Definitions

1   In this Act:

"assessment", in relation to an assessment under this Act, includes a reassessment;

"BC remuneration", in relation to an employer, means the total of the following:

(a) all remuneration paid by the employer to or on behalf of the employer's employees, other than former employees, who

(i) subject to section 3 (1) and (2), report for work at a permanent establishment of the employer in British Columbia, or

(ii) do not report for work at a permanent establishment of the employer, whether or not in British Columbia, if the remuneration is paid from or through a permanent establishment of the employer in British Columbia;

(b) all remuneration paid by the employer to or on behalf of any of the employer's former employees who, when the former employee was last employed by the employer,

(i) subject to section 3 (3), reported for work at a permanent establishment of the employer in British Columbia, or

(ii) did not report for work at a permanent establishment of the employer, whether or not in British Columbia, if remuneration was paid to the former employee from or through a permanent establishment of the employer in British Columbia;

"charitable or non-profit employer" means an employer that is

(a) a registered charity as defined in section 248 (1) of the Income Tax Act (Canada), or

(b) a non-profit organization,

but does not include

(c) an organization within the government reporting entity as defined in the Budget Transparency and Accountability Act, or

(d) an organization in a prescribed class of organizations;

"commissioner" means

(a) subject to paragraph (b), the Commissioner of Income Tax appointed under the Income Tax Act, or

(b) another person designated under section 88 [designation of commissioner] of this Act by the minister to administer this Act;

"employee" means the following:

(a) an individual employed by an employer;

(b) an individual appointed to an office with an employer who receives remuneration in respect of the performance of the duties of the office;

(c) a former employee;

"employer" means the following:

(a) a person who pays remuneration to an employee;

(b) a trustee in bankruptcy, assignee, liquidator, receiver, administrator or other person administering, managing, winding up, controlling or otherwise dealing with property or business of a person referred to in paragraph (a);

"former employee" means an individual who was formerly an employee within the meaning of paragraph (a) or (b) of the definition of "employee";

"non-profit organization" means an organization described in section 149 (1) (e), (g), (i), (j), (k) or (l) of the Income Tax Act (Canada);

"permanent establishment" means any fixed place of business, including, without limitation, an agency, a branch, a factory, a farm, a gas well, a mine, an office, an oil well, timberland, a warehouse or a workshop;

"person" includes the following:

(a) a trust;

(b) an unincorporated association;

(c) the government of British Columbia, another province or Canada;

(d) the government of another jurisdiction in Canada;

"remuneration" includes all payments, benefits and allowances received or deemed to be received by an individual that are required under section 5, 6 or 7 of the Income Tax Act (Canada), or would be required if the individual were resident in Canada, to be included in the income of the individual for the purposes of that Act, including, without limitation,

(a) salaries and wages,

(b) bonuses,

(c) taxable allowances, and

(d) commissions and other similar amounts fixed by reference to the volume of sales made or contracts negotiated,

but does not include a pension, annuity or superannuation benefit paid by an employer to a former employee after the retirement of the former employee;

"tax return" means a tax return required to be filed under any of sections 32 to 34 [annual return; tax return — bankrupt employer; tax return for part-year permanent establishment] and 37 [tax return on demand].

Remuneration paid by employer

2   (1) The following rules apply for the purposes of this Act:

(a) an amount paid by the employer to a trustee or custodian, as the case may be, for the benefit of an employee under an employees profit sharing plan, employee benefit plan, employee trust or salary deferral arrangement is deemed to be remuneration paid by the employer to or on behalf of the employee if the amount, upon payment or allocation to the employee, is required under section 5, 6 or 7 of the Income Tax Act (Canada) to be included in the income of a person under that Act;

(b) all remuneration received, or deemed to be received under section 5, 6 or 7 of the Income Tax Act (Canada), by an employee of the employer in respect of the employee's employment by the employer is deemed to be remuneration paid by that employer to or on behalf of the employee.

(2) In subsection (1) (a), "employee benefit plan", "employee trust", "employees profit sharing plan" and "salary deferral arrangement" have the same meanings as in section 248 (1) of the Income Tax Act (Canada).

BC remuneration

3   (1) For the purposes of this Act, the remuneration paid to or on behalf of an employee, other than a former employee, who reports for work at a permanent establishment of the employer in British Columbia at any time during a calendar year includes all remuneration paid to or on behalf of the employee during the calendar year, whether or not the employee also reports for work at a permanent establishment of the employer outside British Columbia at any time during that calendar year.

(2) Despite subsection (1), if the commissioner is satisfied that an employee reported for work at a permanent establishment of an employer outside British Columbia for all or substantially all of the calendar year, no remuneration paid to or on behalf of the employee is to be included in the employer's BC remuneration for that calendar year.

(3) If the commissioner is satisfied that a former employee, in the calendar year during which the former employee was last employed by the former employee's employer, reported for work at a permanent establishment of the employer outside British Columbia for all or substantially all of the period in that calendar year the former employee was employed by that employer, no remuneration paid to or on behalf of the former employee is to be included in the employer's BC remuneration for the calendar year in which the remuneration was paid.

Deemed permanent establishment

4   Without limiting the definition of "permanent establishment", the following rules apply for the purposes of this Act:

(a) a corporation is deemed to have a permanent establishment in the place designated in its charter, articles of incorporation, constitution or bylaws, as the case may be, as being the corporation's head or registered office;

(b) an employer is deemed to have a permanent establishment in a jurisdiction if the employer carries on business in the jurisdiction through an employee or agent who has general authority to contract on behalf of that employer;

(c) an employer is deemed to have a permanent establishment in a jurisdiction if an employee or agent of the employer

(i) has a stock of merchandise owned by that employer in the jurisdiction, and

(ii) fills orders received by the employee or agent from the stock of merchandise;

(d) land or premises owned or leased by an employer is deemed to be a permanent establishment of the employer;

(e) an employer is deemed to have a permanent establishment at the place where and during the time when the employer uses substantial machinery or equipment;

(f) an insurance corporation is deemed to have a permanent establishment in each jurisdiction in which the corporation is registered or licensed to do business;

(g) an employer who does not otherwise carry on business in Canada in a calendar year is deemed to have a permanent establishment at any place where the employer, in the calendar year, produces, grows, mines, creates, manufactures, fabricates, improves, packs, preserves, processes or constructs, in whole or in part, any thing in Canada, whether or not the employer exports that thing before selling it;

(h) an employer who has no fixed place of business is deemed to have a permanent establishment in the principal place in which the employer conducts business and in each place from which the employer carries on or transacts a substantial portion of the business.

Reporting for work at permanent establishment

5   For the purposes of this Act, an employee reports for work at a permanent establishment of the employee's employer if the employee comes to the permanent establishment in person to work or otherwise can reasonably be considered to be attached to the permanent establishment.

Deemed employer

6   (1) In this section:

"BC resident" means a person who has a permanent establishment in British Columbia;

"non-resident employer" means an employer that does not have a permanent establishment in British Columbia.

(2) This section applies if a BC resident and a non-resident employer enter into an agreement under which work is performed or services are provided for the benefit of the BC resident by an employee of the non-resident employer.

(3) Subsection (4) applies in respect of the BC resident and employee referred to in subsection (2) if the following requirements are met during the period in a calendar year in which the work is performed or the services are provided:

(a) the non-resident employer does not have a permanent establishment in British Columbia at any time during the period;

(b) the non-resident employer is not subject to tax under this Act in respect of the remuneration paid to or on behalf of the employee during the period in respect of the work performed or services provided by the employee for the benefit of the BC resident;

(c) the work performed or services provided by the employee for the benefit of the BC resident

(i) is performed or provided in British Columbia under the direction or approval of the BC resident, and

(ii) is of a type that can reasonably be considered to be performed or provided by an employee of the BC resident;

(d) the BC resident and non-resident employer do not deal with each other at arm's length at any time during the period or did not deal with each other at arm's length at the time the agreement referred to in subsection (2) was entered into.

(4) For the purposes of this Act, if this subsection applies to a BC resident and employee referred to in subsection (2), the following rules apply during the period in the calendar year in which the work is performed or the services are provided:

(a) the BC resident is deemed

(i) to be the employee's employer, and

(ii) to have paid remuneration to or on behalf of the employee during the period in an amount equal to the remuneration paid by the non-resident employer to or on behalf of the employee during the period in respect of the work performed or services provided by the employee for the benefit of the BC resident;

(b) the employee is deemed

(i) to be the BC resident's employee, and

(ii) to report for work during the period at a permanent establishment of the BC resident in British Columbia.

Application of federal provisions — arm's length

7   Section 251 of the Income Tax Act (Canada) applies for the purposes of this Act.

Tax on BC remuneration paid in calendar year

8   Subject to this Act, an employer must pay to the government for each calendar year a tax equal to 1.95% of the BC remuneration paid by the employer during the calendar year.

Application of Division

9   This Division applies to an employer for a calendar year unless Division 3, 4 or 5 of this Part applies to the employer for the calendar year.

Exemption — BC remuneration not greater than $1 000 000

10   Subject to section 12, if the BC remuneration paid during a calendar year by an employer is not greater than $1 000 000, no tax is payable under this Part by the employer for the calendar year.

Notch rate — BC remuneration not greater than $1 500 000

11   Subject to section 12, if the BC remuneration paid during a calendar year by an employer is greater than $1 000 000 but not greater than $1 500 000, the tax payable under this Part by the employer for the calendar year is equal to 5.85% of the amount by which the BC remuneration paid exceeds $1 000 000.

Proration for part-year permanent establishment

12   (1) This section applies to an employer for a calendar year if the employer has a permanent establishment in British Columbia for only part of the calendar year.

(2) If the BC remuneration paid during a calendar year by an employer to whom this section applies is not greater than the amount determined by the following formula, no tax is payable under this Part by the employer for the calendar year:

(3) If the BC remuneration paid during a calendar year by an employer to whom this section applies is greater than the amount determined by the formula in subsection (2) but not greater than the amount determined by the following formula, the tax payable under this Part by the employer for the calendar year is equal to 5.85% of the amount by which the BC remuneration paid exceeds the amount determined by the formula in subsection (2):

Definition of "associated employers"

13   In this Division, "associated employers", in relation to an employer for a calendar year, means all of the following:

(a) the employer;

(b) all of the employers that are associated with the employer referred to in paragraph (a) at the end of the calendar year.

Application of Division

14   (1) Subject to subsection (2), this Division applies to an employer for a calendar year if the employer is associated with one or more other employers at the end of the calendar year.

(2) This Division does not apply to an employer for a calendar year if Division 4 or 5 of this Part applies to the employer for the calendar year.

Application of federal provisions — associated employers

15   (1) Subject to this Act, section 256 of the Income Tax Act (Canada) applies for the purposes of this Division.

(2) Section 256 (2), (2.1) and (7) to (9) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) does not apply for the purposes of this Division.

(3) In applying section 256 of the Income Tax Act (Canada) for the purposes of this Division, the following rules apply:

(a) that section is to be read as if the references to "taxation year" were references to "calendar year";

(b) subsections (3) and (4) of that section are to be read as if the references to "Minister" were references to "commissioner".

