present, a 1971 law prohibits Canadian businesses from deducting greens fees in the same manner as they would be permitted to do with regard to other sporting events, restaurant bills and theatre tickets.

In November, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty received a letter requesting that the government reconsider the non-deductibility of golf-related expenses in the tax regulations. According to Jeff Calderwood, chief executive of the National Golf Course Owners Association Canada, the golf industry is "stepped on unfairly", and he has called for it to receive equal treatment with other industries.

Also helping to lead the campaign is Peter Stoffer, a member of the official opposition New Democratic Party. He argues for the benefits of golf, to the environment, health and charities.

In reaction to the mounting pressure, the government is expected to look again at the law. Russ Hiebert, a member of the governing Conservative party, has said that there is a chance to revisit the legislation, noting that "times have changed".

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