The federal government has released draft legislation, explanatory notes and a backgrounder for several measures aimed at improving and streamlining the application of the goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) to the financial services sector.
“The financial services sector is a key element of the Canadian economy. Ensuring that the tax system functions smoothly and fairly in relation to it will support its continued success both at home and abroad. This ultimately benefits consumers and the Canadian economy” said finance minister Jim Flaherty, in a news release.
The draft legislation released Friday will address GST/HST advantages that currently exist in favour of imported financial services over comparable domestic services.
The draft legislation also proposes new legislative framework for the GST/HST input tax credit allocation regime applicable to financial institutions. The framework will streamline the application of the GST/HST input tax credit rules for these institutions and reduce the uncertainty arising from the lack of specific guidance in the current legislation.
Flaherty also announced that stakeholder consultations would be undertaken on the following proposals:
- Replacing the complex system of legislative and administrative rules that currently apply to different pension plan trust structures with a new, uniform GST/HST rebate system that will apply fairly and equally to all such structures; and
- Introducing a new GST/HST annual information schedule for financial institutions to improve GST/HST reporting in the financial services sector.