Other rules — associated employers

16   (1) For the purposes of determining, at any time, whether 2 or more employers are associated with each other, the following rules apply:

(a) if an employer is an individual,

(i) the employer is deemed to be a corporation having issued a capital stock of a single class of voting shares, and

(ii) the individual is deemed to own, at that time, all of the issued shares of that class;

(b) if an employer is a partnership or a trust,

(i) the employer is deemed to be a corporation having issued a capital stock of a single class of voting shares divided into 100 issued shares, and

(ii) each member of the partnership or each beneficiary under the trust is deemed to own, at that time, the number of issued shares of that class that is equal to the proportion of 100 that

(A) the member's or beneficiary's share of the income or loss of the partnership or trust for the fiscal period of the partnership or trust that includes that time

is of

(B) the total income or loss of the partnership or trust for that fiscal period.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1) (b) (ii), if the income or loss of the partnership or trust for a period is zero, the proportion under that subsection is to be determined as if the partnership or trust had income for the period in the amount of $100.

(3) The following rules apply for the purposes of this Division:

(a) subject to paragraph (b), if

(i) 2 employers would not, but for this paragraph, be associated with each other at a particular time, and

(ii) each of the 2 employers is associated with the same employer at the particular time,

the 2 employers are deemed to be associated with each other at that particular time;

(b) subject to paragraph (c), if an employer would, but for this paragraph, be associated at a particular time with a charitable or non-profit employer, the 2 employers are deemed not to be associated with each other at the particular time;

(c) if 2 or more employers who are not charitable or non-profit employers would be deemed to be associated with each other under paragraph (a) at a particular time because each of the employers is, but for paragraph (b), associated with the same charitable or non-profit employer, those employers are deemed to be associated with each other at the particular time;

(d) if it may reasonably be considered that

(i) the separate existence of 2 or more employers at the end of a calendar year, or

(ii) the transfer of a business or part of a business from one employer to another employer in a calendar year

was undertaken or arranged primarily for the purpose of reducing the amount of tax payable under this Act by any one of the employers for the calendar year, those employers are deemed to be associated with each other at the end of the calendar year.

Exemption — associated employers

17   No tax is payable under this Part by an employer for a calendar year if the total BC remuneration paid during the calendar year by all of the associated employers is not greater than

(a) $1 000 000, or

(b) if each of the associated employers has a permanent establishment in British Columbia for only part of the calendar year, the amount determined by the following formula in respect of the associated employers:

Allocation agreement

18   (1) In this section:

"allocation agreement" means a written agreement in the form and containing the information required by the commissioner;

"exemption amount", in relation to an employer for a calendar year, means the lesser of the following:

(a) the amount assigned to the employer for the calendar year under the allocation agreement referred to in subsection (2) (b);

(b) the amount determined by the following formula:

(2) This section applies to an employer for a calendar year if the following requirements are met:

(a) the total BC remuneration paid during the calendar year by all of the associated employers is

(i) greater than $1 000 000 and not greater than $1 500 000, or

(ii) if each of the associated employers has a permanent establishment in British Columbia for only part of the calendar year,

(A) greater than the amount determined by the formula in section 17 (b), and

(B) not greater than the amount determined by the following formula in respect of the associated employers:

(b) the associated employers file with the commissioner an allocation agreement that assigns, for the purposes of this Division, an amount not less than zero to each of the associated employers for the calendar year;

(c) the total of the amounts assigned by the allocation agreement referred to in paragraph (b) does not exceed $1 000 000 or the amount referred to in paragraph (a) (ii) (A), as the case may be.

(3) If the BC remuneration paid during a calendar year by an employer to whom this section applies is not greater than the employer's exemption amount for the calendar year, no tax is payable under this Part by the employer for that calendar year.

(4) If the BC remuneration paid during a calendar year by an employer to whom this section applies is greater than the employer's exemption amount for the calendar year, the tax payable under this Part by the employer for that calendar year is equal to 5.85% of the amount by which the BC remuneration paid exceeds the employer's exemption amount.

Application of Division

19   (1) Subject to subsection (2), this Division applies to an employer for a calendar year if the employer is a charitable or non-profit employer

(a) on the last day of the calendar year, or

(b) in the case of an employer that has a permanent establishment in British Columbia for only part of the calendar year, on the last day in the calendar year that the employer has a permanent establishment in British Columbia.

(2) This Division does not apply to an employer for a calendar year if Division 5 of this Part applies to the employer for the calendar year.

Exemption — BC remuneration not greater than $1 500 000

20   Subject to section 22, if the BC remuneration paid during a calendar year by a charitable or non-profit employer is not greater than $1 500 000, no tax is payable under this Part by the charitable or non-profit employer for the calendar year.

Notch rate — BC remuneration not greater than $4 500 000

21   Subject to section 22, if the BC remuneration paid during a calendar year by a charitable or non-profit employer is greater than $1 500 000 but not greater than $4 500 000, the tax payable under this Part by the charitable or non-profit employer for the calendar year is equal to 2.925% of the amount by which the BC remuneration paid exceeds $1 500 000.

Proration for part-year permanent establishment

22   (1) This section applies to a charitable or non-profit employer for a calendar year if the charitable or non-profit employer has a permanent establishment in British Columbia for only part of the calendar year.

(2) If the BC remuneration paid during a calendar year by a charitable or non-profit employer to whom this section applies is not greater than the amount determined by the following formula, no tax is payable under this Part by the charitable or non-profit employer for the calendar year:

(3) If the BC remuneration paid during a calendar year by a charitable or non-profit employer to whom this section applies is greater than the amount determined by the formula in subsection (2) but not greater than the amount determined by the following formula, the tax payable under this Part by the charitable or non-profit employer for the calendar year is equal to 2.925% of the amount by which the BC remuneration paid exceeds the amount determined by the formula in subsection (2):

Definition of "qualifying location"

23   (1) In this Division, "qualifying location" means a qualifying location within the meaning of subsection (2).

(2) For the purposes of this Division, a qualifying location, in relation to an employer, consists of all of the following:

(a) land or premises that

(i) is, or is part of, a permanent establishment of the employer in British Columbia, and

(ii) meets the following requirements:

(A) the employer has the exclusive right to occupy the land or premises;

(B) the land or premises is used and occupied solely by the employer;

(b) any land or premises contiguous to the land or premises referred to in paragraph (a) that is, or is part of, a permanent establishment of the employer.

Application of Division

24   This Division applies to an employer for a calendar year if the following requirements are met:

(a) the employer is a charitable or non-profit employer

(i) on the last day in the calendar year, or

(ii) in the case of an employer that has a permanent establishment in British Columbia for only part of the calendar year, on the last day in the calendar year that the employer has a permanent establishment in British Columbia;

(b) the employer has 2 or more qualifying locations at any time during the calendar year.

BC remuneration

25   For the purposes of this Division and subject to section 3 [BC remuneration], the following rules apply:

(a) subject to paragraph (b) of this section, if an employee reports for work at a qualifying location of a charitable or non-profit employer in a calendar year, the BC remuneration paid by the charitable or non-profit employer to or on behalf of the employee in respect of the qualifying location is deemed to include all remuneration paid to or on behalf of the employee during the calendar year;

(b) if an employee reports for work at 2 or more qualifying locations of a charitable or non-profit employer in a calendar year, the BC remuneration paid by the charitable or non-profit employer to or on behalf of the employee in respect of the qualifying location at which that employee primarily reports for work is deemed to include all remuneration paid to or on behalf of the employee during the calendar year;

(c) if an employee does not report for work at a qualifying location of a charitable or non-profit employer in a calendar year, the BC remuneration paid by the charitable or non-profit employer to or on behalf of the employee is to be attributed to a qualifying location of the charitable or non-profit employer that is reasonable having regard to all of the circumstances;

(d) without limiting paragraphs (a) to (c) of this section, all of the BC remuneration paid by a charitable or non-profit employer during a calendar year is to be attributed to one or more qualifying locations of the charitable or non-profit employer for the calendar year.

Total tax payable

26   If this Division applies to a charitable or non-profit employer for a calendar year, the tax payable by the charitable or non-profit employer under this Part is equal to the total of the tax payable by the charitable or non-profit employer for the calendar year in respect of each qualifying location of the charitable or non-profit employer.

Exemption for qualifying location — BC remuneration not greater than $1 500 000

27   Subject to section 30, if the BC remuneration paid during a calendar year by a charitable or non-profit employer in respect of a qualifying location is not greater than $1 500 000, no tax is payable under this Part by the charitable or non-profit employer for the calendar year in respect of the qualifying location.

Notch rate for qualifying location — BC remuneration not greater than $4 500 000

28   Subject to section 30, if the BC remuneration paid during a calendar year by a charitable or non-profit employer in respect of a qualifying location is greater than $1 500 000 but not greater than $4 500 000, the tax payable under this Part by the charitable or non-profit employer for the calendar year in respect of the qualifying location is equal to 2.925% of the amount by which the BC remuneration paid exceeds $1 500 000.

Tax payable for qualifying location — BC remuneration greater than $4 500 000

29   Subject to section 30, if the BC remuneration paid during a calendar year by a charitable or non-profit employer in respect of a qualifying location is greater than $4 500 000, the tax payable under this Part by the charitable or non-profit employer for the calendar year in respect of the qualifying location is equal to 1.95% of the BC remuneration paid.

Proration for part-year permanent establishment

30   (1) This section applies to a charitable or non-profit employer for a calendar year if the charitable or non-profit employer has a permanent establishment in British Columbia for only part of the calendar year.

(2) If the BC remuneration paid during a calendar year by a charitable or non-profit employer to whom this section applies in respect of a qualifying location is not greater than the amount determined by the following formula, no tax is payable under this Part by the charitable or non-profit employer for the calendar year in respect of the qualifying location:

(3) If the BC remuneration paid during a calendar year by a charitable or non-profit employer to whom this section applies in respect of a qualifying location is greater than the amount determined by the formula set out in subsection (2) but not greater than the amount determined by the following formula, the tax payable under this Part by the charitable or non-profit employer for the calendar year in respect of the qualifying location is equal to 2.925% of the amount by which the BC remuneration paid exceeds the amount determined by the formula set out in subsection (2):

(4) If the BC remuneration paid during a calendar year by a charitable or non-profit employer to whom this section applies in respect of a qualifying location is greater than the amount determined by the formula set out in subsection (3), the tax payable under this Part by the charitable or non-profit employer for the calendar year in respect of the qualifying location is equal to 1.95% of the BC remuneration paid.

