A recent ruling letter deals with the question as to whether a person who is a member of a society or non-profit corporation can be a "shareholder" for the purposes of the Income Tax Act. Very interesting concept, which could lead to subsection 15(1) assessments to a number of unexpected scenarios.

In this 2011 Ontario Superior Court decision, numerous rulings were given with regard to the validity of an ambiguous gift via the will, trustee compensation, and other matters. This document is a must read for any professional involved with estate administration involving charitable gifts.

In this 2011 Federal Court ruling, a participant in a tax receipt scam was refused credit for donations he allegedly had made to the promoter of the scheme. The interesting aspect of this case is that the client of the tax preparer involved in the scheme was not allowed to claim the donation.

The 2012 Federal Budget contained two provisions for charities in Canada. This CRA page outlines the provisions.

Ernst & Young has a webcast of their insights and perspective of the 2012 Federal Budget.

Your source for current tax laws, regulations, and trends for all your tax-planning needs.

This webcast is designed to provide individuals and practitioners with an update of major changes to the Income Tax Act (Canada) for the 2011 taxation year. Topics will include personal tax information, savings plans (including RRSP deduction limits, anti-avoidance rules, etc.), and taxation news (including case studies and CRA News Releases).

This is the second of a two-part presentation on the taxation of trusts and their role in estate planning. It will cover three essential topics: estate planning using trusts; the use of testamentary spousal trusts; and the 21-year deemed disposition rule. This webcast is intended for an audience with a basic understanding of trust fundamentals.

This is the first of a two-part presentation on the taxation of trusts, which is intended for an audience with a basic understanding of trust fundamentals. It will include discussions on the non-tax uses of trusts, income and capital gains splitting strategies, and tax traps.

Recent changes in legislation have produced unparalleled opportunities for charities in Canada, and all charities need to review their administrative procedures to take full advantage of the opportunities and avoid the pitfalls. This webcast will explore the more significant changes, opportunities, and challenges brought about the new legislation.