Definitions

30.01   In this Part:

"associated employers", in relation to an employer, means all of the following:

(a) the employer;

(b) all of the employers that were associated with the employer referred to in paragraph (a) on December 31, 2020;

"base period" means the period beginning on July 1, 2020 and ending on September 30, 2020;

"base period remuneration" means the total of all eligible remuneration paid by an employer to or on behalf of an eligible employee in respect of all weeks in the base period;

"determination", in relation to a determination under this Part, includes a redetermination;

"eligible employee" has the meaning set out in section 30.03 [eligible employee];

"eligible remuneration" has the meaning set out in section 30.04 [eligible remuneration];

"increased employment credit" means a deemed overpayment under this Part, calculated under section 30.08 [calculation of increased employment credit];

"normal redetermination period" means the period referred to in section 30.09 (1) (b) [determinations — general rule];

"public institution" has the same meaning as in section 125.7 of the Income Tax Act (Canada), but does not include the following:

(a) a corporation that meets all of the following conditions:

(i) the corporation is a corporation described in section 149 (1) (d.5) of the Income Tax Act (Canada);

(ii) not less than 90% of the shares, or the capital, of the corporation are owned by one or more Aboriginal governments, as defined in section 241 (10) of the Income Tax Act (Canada), or similar Indigenous governing bodies, described in section 149 (1) (c) of the Income Tax Act (Canada);

(iii) the corporation carries on a business;

(b) a corporation that meets all of the following conditions:

(i) the corporation is a corporation described in section 149 (1) (d.6) of the Income Tax Act (Canada);

(ii) all of the shares, except directors' qualifying shares, or the capital, of the corporation are owned by one or more of

(A) an Aboriginal government, as defined in section 241 (10) of the Income Tax Act (Canada), or a similar Indigenous governing body, described in section 149 (1) (c) of the Income Tax Act (Canada), or

(B) a corporation described in this paragraph or paragraph (a);

(iii) the corporation carries on a business;

"qualifying period" means the period beginning on October 1, 2020 and ending on December 31, 2020;

"qualifying period remuneration" means the total of all eligible remuneration paid by an employer to or on behalf of an eligible employee in respect of all weeks in the qualifying period;

"registered political party" means

(a) a political party registered under Part 9 [Registration of Political Parties and Constituency Associations] of the Election Act, or

(b) a registered party, as defined in the Canada Elections Act;

"remuneration" does not include any of the following:

(a) an amount received or deemed to have been received by an employee under section 7 of the Income Tax Act (Canada);

(b) an amount, in respect of the base period or the qualifying period, paid by an employer to or on behalf of an employee after June 30, 2021;

(c) an amount paid to or on behalf of an employee in lieu of notice of termination;

"report for work in British Columbia" means, in respect of an employee,

(a) to work in person at a permanent establishment of the employee's employer in British Columbia,

(b) to be physically present in British Columbia for the performance of the employee's duties and be paid from or through a permanent establishment of the employer in British Columbia, or

(c) if the employee is on paid leave from the employer,

(i) to have worked for the employer as described in paragraph (a) immediately before the start of the leave, or

(ii) to have worked for the employer as described in paragraph (b) immediately before the start of the leave and to be paid, while on leave, from or through a permanent establishment of the employer in British Columbia.

Employer eligibility for increased employment credit

30.02   (1) Subject to subsection (2), the following employers are not eligible for an increased employment credit:

(a) a registered political party;

(b) a public institution.

(2) An employer that operates a private school or private college, within the meaning of section 8901.1 of the Income Tax Regulations (Canada), is eligible for an increased employment credit.

(3) A partnership is not eligible for an increased employment credit if 50% or more of the fair market value of all interests in the partnership is held, at any time during the period beginning on July 1, 2020 and ending on December 31, 2020, directly or indirectly, by one or more persons that are

(a) a registered political party, or

(b) a public institution, other than an Aboriginal government, as defined in section 241 (10) of the Income Tax Act (Canada), or a similar Indigenous governing body, described in section 149 (1) (c) of the Income Tax Act (Canada).

Eligible employee

30.03   (1) Subject to subsection (2), an employee is an eligible employee of an employer for the purposes of this Part when the employee is reporting for work in British Columbia during the base period or the qualifying period.

(2) An employee is not an eligible employee if both of the following circumstances apply:

(a) the employee does not deal with the employer at arm's length;

(b) the employee was not an employee of the employer on July 1, 2020.

Eligible remuneration

30.04   (1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3) and for the purposes of this Part, eligible remuneration is remuneration paid by an employer to or on behalf of an eligible employee in respect of all days in a week in the base period or the qualifying period, as applicable, on which the employee reported for work in British Columbia.

(2) The remuneration described in subsection (1) is deemed to be the lesser of

(a) the remuneration paid by the employer to or on behalf of the employee in respect of the days in the week on which the employee reported for work in British Columbia, and

(b) $1 129.33.

(3) If the base period or the qualifying period begins or ends during a week,

(a) the amount under subsection (2) (a) only includes the remuneration paid to or on behalf of the employee in respect of the days of that week that fall within the relevant period, and

(b) the amount under subsection (2) (b) is prorated for that week by the number of days of that week that fall within the relevant period.

Associated employers

30.05   (1) Despite section 14 (2) [application of Division 3], in determining whether two or more employers are associated with one another for the purposes of this Part, sections 15 [application of federal provisions — associated employers] and 16 (1), (2) and (3) (a) [other rules — associated employers] apply.

(2) For the purposes of this Part, if two or more employers are associated with one another and employ the same eligible employee in the base period or the qualifying period,

(a) only one of the associated employers may claim an increased employment credit in respect of that employee,

(b) the associated employer that claims an increased employment credit in respect of that employee is deemed to have paid all of the remuneration paid to or on behalf of that employee in respect of the base period or the qualifying period by all of the associated employers, and

(c) the associated employer that claims the increased employment credit in respect of that employee must file with the commissioner a written agreement described in subsection (3).

(3) A written agreement referred to in subsection (2) (c) must

(a) describe which of the associated employers will claim an increased employment credit with respect to the employee who is employed by two or more of the associated employers, and

(b) be in the form, and contain any further information, required by the commissioner.

Application for increased employment credit

30.06   (1) An employer that wishes to claim an increased employment credit must

(a) file an application electronically in the form and manner required by the commissioner, and

(b) file with the application any other information or records required by the commissioner.

(2) An application under this section must be filed on or before December 31, 2021.

Determination of increased employment credit

30.07   (1) On receiving an application under section 30.06, the commissioner must examine the application, and any other information or records filed with the application, and determine

(a) whether the applicant is eligible for an increased employment credit, and

(b) if the applicant is eligible, the amount of the applicant's increased employment credit in accordance with section 30.08.

(2) In making a determination, the commissioner is not bound by an application filed under this Part or any other information or records supplied under this Act.

(3) Subject to being amended or varied on appeal or by a redetermination, a determination is valid and binding despite any error, defect or omission in the determination or in procedure.

Calculation of increased employment credit

30.08   (1) The amount of the increased employment credit is determined by the following formula:

(2) An overpayment of the amount calculated under subsection (1) on account of an employer's liability under this Act for the 2020 calendar year is deemed to have arisen if

(a) an employer has applied under section 30.06 [application for increased employment credit] for an increased employment credit,

(b) the employer is eligible for an increased employment credit, and

(c) the amount calculated under subsection (1) is greater than zero.

(3) A deemed overpayment under subsection (2) arises even if no tax is payable under this Act by the employer for the 2020 calendar year.

Determinations — general rule

30.09   (1) The commissioner may make a determination

(a) at any time, if

(i) the applicant, or a person filing the applicant's application for an increased employment credit, has made any misrepresentation or committed any fraud in filing the application or in supplying, at any time, other information or records, or

(ii) a waiver filed under subsection (2) by the applicant is in effect at that time, or

(b) within 6 years after the date of the original notice of determination, in any other case.

(2) An applicant may file a waiver with the commissioner before the expiration of the normal redetermination period.

(3) A waiver filed under subsection (2) continues in effect until 6 months after the applicant files with the commissioner a notice revoking the waiver.

(4) A waiver filed under subsection (2) and a notice filed under subsection (3) must be filed in the form and manner, and containing the information, required by the commissioner.

(5) Despite subsection (1), a determination to which subsection (1) (a) (i) or (ii) applies may be made after the applicant's normal redetermination period, but only to the extent that the determination can reasonably be considered as relating to,

(a) if subsection (1) (a) (i) applies, any misrepresentation made by the applicant, or a person filing the applicant's application for an increased employment credit, or any fraud committed by the applicant or that other person in filing the application or in supplying any other information or records under this Act, or

(b) if subsection (1) (a) (ii) applies, a matter specified in the waiver filed with the commissioner.

(6) The authority of the commissioner to make a determination under section 30.10 [consequential determinations — income taxes] or 30.11 [consequential redeterminations after appeal]

(a) is in addition to the authority to make a determination under section 30.07 [determination of increased employment credit] or this section,

(b) is not limited by the authority to make a determination under section 30.07 [determination of increased employment credit] or this section, and

(c) does not limit the authority to make a determination under section 30.07 [determination of increased employment credit] or this section.

Consequential determinations — income taxes

30.10   (1) Subsection (2) applies in relation to an applicant under this Part if

(a) the applicant is issued a notice of assessment, reassessment or additional assessment under the Income Tax Act (Canada), and

(b) an amount relevant in calculating the amount of the applicant's increased employment credit would be changed if a determination were made under this Part.

(2) If this subsection applies,

(a) the applicant must file with the commissioner

(i) a notice, in the form and manner and containing the information, required by the commissioner, and

(ii) any other information or records required by the commissioner to be filed with the notice, and

(b) the commissioner may, subject to subsection (4), make a determination, but only to the extent that the determination can reasonably be considered as relating to the assessment, reassessment or additional assessment under the Income Tax Act (Canada).

(3) The applicant must file the notice, and any other information and records, referred to in subsection (2) (a) on or before the later of

(a) September 30, 2021, and

(b) the date that is 90 days after the applicant receives the notice referred to in subsection (1) (a).

(4) The commissioner may make a determination under subsection (2) (b) only before the later of

(a) the last day of the normal redetermination period, and

(b) the end of the day that is one year after the day that is the earlier of

(i) the day that the commissioner is notified under subsection (2) (a), and

(ii) the day that the commissioner is otherwise notified of the assessment, reassessment or additional assessment under the Income Tax Act (Canada).

Consequential redeterminations after appeal

30.11   (1) This section applies in relation to a person if

(a) a court has, on the disposition of an appeal by the person in respect of a determination,

(i) allowed the appeal,

(ii) varied the decision from which the appeal was made, or

(iii) referred the decision back to the commissioner for reconsideration, and

(b) any further appeal is disposed of or the time for filing any further appeal has expired.

(2) If this section applies in relation to a person, the commissioner must make a redetermination in accordance with the decision of the court.

Notice of determination

30.12   (1) After the commissioner makes a determination in respect of an applicant, the commissioner must give the applicant a notice of determination.

(2) Despite section 92 (4) [how and when documents are given by commissioner], if a notice of determination is sent by ordinary mail, registered mail or electronic mail, the notice, for the purposes of this Act, is deemed to have been given on the date of that notice.

Payment of increased employment credit

30.13   (1) Without limiting section 69 [refund of overpayment], if an overpayment is deemed to have arisen under section 30.08 [calculation of increased employment credit], the minister, on the certificate of the commissioner as to facts, must refund out of the consolidated revenue fund to the employer the amount of the overpayment.

(2) Despite subsection (1), if there is an amount owing to the government under this Act by the employer, the amount overpaid must first be applied in satisfaction of the amount owing, and notice must be given to the employer, accompanied by the refund of the amount overpaid and remaining unapplied.

(3) Despite subsections (1) and (2), if the amount to be refunded under subsection (1) or (2) is less than $10, the amount overpaid, and, in the case of subsection (2), remaining unapplied, is deemed to be zero.

(4) The amount payable under subsection (1) must be paid by electronic funds transfer.

(5) Despite the Financial Administration Act and the Interest on Overdue Accounts Payable Regulation, B.C. Reg. 215/83, no interest is payable by the government with respect to the amount payable under subsection (1).

Anti-avoidance rule

30.14   In applying section 53 [anti-avoidance rule] for the purposes of this Part, the following rules apply:

(a) a reference in that section to a "tax benefit" includes an increased employment credit to which an employer is not entitled, or an increased employment credit amount that is greater than the amount to which an employer is entitled;

(b) in the definition of "tax consequences", the reference to "BC remuneration" is to be read as a reference to "increased employment credit";

(c) in subsection (3), the reference to "by assessment" is to be read as a reference to "by determination".

Gross negligence — increased employment credit

30.15   (1) If an employer knowingly, or under circumstances amounting to gross negligence, makes, or participates in, assents to or acquiesces in the making of, a false statement or an omission in an increased employment credit application or other record filed or supplied or in information supplied under this Part, the employer is liable to a penalty equal to the greater of

(a) $100, and

(b) 50% of the amount by which the amount of an increased employment credit calculated on the basis of the false statement or omission exceeds the amount of the increased employment credit calculated on the basis of accurate and complete information.

(2) An employer must pay to the government interest on a penalty under subsection (1) from the date on which the application or other record was filed or supplied, or the date on which the information was supplied, until the date of payment.

Misrepresentation by third party — increased employment credit

30.16   In applying section 163.2 (5) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) for the purposes of this Part, the following rules apply:

(a) section 163.2 (5) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) is to be read as if the reference to "subsection 163 (2)" were a reference to section 30.15 [gross negligence — increased employment credit] of this Act;

(b) section 163.2 (5) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) is to be read as if the reference to "a return filed for the purposes of this Act" were a reference to "an application for an increased employment credit or other record filed or supplied or in information supplied under this Part".

Excess refund — increased employment credit

30.17   (1) If it appears from an inspection, audit, examination or investigation or from other information available to the commissioner that, under section 30.13 (1) [payment of increased employment credit], an amount has been refunded to an employer in excess of the amount to which the employer was entitled under this Part, the excess is deemed to be an amount that became payable to the government by the employer on the day on which the amount was refunded.

(2) If an amount applied under section 30.13 (2) [payment of increased employment credit] to an amount owing by an employer is in excess of the amount to which the employer is entitled as a refund under this Act, this section applies in respect of the amount applied as if that amount had been refunded to the employer on the day the amount was applied to the amount owing.

(3) The commissioner may at any time assess a person for any amount payable under subsection (1) or (2).

(4) In applying Division 3 [Assessments] of Part 3 [Administration and Enforcement] for the purposes of this Part, "assessable amount", in relation to a person, is deemed to include an amount payable under this section by the person.

Interest

30.18   If an amount is deemed under section 30.17 to be an amount payable by an employer, the employer is liable to pay interest on the amount from the date the amount became payable under that section until the date of payment.

Appeals

30.19   (1) In applying Part 4 [Appeals] for the purposes of this Part, the following rules apply:

(a) Part 4 is to be read as if the references to an "assessment" were references to a determination under this Part;

(b) section 75 (5) [appeal to minister] is to be read as if the reference to section 49 [assessments of other amounts payable] were a reference to section 30.17 [excess refund — increased employment credit].

(2) Despite section 75 (2) [appeal to minister], for the purposes of this Part, written notice of an appeal must be given to the minister after April 20, 2021 and on or before the later of

(a) September 30, 2021, and

(b) the date that is 90 days after the date of the notice of determination in respect of the matter being appealed.

Offences — increased employment credit

30.20   Without limiting section 99 [general offences], a person who does any of the following commits an offence:

(a) destroys, alters, mutilates, hides or otherwise disposes of a record, to obtain or claim an increased employment credit to which a person is not entitled, or in an amount that is greater than that amount to which a person is entitled, under this Part;

(b) makes, or participates in, assents to or acquiesces in the making of, a false or deceptive entry in a record related to an application for an increased employment credit under this Part;

(c) makes or uses, or participates in, assents to or acquiesces in the making or use of, a record in a false or deceptive manner in order to obtain or claim an increased employment credit to which a person is not entitled, or in an amount greater than that amount to which a person is entitled, under this Part;

(d) wilfully, in any manner, attempts to obtain or claim an increased employment credit to which a person is not entitled, or in an amount that is greater than the amount to which a person is entitled, under this Part;

(e) conspires with any person to do anything described in paragraphs (a) to (d).

Penalties — increased employment credit

30.21   In applying section 100 [penalties] for the purposes of this Part, the following rules apply:

(a) a reference to "an offence under section 99" is to be read to include an offence under section 30.20;

(b) a reference to "the amount of tax that was sought to be evaded" is to be read as "the amount of increased employment credit to which a person is not entitled, or that is greater than that amount to which a person is entitled".

Assessment of assessable amount

30.22   (1) Subject to subsection (2), the commissioner may assess an employer for an assessable amount at any time after receiving an application under this Part from the employer.

(2) In applying section 50 (1) [assessments of penalties and interest] for the purposes of this Part,

(a) a reference to section 46 [assessments — general rules] is to be read as a reference to section 30.09 [determinations — general rule],

(b) a reference to section 47 [consequential assessments — income taxes] is to be read as a reference to section 30.10 [consequential determinations — income taxes], and

(c) a reference to section 48 [consequential reassessments after appeal] is to be read as a reference to section 30.11 [consequential redeterminations after appeal].

Information sharing

30.23   An applicant under this Part is deemed to be a taxpayer for the purposes of sections 90 [communication of information] and 91 [information-sharing agreements].

Repeal by regulation

30.24   After December 31, 2024, the Lieutenant Governor in Council may repeal this Part and section 107.01 [retroactive regulations] by regulation.

Registration

31   (1) An employer must apply to the commissioner to be registered for the purposes of this Act on or before December 31 of the first calendar year in respect of which

(a) the employer is liable to pay tax under this Act, or

(b) in the case of an employer to whom Division 5 of Part 2 applies for a calendar year, the BC remuneration paid by the employer during the calendar year is greater than

(i) $1 500 000, or

(ii) if the employer has a permanent establishment in British Columbia for only part of the calendar year, the amount determined by the formula in section 30 (2) [proration for part-year permanent establishment].

(2) An application under subsection (1) must be in the form and contain the information required by the commissioner.

(3) An employer required to file an application under subsection (1) must

(a) file the application electronically in the manner required by the commissioner, and

(b) file, with the application, any other information or records required by the commissioner.

(4) On receiving an application and any other information or records to be filed with the application, the commissioner may register the employer for the purposes of this Act and issue the employer a registration number.

Annual return

32   (1) Subject to subsection (2), an employer must file with the commissioner a tax return for each calendar year.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to an employer for a calendar year if,

(a) in the case of an employer to whom Division 5 of Part 2 applies for the calendar year, the BC remuneration paid by the employer during the calendar year is not greater than

(i) $1 500 000, or

(ii) if the employer has a permanent establishment in British Columbia for only part of the calendar year, the amount determined by the formula in section 30 (2) [proration for part-year permanent establishment], or

(b) in any other case, the employer is not liable to pay tax under this Act for the calendar year.

(3) The employer must, without notice or demand, file the tax return under subsection (1) for a calendar year on or before March 31 in the year following the calendar year.

Tax return — bankrupt employer

33   (1) Despite section 32, if that section applies to an employer for a calendar year in which the employer becomes bankrupt, the employer must file with the commissioner a tax return for the portion of the calendar year before the date the employer becomes bankrupt.

(2) The employer must file the tax return under subsection (1) of this section within 90 days after the date the employer becomes bankrupt.

Tax return for part-year permanent establishment

34   Despite section 32, if that section applies to an employer for a calendar year in which the employer ceases to have a permanent establishment in British Columbia, the employer must file with the commissioner the tax return required to be filed under that section within 90 days after the date on which the employer ceases to have a permanent establishment in British Columbia.

Tax return — person dealing with property or business of employer

35   A trustee in bankruptcy, assignee, liquidator, receiver, administrator or any other person administering, managing, winding up, controlling or otherwise dealing with the property or business of an employer who has not filed a tax return required under section 32, 33 or 34 must file the tax return with the commissioner within 90 days after the date on which the person began dealing with the property or business of the employer.

Extension of time

36   The commissioner may at any time extend the time established by section 32, 33, 34 or 35 for filing a tax return under the applicable section.

Tax return on demand

37   (1) On written demand given to a person by the commissioner, the person must file with the commissioner, on or before the date specified in the demand, a tax return for a calendar year.

(2) Subsection (1) applies whether or not a tax return has been or is required to be filed under section 32, 33, 34 or 35.

Form and contents of tax return

38   (1) A tax return must be in the form and contain the information required by the commissioner.

(2) A person required to file a tax return must

(a) file the tax return electronically in the manner required by the commissioner, and

(b) file, with the tax return, any other information or records required by the commissioner.

Duty to obtain certificate before distribution

39   A trustee in bankruptcy, assignee, liquidator, receiver, administrator or any other person administering, managing, winding up, controlling or otherwise dealing with the property or business of an employer must not distribute assets of the employer unless a certificate has been obtained from the commissioner certifying that no amount is owing to the government under this Act by the employer.

Trustee in bankruptcy — notice to commissioner

40   If a trustee in bankruptcy is appointed to administer, manage, wind up, control or otherwise deal with the property or business of an employer, the trustee in bankruptcy must, within 10 days after the appointment, give written notice of the appointment to the commissioner.

Instalments

41   If an employer's tax payable for the preceding calendar year exceeds the prescribed amount, the employer must pay to the government, on account of the employer's tax payable under this Act for the current calendar year, on or before June 15, September 15 and December 15 in the current calendar year, an amount that is not less than 25% of the lesser of

(a) the employer's tax payable for the preceding calendar year, and

(b) the employer's estimated tax payable for the current calendar year.

Payment with filed tax return

42   On or before the date an employer is required to file a tax return for a calendar year, the employer must pay to the government the amount remaining unpaid of the employer's tax payable under this Act for the calendar year.

Excess refund

43   (1) If it appears from an inspection, audit, examination or investigation or from other information available to the commissioner that an amount has been refunded to an employer in excess of the amount to which the employer was entitled as a refund under this Act, the excess is deemed to be an amount that became payable to the government by the employer on the day on which the amount was refunded.

(2) If an amount applied under section 69 (2) [refund of overpayment] to an amount owing by an employer is in excess of the amount to which the employer is entitled as a refund under this Act, this section applies in respect of the amount applied as if that amount had been refunded to the employer on the day the amount was applied to the amount owing.

Definitions

44   In this Division:

"assessable amount", in relation to a person, means

(a) any tax payable under this Act by the person,

(b) any penalties payable under this Act by the person,

(c) an amount payable under section 43 [excess refund] by the person, and

(d) any interest payable under this Act by the person;

"normal reassessment period" means the period referred to in section 46 (1) (b) [assessments — general rules] for a person for a calendar year.

Examination of tax return and resulting assessment

45   After the commissioner receives an employer's tax return for a calendar year and any other information or records required to be filed with the tax return, the commissioner must

(a) examine the tax return, and

(b) assess the employer for any assessable amounts for the calendar year.

Assessments — general rules

46   (1) The commissioner may assess a person for an assessable amount for a calendar year

(a) at any time, if

(i) the person has failed to file a tax return for the calendar year,

(ii) the person or a person filing the person's tax return for the calendar year has made any misrepresentation or committed any fraud

(A) in filing the tax return, or

(B) in supplying, at any time, other information or records under this Act for the calendar year, or

(iii) a waiver filed under subsection (2) by the person for the calendar year is in effect at that time, or

(b) within 6 years after the date of the original notice of assessment for the calendar year, in any other case.

(2) A person may, before the expiration of the normal reassessment period for a calendar year, file with the commissioner a waiver for the calendar year.

(3) A waiver filed under subsection (2) continues in effect until 6 months after the person files with the commissioner a notice revoking the waiver.

(4) A waiver filed under subsection (2) and a notice filed under subsection (3) must be filed in the form and manner, and containing the information, required by the commissioner.

(5) Despite subsection (1), an assessment to which subsection (1) (a) (ii) or (iii) applies in respect of a person for a calendar year may be made after the person's normal reassessment period for the calendar year, but only to the extent that the assessment can reasonably be considered as relating to,

(a) if subsection (1) (a) (ii) applies to the assessment, any misrepresentation made by the person or another person who filed the person's tax return for the calendar year or any fraud committed by the person or that other person in filing the tax return or in supplying any other information or records under this Act, or

(b) if subsection (1) (a) (iii) applies to the assessment, a matter specified in the waiver filed with the commissioner for the calendar year.

(6) The authority of the commissioner to assess a person for an assessable amount under sections 47 to 50

(a) is in addition to the authority to make an assessment under section 45 or this section,

(b) is not limited by the authority to make an assessment under section 45 or this section, and

(c) does not limit the authority to make an assessment under section 45 or this section.

Consequential assessments — income taxes

47   (1) Subsection (2) applies in relation to an employer for a calendar year if

(a) the employer is issued a notice of assessment, reassessment or additional assessment under the Income Tax Act (Canada), and

(b) an amount relevant in calculating an assessable amount under this Act for the employer for the calendar year would be changed if an assessment were made under this Act.

(2) If this subsection applies in relation to an employer for a calendar year,

(a) the employer must, within 90 days of receiving the notice referred to in subsection (1) (a), file with the commissioner

(i) a notice, in the form and manner, and containing the information, required by the commissioner, and

(ii) any other information or records required by the commissioner to be filed with the notice, and

(b) the commissioner may, subject to subsection (3), assess the employer for an assessable amount for the calendar year, but only to the extent that the assessment can reasonably be considered as relating to the assessment, reassessment or additional assessment under the Income Tax Act (Canada).

(3) The commissioner may make an assessment under subsection (2) only before the later of

(a) the last day of the normal reassessment period for the calendar year, and

(b) the end of the day that is one year after the day that is the earlier of

(i) the day that the commissioner is notified under subsection (2) (a), and

(ii) the day that the commissioner is otherwise notified of the assessment, reassessment or additional assessment under the Income Tax Act (Canada).

Consequential reassessments after appeal

48   (1) This section applies in relation to a person if

(a) a court has, on the disposition of an appeal by the person in respect of an assessment,

(i) allowed the appeal,

(ii) varied the decision from which the appeal was made, or

(iii) referred the decision back to the commissioner for reconsideration, and

(b) any further appeal is disposed of or the time for filing any further appeal has expired.

(2) If this section applies in relation to a person, the commissioner must reassess the person for an assessable amount in accordance with the decision of the court.

Assessments of other amounts payable

49   The commissioner may at any time assess a person for any amount payable under section 43 [excess refund].

Assessments of penalties and interest

50   (1) The commissioner may assess a person for a penalty to which the person is liable under this Act, and any interest payable in relation to the penalty, but the assessment may not be made after the latest of the applicable dates by which the commissioner may assess, under the following provisions, a person in respect of whose liability the penalty is assessed:

(a) section 46 [assessments — general rules];

(b) section 47 [consequential assessments — income taxes];

(c) section 48 [consequential reassessments after appeal].

(2) The commissioner may at any time reassess a person

(a) as is necessary to give effect to a cancellation under section 61 [waiver or cancellation of penalty] of all or part of a penalty otherwise payable under this Act by the person, or

(b) as is necessary to give effect to a cancellation under section 68 [waiver or cancellation of interest] of all or part of any interest otherwise payable under this Act by the person.

Rules relating to assessments

51   (1) Despite a prior assessment, or if no assessment has been made, a person continues to be liable for an amount owing to the government under this Act.

(2) In making an assessment, the commissioner

(a) is not bound by a tax return filed under this Act or any other information or records supplied under this Act, and

(b) may assess an assessable amount despite the filing of a tax return or the supply of any other information or records under this Act or if no tax return has been filed.

(3) Subject to being amended or varied on appeal or by a reassessment, an assessment is valid and binding despite any error, defect or omission in the assessment or in procedure.

Notice of assessment

52   (1) After making an assessment in respect of a person, the commissioner must give the person a notice of assessment that includes a statement of the assessable amounts.

(2) If a notice of assessment has been given to a person as required by this Act, the assessment is deemed to have been made on the date of the notice.

(3) Evidence that a notice of assessment has been given is proof, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, that the amounts assessed under this Act are due and owing, and the onus of proving otherwise is on the person liable to pay the amounts assessed.

Anti-avoidance rule

53   (1) In this section:

"avoidance transaction" means a transaction

(a) that, but for this section, would result, directly or indirectly, in a tax benefit, or

(b) that is part of a series of transactions that, but for this section, would result, directly or indirectly, in a tax benefit,

but does not include a transaction that may reasonably be considered to have been undertaken or arranged primarily for bona fide purposes other than to obtain a tax benefit;

"tax benefit" means a reduction or avoidance of an amount of tax payable under this Act;

"tax consequences", in relation to an employer, means

(a) the amount of the employer's BC remuneration, or

(b) any amount, other than an amount referred to in paragraph (a), that is payable or refundable to the employer under this Act or that is relevant for the purposes of calculating that amount;

"transaction" includes an arrangement or event.

(2) For the purposes of this section, a series of transactions is deemed to include any related transactions completed in contemplation of the series.

(3) If a transaction is an avoidance transaction, the commissioner may, by assessment, determine the tax consequences to an employer in a manner that is reasonable in the circumstances in order to deny a tax benefit that, but for this section, would result, directly or indirectly, from that transaction or from a series of transactions that includes that transaction.

(4) Subsection (3) applies to a transaction only if the transaction may reasonably be considered to be a transaction that

(a) would, if this Act were read without reference to this section, result, directly or indirectly, in a misuse of the provisions of this Act or the regulations, or

(b) would result, directly or indirectly, in an abuse having regard to those provisions, other than this section, read as a whole.

(5) Without limiting subsection (3), in determining the tax consequences to an employer in a manner that is reasonable in the circumstances in order to deny a tax benefit that, but for this section, would result, directly or indirectly, from an avoidance transaction, the commissioner may do one or more of the following:

(a) allow or disallow in whole or in part any amount included or deducted in calculating an amount referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) of the definition of "tax consequences" in subsection (1);

(b) recharacterize the nature of any payment or other amount.

Penalty for failure to file tax return

54   An employer who fails to file a tax return under section 32 [annual return], 33 [tax return — bankrupt employer] or 34 [tax return for part-year permanent establishment] for a calendar year within the time required under Division 2 of this Part is liable to a penalty equal to the total of

(a) 5% of the amount remaining unpaid of the employer's tax payable under this Act for the calendar year on the date the tax return was required to be filed, and

(b) the amount determined by the following formula:

Penalty for repeated failure to file tax return

55   If all of the following apply:

(a) an employer fails to file a tax return under section 32, 33 or 34 for a calendar year within the time required under Division 2 of this Part;

(b) the employer subsequently fails to file a tax return under section 37 [tax return on demand] for the calendar year within the time required under that section;

(c) the employer was assessed a penalty under section 54 in respect of a failure to file a tax return referred to in that section for any of the 3 preceding calendar years,

the employer is liable to a penalty equal to the total of

(d) 10% of the amount remaining unpaid of the employer's tax payable under this Act for the calendar year on the date the tax return referred to in paragraph (a) was required to be filed, and

(e) the amount determined by the following formula:

Penalty for failure to provide required information

56   If a person who is required to file a tax return fails to include in the return any required information or fails to file with the return any other required information or records, the person is liable to a penalty of $100 for each failure.

Penalties respecting information and records

57   (1) A person who fails to comply with a provision specified in subsection (2) is liable, in respect of each failure, to a penalty equal to the greater of

(a) $100, and

(b) $25 for each day during which the failure continues, to a maximum of $2 500.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the following provisions are specified:

(a) section 70 (3) (a), (b) or (c) [production of records and answering questions at specified location];

(b) section 71 [requirement to provide records];

(c) section 72 (3) [demand for information].

Penalty for interfering with inspection or audit

58   A person who contravenes section 70 (8) (a) or (b) [interfering with inspection or audit] is liable to a penalty of $100 for each contravention.

Gross negligence

59   (1) In this section, "additional tax" means the amount by which the tax payable under this Act for the calendar year calculated on the basis of accurate and complete information exceeds the tax payable for the calendar year calculated on the basis of the false statement or omission described in subsection (2).

(2) If an employer knowingly, or under circumstances amounting to gross negligence, makes, or participates in, assents to or acquiesces in the making of, a false statement or an omission in a tax return, notice, application or other record filed or supplied or in information supplied under this Act for a calendar year, the employer is liable to a penalty equal to the greater of

(a) $100, and

(b) 50% of the additional tax.

Misrepresentation by third party

60   (1) Section 163.2 of the Income Tax Act (Canada) applies for the purposes of this Act with the changes the circumstances require for the purposes of this Act.

(2) Without limiting subsection (1), in applying section 163.2 of the Income Tax Act (Canada) for the purposes of this Act, the following rules apply:

(a) a reference in that section to the Income Tax Act (Canada) is to be read as a reference to this Act;

(b) a reference in that section to an assessment is to be read as a reference to an assessment under this Act;

(c) that section is to be read without reference to the definition of "excluded activity" in subsection (1) of that section and without reference to subsections (7) and (8) (b) (i) and (ii) of that section;

(d) subsection (5) of that section is to be read as if

(i) the reference to "subsection 163 (2)" were a reference to section 59 (2) of this Act, and

(ii) the reference to "return filed for the purposes of this Act" were a reference to "tax return, notice, application or other record filed or supplied or in information supplied under this Act";

(e) subsection (10) of that section must be read as if the reference to "section 163 (3)" were a reference to subsection (3) of this section;

(f) subsection (15) of that section must be read as if the reference to "or an employee engaged in an excluded activity" were excluded.

(3) In an appeal to the Supreme Court under section 76 [appeal to court] of this Act, the onus is on the minister to establish the facts justifying the assessment of a penalty to which a person is liable under this section.

Waiver or cancellation of penalty

61   The commissioner may at any time waive or cancel all or part of any penalty otherwise payable by a person under this Act.

Interest on unpaid instalments

62   (1) If an employer fails to pay an instalment on or before an instalment due date as required under section 41 [instalments], the employer must pay to the government interest on the amount that is equal to 25% of the lesser of

(a) the employer's tax payable for the preceding calendar year, and

(b) the employer's tax payable for the current calendar year.

(2) An employer who is required to pay an instalment under section 41 for a calendar year must pay interest under subsection (3) of this section if the employer pays an instalment on or before an instalment due date that is less than the amount that is equal to 25% of the lesser of

(a) the employer's tax payable for the preceding calendar year, and

(b) the employer's tax payable for the current calendar year.

(3) An employer who must pay interest under this subsection must pay to the government interest on the amount by which the amount referred to in subsection (2) exceeds the instalment paid by the employer.

(4) Interest payable under subsection (1) or (3) is payable from the instalment due date until the earlier of

(a) the date of payment, and

(b) the date the employer is required to file a tax return for the calendar year.

(5) If an employer who must pay interest under this section does not pay the interest on or before the date referred to in subsection (4) (b), the employer must pay to the government interest on the amount of interest unpaid from the day after the date referred to in subsection (4) (b) until the date of payment.

Interest on unpaid taxes

63   If an employer fails to pay tax as required under section 42 [payment with filed tax return], the employer must pay to the government interest on the amount unpaid from the date the tax was payable under that section until the date of payment.

Interest on excess refund

64   If an amount is deemed under section 43 (1) [excess refund] to be an amount payable by an employer, the employer is liable to pay interest on the amount from the date the amount became payable under that section until the date of payment.

Interest on penalties

65   A person must pay to the government interest on a penalty assessed under this Act as follows:

(a) in the case of a penalty under section 54 [penalty for failure to file tax return], from the date on which the tax return was required to be filed until the date of payment;

(b) in the case of a penalty under section 55 [penalty for repeated failure to file tax return], from the date on which the tax return referred to in paragraph (a) of that section was required to be filed until the date of payment;

(c) in the case of a penalty under section 56 [penalty for failure to provide required information], from the date on which the tax return was filed until the date of payment;

(d) in the case of a penalty under section 59 (2) [gross negligence], from the date on which the tax return, notice, application or other record was filed or supplied, or the date on which the information was supplied, until the date of payment;

(e) in the case of any other penalty, from the date of the notice of assessment that specifies the amount of the penalty assessed until the date of payment.

Calculation of interest

66   Interest payable to the government under this Act must be calculated at the prescribed rate and in the prescribed manner.

No interest if full payment within 30 days

67   Despite any other provision of this Division, if

(a) a notice of assessment or statement of account given to a person by the commissioner specifies an amount that is owing to the government under this Act by the person, and

(b) the person, within 30 days after the date of the notice of assessment or statement of account, pays the amount owing in full,

interest is not payable on the amount owing from the date of the notice of assessment or statement of account until the date of payment.

Waiver or cancellation of interest

68   The commissioner may at any time waive or cancel all or part of any interest otherwise payable under this Act by a person.

Refund of overpayment

69   (1) If the commissioner believes, based on the results from an inspection, audit, examination or investigation or other information available to the commissioner, that an overpayment has been made by an employer, the minister, on the certificate of the commissioner as to facts, must refund the amount overpaid to the employer from the consolidated revenue fund.

(2) Despite subsection (1), if there is an amount owing to the government under this Act by the employer, the amount overpaid must first be applied in satisfaction of the amount owing, and notice must be given to the employer, accompanied by the refund of the amount overpaid and remaining unapplied.

(3) Despite subsections (1) and (2), if the amount to be refunded under subsection (1) or (2) is less than $10, the amount overpaid, and, in the case of subsection (2), remaining unapplied, is deemed to be zero.

Inspection and audit powers

70   (1) In this section:

"electronic" has the same meaning as in the Electronic Transactions Act;

"specified location" means any place

(a) used by a person in relation to business carried on by the person, or

(b) where the records of a person are kept.

(2) Subject to subsection (4), the commissioner may, at any reasonable time and for any purpose related to the administration and enforcement of this Act and the regulations,

(a) enter a specified location,

(b) inspect, audit and examine records at the specified location,

(c) make copies of records, and

(d) subject to subsection (7), remove records from the specified location for the purpose of making copies.

(3) A person occupying a specified location must do all of the following, as applicable:

(a) produce or provide electronic access to all records as may be required by the commissioner;

(b) in the case of records in electronic form, produce or provide electronic access to the records in the form and manner required by the commissioner;

(c) answer all questions of the commissioner relating to the matters referred to in subsection (2).

(4) The power to enter a specified location under subsection (2) must not be used to enter a specified location that is occupied as a residence without the consent of the occupier except under the authority of a warrant issued under subsection (5).

(5) On being satisfied by evidence on oath that entry on or into any place is necessary for any purpose relevant to the administration and enforcement of this Act and the regulations, a justice may issue a warrant authorizing an individual named in the warrant to enter the place in accordance with the warrant in order to exercise the powers referred to in subsection (2) (a) to (d).

(6) The commissioner may make an application for a warrant under subsection (5) without notice to any other person.

(7) If the commissioner removes records from a specified location for the purpose of making copies, the commissioner must return the records within a reasonable time.

(8) A person must not

(a) interfere with, hinder or molest a person doing anything that the person is authorized to do under this section, or

(b) prevent or attempt to prevent a person from doing anything that the person is authorized to do under this section.

Requirement to provide records

71   When required by the commissioner, a person must provide to the commissioner all records that the commissioner considers necessary to determine whether this Act and the regulations are being or have been complied with.

Demand for information

72   (1) For any purpose related to the administration or enforcement of this Act or the regulations, the commissioner may, by giving a person a demand notice, require from the person

(a) any information or additional information,

(b) the production of any records, or

(c) a written statement.

(2) A demand notice under subsection (1)

(a) must be given by leaving the demand notice with the person or by sending the demand notice to the person by registered mail,

(b) must specify a reasonable time by which the person must comply with the demand notice, and

(c) in relation to a requirement under subsection (1) (c), may require the written statement to be made by way of affidavit or statutory declaration.

(3) A person to whom a demand notice is given under this section must comply with the notice within the time specified in the notice.

(4) The commissioner may issue a document certifying one or both of the following, and the document is proof of the facts certified in it:

(a) a demand notice was given to a person in accordance with subsection (2);

(b) a person has failed to comply with subsection (3) in respect of a demand notice given to the person under this section.

Records required to be kept

73   (1) An employer must keep adequate records for the purposes of this Act.

(2) If the records kept by an employer are, in the opinion of the commissioner, not adequate for the purposes of this Act, the commissioner may specify one or more of the following in respect of the records to be kept by the employer:

(a) the information to be contained in the records;

(b) the form or manner in which the records are to be kept.

(3) An employer who is required to keep records under this section must retain the records for a period of 6 years after the end of the calendar year to which the records relate.

Evidence — copies of records

74   A record certified by the commissioner to be a copy of a record obtained by the commissioner under this Act is evidence of the nature and content of the original.

Appeal to minister

75   (1) Subject to this section, an appeal to the minister lies from

(a) an assessment, and

(b) a determination under section 84 (13) [lien — associated corporations].

(2) Written notice of the appeal must be given to the minister within 90 days after the date of the notice of assessment or the determination, as the case may be.

(3) The appellant must set out in the notice of appeal a statement of all material facts and the reasons in support of the appeal.

(4) On receiving the notice of appeal, the minister must

(a) consider the matter,

(b) either

(i) affirm, amend or change the assessment, determination or nature of the assessment, or

(ii) direct the commissioner to reconsider the assessment, determination or nature of the assessment, and

(c) promptly give the appellant written notice of the result of the appeal.

(4.1) In making a decision under subsection (4) (b) (i), the minister is not required to increase an amount set out in the assessment or determination.

(4.2) If the commissioner does not change an assessment or determination, or the nature of an assessment, after a reconsideration under subsection (4) (b) (ii), the commissioner must issue a notice of reconsideration to the person who appealed to the minister.

(4.3) A person may appeal a notice of reconsideration by giving a notice of appeal to the minister within 90 days after the date shown on the notice of reconsideration.

(5) An appeal may not be made under this section in relation to an assessment made under any of the following provisions:

(a) section 49 [assessments of other amounts payable];

(b) section 50 (2) [assessments of penalties and interest].

(6) The minister may, in writing, delegate any of the minister's powers or duties under this section.

(7) A delegation under subsection (6) may be to a named person or to a class of persons.

Notice of appeal

75.1   (1) The date on which a notice of appeal is given to the minister under section 75 (2) or (4.3) is the date it is received by the minister.

(2) A notice of appeal is conclusively deemed to have been given to the minister if it is received at a location and by a method specified by the minister.

Appeal to court

76   (1) A decision of the minister under section 75 (4) (b) (i) may be appealed to the Supreme Court by way of a petition proceeding.

(2) Subject to this section and the regulations, the Supreme Court Civil Rules relating to petition proceedings apply to appeals under this section.

(2.1) Rule 18-3 [Appeals] of the Supreme Court Civil Rules does not apply to appeals under this section.

(3) A petition must be filed in the court registry within 90 days after the date of the minister's decision.

(4) In a petition filed under this section, the government must be designated "Her Majesty the Queen in right of the Province of British Columbia".

(5) Within 14 days after the filing of a petition under this section, the petition must be served on the government in accordance with section 8 of the Crown Proceeding Act.

(6) An appeal under this section is a new hearing that is not limited to the evidence and issues that were before the minister.

(7) The court may

(a) dismiss the appeal,

(b) allow the appeal,

(c) vary the decision from which the appeal is made, or

(d) refer the decision back to the commissioner for reconsideration.

(8) [Repealed 2021-18-16.]

Irregularities

77   An assessment made under this Act must not be varied or disallowed by a court because of an irregularity, informality, omission or error on the part of a person in the observation of any directory provision up to the date of the notice of assessment.

Tax collection not affected by pending appeal

78   Neither the giving of a notice of appeal by a person nor a delay in the hearing of an appeal

(a) affects the date an amount that is owing to the government under this Act and that is the subject matter of the appeal is payable under this Act,

(b) affects the amount of interest payable on an amount that is owing to the government under this Act and that is the subject matter of the appeal, or

(c) delays the collection of an amount that is owing to the government under this Act and that is the subject matter of the appeal, or any interest payable under this Act on that amount.

Effects of appeal changing decision

79   (1) If the commissioner's or minister's decision is set aside, or the amount of an assessment or an amount owing to the government under this Act is reduced on appeal, the minister must refund the amount or excess amount paid to the appellant from the consolidated revenue fund.

(2) If the amount of an assessment or determination is increased on appeal, the appellant must pay to the government

(a) the additional amount owing to the government under this Act, and

(b) any additional interest payable on the additional amount owing to the government under this Act.

Court proceedings to recover amount owing

80   The government may commence a proceeding in a court of competent jurisdiction to recover an amount owing to the government under this Act as a debt due to the government.

Summary proceedings

81   (1) If a person fails to pay an amount owing to the government under this Act, the commissioner may issue a certificate specifying the amount owed and the name of the person who owes it.

(2) The commissioner may file with the Supreme Court a certificate issued under subsection (1).

(3) A certificate filed under subsection (2) has the same force and effect, and all proceedings may be taken on the certificate, as if it were a judgment of the court in favour of the government for the recovery of a debt in the amount specified in the certificate against the person named in the certificate.

(4) If the amount specified in a certificate is different from the actual amount owing to the government under this Act, the commissioner may correct the amount by issuing a new certificate specifying the revised amount owed and the name of the person who owes it.

(5) The commissioner may file with the Supreme Court a certificate issued under subsection (4).

(6) A certificate filed under subsection (5)

(a) revises the certificate filed under subsection (2) that names the same person,

(b) is deemed to be filed at the same time as the certificate it revises, and

(c) has the same force and effect, and all proceedings may be taken on the certificate, as if it were a judgment of the court in favour of the government for the recovery of a debt in the amount specified in the certificate against the person named in the certificate.

Alternative remedies

82   (1) Remedies available to the government for the recovery of an amount owing to the government under this Act may be exercised separately, concurrently or cumulatively.

(2) The liability of a person for the payment of an amount owing to the government under this Act is not affected by a fine or penalty imposed on or paid by the person for contravention of this Act.

Attachment of funds

83   (1) In this section, "debtor" means any person who is liable to pay an amount under this Act.

(2) If the commissioner knows or suspects that a person is or is about to become indebted or liable to make a payment to a debtor, the commissioner may demand that that person pay to the government, on account of the debtor's liability under this Act, all or part of the money otherwise payable to the debtor.

(3) Without limiting subsection (2), if the commissioner knows or suspects that a person is about to advance money to or make a payment on behalf of a debtor, or make a payment in respect of a negotiable instrument issued by a debtor, the commissioner may demand that that person pay to the government, on account of the debtor's liability under this Act, the money that would otherwise be advanced or paid.

(4) A demand under this section must be given by leaving the demand with the person or by sending the demand to the person by registered mail, electronic mail or fax.

(5) If under this section the commissioner demands that a person pay to the government, on account of a debtor's liability under this Act, money otherwise payable by that person to the debtor as interest, rent, remuneration, a dividend, an annuity or other periodic payment, the demand

(a) is applicable to all of those payments to be made by the person to the debtor until the liability under this Act is satisfied, and

(b) operates to require payments to the government out of each payment of the amount stipulated by the commissioner in the demand.

(6) Money or a beneficial interest in money in a savings institution

(a) on deposit to the credit of a debtor at the time a demand is given, or

(b) deposited to the credit of a debtor after a demand is given

is money for which the savings institution is indebted to the debtor within the meaning of this section, but money on deposit or deposited to the credit of a debtor as described in paragraph (a) or (b) does not include money on deposit or deposited to the credit of a debtor in the debtor's capacity as a trustee.

(7) A demand under this section continues in effect until the earliest of the following:

(a) subject to paragraphs (b) and (c), the demand is satisfied;

(b) subject to paragraph (c), 90 days after the demand is given;

(c) 3 years after the demand is given, if the demand is made in respect of an outstanding legal claim or insurance claim that, if resolved in the debtor's favour, will result in money becoming available to the debtor.

(8) Despite subsection (7), if a demand is made in respect of a periodic payment referred to in subsection (5), the demand continues in effect until it is satisfied unless no periodic payment is made or is liable to be made within 90 days after the demand is given, in which case the demand ceases to have effect at the end of that period.

(9) Money demanded from a person by the commissioner under this section becomes payable

(a) as soon as the person is given the demand, if that person is indebted or liable to make a payment to the debtor at the time the demand is given, or

(b) as soon as the person becomes indebted or liable to make a payment to the debtor, in any other case.

(10) A person who fails to comply with a demand under subsection (2) or (5) is liable to pay to the government an amount equal to the amount that the person was required to pay under subsection (2) or (5).

(11) A person who fails to comply with a demand under subsection (3) is liable to pay to the government an amount equal to the lesser of

(a) the total of the money advanced or paid, and

(b) the amount that the person was required to pay under subsection (3).

(12) Money paid by any person to the government in compliance with a demand under this section

(a) satisfies the original liability to the extent of the payment, and

(b) is deemed to have been paid by that person to the debtor.

Lien

84   (1) In this section:

"amount owing" means an amount owing to the government under this Act and any interest on that amount;

"associated corporation" includes a corporation that is determined under subsection (13) to be associated with another corporation for the purposes of this section;

"collateral" has the same meaning as in the Personal Property Security Act;

"financing statement" has the same meaning as in the Personal Property Security Act;

"inventory" has the same meaning as in the Personal Property Security Act;

"personal property registry" means the registry under the Personal Property Security Act;

"proceeds" has the same meaning as in the Personal Property Security Act;

"property", when referring to the property of an associated corporation or a related individual, means property that is used in, or in conjunction with, the business in respect of which the amount referred to in subsection (2) is required to be levied and remitted;

"purchase money security interest" has the same meaning as in the Personal Property Security Act;

"related individual" has the same meaning as in the Property Transfer Tax Act;

"security interest" has the same meaning as in the Personal Property Security Act.

(2) If a person is required to pay an amount to the government under this Act and does not pay the amount, the commissioner may register a lien

(a) against the real property of

(i) the person,

(ii) an associated corporation of the person, or

(iii) a related individual of the person

by registering a certificate of lien in the prescribed form in the appropriate land title office in the same manner that a charge is registered under the Land Title Act, and

(b) against the personal property of

(i) the person,

(ii) an associated corporation of the person, or

(iii) a related individual of the person

by registering a financing statement in the personal property registry.

(3) On registration of a certificate of lien against the real property of a person under subsection (2) (a), a lien is created on the real property against which the lien is registered for the amount owing.

(4) On registration of a lien against the personal property of a person under subsection (2) (b), a lien is created on the present and after acquired personal property in which the person has a legal or equitable interest for the amount owing.

(5) A lien registered under subsection (2) (b) against personal property does not have priority over

(a) a security interest that secures unpaid wages under section 87 (3) [lien for unpaid wages] of the Employment Standards Act, regardless of when that security interest arises, or

(b) a purchase money security interest in collateral other than collateral that at the time the purchase money security interest attaches is inventory or its proceeds.

(6) In relation to a certificate of lien registered under subsection (2) (a) against the real property of a person, the commissioner may register a certificate of lien in the form prescribed for the purposes of subsection (2) (a) in the appropriate land title office in the same manner that a charge is registered under the Land Title Act if

(a) the certificate of lien registered under subsection (2) (a) against the real property of the person contains a statement of the amount owing, and

(b) the commissioner is satisfied that the amount referred to in paragraph (a) of this subsection that is stated in that certificate of lien is incorrect.

(7) In relation to a financing statement registered under subsection (2) (b) against the personal property of a person, the commissioner may register a financing change statement, as defined in the Personal Property Security Act, in the personal property registry if

(a) the financing statement registered under subsection (2) (b) against the personal property of the person contains a statement of the amount owing, and

(b) the commissioner is satisfied that the amount referred to in paragraph (a) of this subsection that is stated in that financing statement is incorrect.

(8) A certificate of lien registered under subsection (6) and a financing change statement registered under subsection (7) must contain a revised statement of the amount owing.

(9) On registration of a certificate of lien against the real property of a person under subsection (6), the certificate of lien registered under subsection (2) (a) against the real property of the person is, at the same time it was originally registered, deemed to be revised to set out the amount owing as stated in the certificate of lien registered under subsection (6).

(10) On registration of a financing change statement against the personal property of a person under subsection (7), the financing statement registered under subsection (2) (b) against the personal property of the person is, at the same time it was originally registered, deemed to be revised to set out the amount owing as stated in the financing change statement registered under subsection (7).

(11) Despite section 90 [communication of information], the commissioner must,

(a) on the oral or written request of a person, disclose in writing the amount of the lien under this section registered against the personal or real property of the person, or

(b) on the written request of a person accompanied by the written consent of a named person, disclose in writing the amount of the lien under this section registered against the personal or real property of the named person.

(12) If the commissioner believes that one corporation is associated with another corporation within the meaning of section 256 of the Income Tax Act (Canada), the commissioner may request one or both of the corporations to provide to the commissioner the records and information required by the commissioner to confirm or rebut that belief.

(13) The commissioner may determine that corporations are associated corporations for the purposes of this section if

(a) a corporation that has been requested to provide records or information to the commissioner under subsection (12) fails or refuses to comply with that request within a period of time considered by the commissioner to be reasonable in the circumstances, or

(b) the records or information provided to the commissioner under this section confirm the commissioner's belief that the corporations are associated.

(14) Immediately after a corporation is determined under this section to be associated with a person referred to in subsection (2) (a) (i) and (b) (i), the commissioner

(a) must notify the corporation of this in writing, and

(b) may register a lien under this section against the real and personal property of the corporation.

(15) The commissioner may seize personal property against which a lien is registered under subsection (14) (b) at any time after the registration of the lien, but must not take any action to realize on those assets until the later of

(a) the date that is 90 days after the date on which the notice required under subsection (14) (a) was given to the corporation, and

(b) if a notice of appeal is given to the minister in respect of the determination within the time provided by section 75 (2) [appeal to minister], the date on which the minister upholds the determination under that appeal or directs the commissioner to reconsider the determination.

(16) If, at any time, the commissioner becomes convinced that the corporations were not associated within the meaning of section 256 of the Income Tax Act (Canada) at the time that the lien was registered under subsection (14) (b) of this section or if the minister or a court of competent jurisdiction upholds the corporation's appeal against the commissioner's determination on the basis that the corporations were not associated at the time that the lien was registered, the commissioner must,

(a) if the commissioner has not realized on any of the assets against which the lien was registered, promptly release the lien, and

(b) if the commissioner has realized on some or all of the assets against which the lien was registered, promptly release the lien against the remaining assets and pay the proceeds realized from the sale of the realized assets minus any costs or expenses incurred in the sale

(i) to the corporation, or

(ii) if the commissioner considers it appropriate to do so, into the Supreme Court under Rule 10-3 of the Supreme Court Civil Rules.

(17) The release of the lien under subsection (16) (a) or the release of the lien and payment of the applicable net sale proceeds under subsection (16) (b) is deemed to be full satisfaction of all claims any person, including the corporation, might have arising out of or in any way connected with the determination made under subsection (13), the registration of the lien or the seizure or sale of any or all of the assets against which the lien was registered.

Responsibility of person having control of property

85   (1) In this section, "secured party" has the same meaning as in the Personal Property Security Act.

(2) This section applies to a person who, as assignee, liquidator, administrator, receiver, receiver manager, trustee, secured party or similar person, other than a trustee appointed under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada), takes control or possession of the property of a person who has an amount owing to the government under this Act.

(3) Before distributing the proceeds from the realization of the property referred to in subsection (2), a person to whom this section applies must obtain from the commissioner a certificate that the amount that constituted a lien under section 84 has been paid.

(4) If a person to whom this section applies distributes the proceeds from the realization of the property referred to in subsection (2) without having obtained the certificate required by subsection (3), the person is personally liable to the government for an amount equal to the amount required to be paid to obtain the certificate.

(5) An amount payable under subsection (4) in respect of a distribution of the proceeds from the realization of property must be paid on or before the last day of the month after the month in which the disposition occurred.

Notice of enforcement proceedings

86   (1) Before taking proceedings for the recovery of an amount owing to the government under this Act, the commissioner must give to the person who owes the amount notice of the commissioner's intention to enforce payment.

(2) Failure to give notice under subsection (1) does not affect the validity of proceedings taken for the recovery of an amount owing to the government under this Act.

Limitation period

87   (1) In this section, "collection proceeding" means

(a) a proceeding for the recovery of an amount owing to the government under section 80,

(b) the filing of a certificate under section 81,

(c) the making of a demand under section 83, and

(d) the registration or enforcement of a lien under section 84.

(2) A collection proceeding may be commenced at any time within 7 years after the date of the notice of assessment for the amount claimed in the collection proceeding.

(3) Despite subsection (2), a collection proceeding that relates to a contravention of this Act or the regulations and that involves wilful default or fraud may be commenced at any time.

(4) If, before the expiry of the limitation period that applies under subsection (2) to an amount claimed, a person acknowledges liability in respect of the amount claimed, the date of the notice of assessment is deemed to be the day on which the acknowledgement is made.

(5) Subsection (4) does not apply to an acknowledgement, other than an acknowledgement referred to in subsection (6), unless the acknowledgement is

(a) in writing,

(b) signed, by hand or by electronic signature within the meaning of the Electronic Transactions Act,

(c) made by the person making the acknowledgement or the person's agent, and

(d) made to the government or an agent of the government.

(6) In the case of an amount claimed to which the limitation period under subsection (2) applies, for the purposes of subsection (4), part payment of the amount by the person against whom the claim is or may be made or by the person's agent is an acknowledgement by the person against whom the claim is or may be made of liability in respect of the claim.

(7) Section 24 (2), (4) and (10) of the Limitation Act applies for the purposes of this section.

(8) The liability of a person for the payment of an amount owing to the government under this Act is not affected by the expiry of the limitation period that applies under subsection (2) to the amount claimed.

Designation of commissioner

88   The minister may designate a person who is appointed under the Public Service Act as commissioner to administer this Act.

Delegation

89   (1) The commissioner may, in writing, delegate any of the commissioner's powers or duties under this Act.

(2) A delegation under subsection (1) may be to a named person or to a class of persons.

Communication of information

90   (1) In this section:

"authorized person" means a person who is engaged or employed, or who was formerly engaged or employed, by or on behalf of the government of British Columbia to assist in carrying out the provisions of this Act;

"finance minister" means the member of the Executive Council charged with the administration of the Financial Administration Act;

"official" means any person

(a) who is employed in the service of, who occupies a position of responsibility in the service of or who is engaged by or on behalf of the government of British Columbia, another province or Canada, or

(b) who was formerly so employed or formerly occupied such a position or was formerly so engaged;

"police officer" means a police officer as defined in section 462.48 (17) of the Criminal Code;

"taxpayer" means an employer that is subject to tax under this Act, whether or not the employer is liable to pay tax;

"taxpayer information" means information of any kind and in any form relating to one or more taxpayers

(a) that is obtained for the purposes of this Act by or on behalf of the minister, or

(b) that is prepared from information referred to in paragraph (a),

but does not include information that does not directly or indirectly reveal the identity of the taxpayer to whom the information relates.

(2) Despite any other enactment or law, except as authorized by this section an official must not

(a) knowingly provide, or knowingly allow to be provided, to any person any taxpayer information,

(b) knowingly allow any person to have access to any taxpayer information, or

(c) knowingly use any taxpayer information otherwise than in the course of the administration and enforcement of this Act or for a purpose for which the information was provided under this section.

(3) Despite any other enactment or law, an official must not be required, in connection with any legal proceedings, to give or produce evidence relating to any taxpayer information.

(4) Subsections (2) and (3) do not apply in respect of legal proceedings referred to in section 241 (3) of the Income Tax Act (Canada).

(5) Subject to subsection (6), an official may do one or more of the following:

(a) provide to any person taxpayer information that can reasonably be considered necessary for the purposes of the administration or enforcement of this Act, solely for those purposes;

(b) provide to any person taxpayer information that can reasonably be considered necessary for the purposes of determining

(i) any tax, interest, penalty or other amount that is or may become payable by the person under this Act,

(ii) any refund to which the person is or may become entitled under this Act, or

(iii) any other amount that is relevant for the purposes of a determination under subparagraph (i) or (ii);

(c) provide taxpayer information as follows:

(i) to an official of the Department of Finance of the Government of Canada solely for the purposes of the formulation or evaluation of fiscal policy;

(ii) to an official solely for the purposes of the initial implementation of a fiscal policy or for the purposes of the administration or enforcement of an Act of the Parliament of Canada that provides for the imposition and collection of a tax or duty;

(iii) to an official solely for the purposes of the administration or enforcement of an enactment of British Columbia or another province that provides for the imposition or collection of a tax or duty;

(iv) to an official solely for the purposes of the administration or enforcement of the Workers Compensation Act;

(v) to an official of the ministry of the finance minister solely for the purposes of the formulation or evaluation of fiscal policy;

(vi) to an official solely for the purposes of setting off against any sum of money that may be due or payable by the government of British Columbia a debt due to that government or to the government of another province or of Canada;

(d) provide taxpayer information, or allow the inspection of or access to taxpayer information, as the case may be, under, and solely for the purposes of,

(i) sections 44 (1) [powers of commissioner in conducting investigations, audits or inquiries] and 61 (1) [powers, duties and protections of adjudicator] of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, or

(ii) sections 15 [staff in government or government organizations], 16 [access to information, documents or things] and 17 [summons and requests] of the Auditor General Act;

(e) provide taxpayer information solely for the purposes of sections 17 to 19 [write off of assets and uncollectable debts; extinguishment of debts; remissions] of the Financial Administration Act;

(f) use taxpayer information to compile information in a form that does not directly or indirectly reveal the identity of the taxpayer to whom the information relates;

(g) use, or provide to any person, taxpayer information solely for a purpose relating to the supervision, evaluation or discipline of an authorized person by the government in respect of a period during which the authorized person was employed by, or engaged by or on behalf of, the government to assist in the administration or enforcement of this Act, to the extent that the information is relevant for the purpose;

(h) use taxpayer information relating to a taxpayer to provide information to the taxpayer;

(i) provide taxpayer information to a police officer solely for the purpose of investigating whether an offence has been committed under the Criminal Code, or the laying of an information or the preferring of an indictment, if

(i) the taxpayer information can reasonably be considered necessary for the purpose of ascertaining

(A) the circumstances in which an offence under the Criminal Code may have been committed, or

(B) the identity of the person who may have committed an offence,

with respect to an official, or with respect to any person related to that official,

(ii) the official was or is engaged in the administration or enforcement of this Act, and

(iii) the offence can reasonably be considered to be related to that administration or enforcement;

(j) provide taxpayer information to, or allow inspection of or access to taxpayer information by, any person otherwise legally entitled to the information under a prescribed enactment of British Columbia solely for the purposes for which that person is entitled to that information.

(6) Except in accordance with an agreement entered into under section 91, an official must not, under subsection (5) (a) to (c) or (e) to (j) of this section, provide taxpayer information to, or allow inspection of or access to taxpayer information by, an official of

(a) a public body, as defined in the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, other than the ministry of the minister or, under subsection (5) (c) (v) of this section, the ministry of the finance minister,

(b) the government of Canada, or

(c) the government of another province.

(7) Section 241 (3.1), (4.1) and (5) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) applies for the purposes of this Act.

(8) In applying section 241 of the Income Tax Act (Canada),

(a) the reference to "the Minister" in subsection (3.1) of that section is to be read as a reference to the minister responsible for this Act,

(b) the reference to "authorized person" in subsection (4.1) of that section is to be read as a reference to "authorized person" within the meaning of this section, and

(c) the reference to "official" in subsection (5) of that section is to be read as a reference to official within the meaning of this section.

(9) To the extent of any inconsistency or conflict with sections 32 [use of personal information] and 33 [disclosure of personal information] of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, this section applies despite that Act.

Information-sharing agreements

91   (1) In this section:

"information-sharing agreement" means an agreement or arrangement to exchange, by electronic data transmission, electronic data matching or any other means, information for a purpose described in section 90 (5);

"taxpayer information" has the same meaning as in section 90.

(2) The minister may enter into an information-sharing agreement with

(a) the government of Canada or an agency of that government,

(b) the government of a province or other jurisdiction in Canada or an agency of that government, or

(c) a public body as defined in the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

(3) Subject to subsection (4), taxpayer information obtained by the minister under an information-sharing agreement may only be used or disclosed for the purpose for which it was obtained under the applicable agreement.

(4) Subsection (3) does not prevent

(a) any taxpayer information obtained by the minister under an information-sharing agreement with the government of Canada or an agency of that government from being used or disclosed for the purpose of administering and enforcing an enactment administered by the minister that provides for the imposition and collection of a tax, or

(b) any taxpayer information obtained by the minister under an information-sharing agreement from being used or disclosed for the purpose of administering and enforcing an Act of the Parliament of Canada that provides for the imposition and collection of a tax or duty.

(5) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may prescribe terms and conditions that are to be included in the information-sharing agreements entered into by the minister.

How and when documents are given by commissioner

92   (1) Subject to this Act, if, under this Act, a document must or may be given by the commissioner to a person, the document may be given in accordance with subsection (2).

(2) The commissioner may give a document to a person as follows:

(a) if the person is an individual, by leaving the document with the individual;

(b) if the person is a corporation, by leaving the document with a board member or senior officer of the corporation;

(c) if the person is an extraprovincial corporation, by leaving the document with

(i) a person referred to in paragraph (b), or

(ii) an attorney for the extraprovincial corporation;

(d) if the person is a partnership, by leaving the document with an individual who is a member of the partnership;

(e) by leaving the document with a person apparently employed at the place of business of the person;

(f) by sending the document by ordinary mail or registered mail to the last known address of the person according to the records of the commissioner;

(g) by sending the document by electronic mail to the last known electronic mail address of the person according to the records of the commissioner;

(h) by sending the document by fax to the last known fax number of the person according to the records of the commissioner;

(i) by sending the document by another communication method agreed to by the person and the commissioner.

(3) If a person carries on business under a name or style other than the person's own name or style, a document to be given in accordance with this section may be addressed to the name or style under which the person carries on business.

(4) A document sent by ordinary mail, registered mail, electronic mail, fax or a communication method referred to in subsection (2) (i) is conclusively deemed to have been given on the date the document was sent.

(5) Despite subsection (4), if a notice of assessment is sent by ordinary mail, registered mail or electronic mail, the notice, for the purposes of this Act, is deemed to have been given on the date of that notice.

(6) For the purposes of this Act, the date of a notice given by the commissioner is the date stated on the notice.

Proof of compliance

93   In a prosecution or any proceeding for any matter arising under this Act, the facts necessary to establish compliance on the part of the commissioner with section 92 may be sufficiently proved in any court by the production of an affidavit of the commissioner setting out the facts.

Proof of receipt

94   (1) Proof of the receipt by a person of a document to which section 92 applies may be established in any court by showing that the document was given in accordance with that section.

(2) A person seeking to establish that a document referred to in subsection (1) was not received by the person bears the burden of establishing that fact.

How and when documents are given by minister

95   If, under this Act, a document must or may be given by the minister to a person,

(a) the document may be given in accordance with section 92 (2), and

(b) if the document is given in accordance with that section, the document is conclusively deemed to have been given on the date of that document.

Electronic payment

96   A person required to pay an amount to the government under this Act must pay the amount electronically in the manner required by the commissioner.

When payment is received

97   If, under this Act, an amount must or may be paid to the government, the amount is conclusively deemed to be paid on the date it is received by the government.

When documents are filed with or given to commissioner

98   (1) If, under this Act, a document must or may be filed with or given to the commissioner, the document is conclusively deemed to be filed or given on the date it is received by the commissioner.

(2) [Repealed 2022-11-15.]

General offences

99   A person who does any of the following commits an offence:

(a) makes, or participates in, assents to or acquiesces in the making of, a false or deceptive statement in a tax return, notice, application or other record required to be filed or given under this Act;

(b) destroys, alters, mutilates, hides or otherwise disposes of a record to evade payment of an amount to be paid to the government under this Act;

(c) makes, or participates in, assents to or acquiesces in the making of, a false or deceptive entry in a record related to an amount to be paid to the government under this Act;

(d) omits, or participates in, assents to or acquiesces in the omission of, a material particular in a record required to be kept under this Act;

(e) makes or uses, or participates in, assents to or acquiesces in the making or use of, a record in a false or deceptive manner in order to obtain a tax benefit;

(f) wilfully, in any manner, evades or attempts to evade payment of tax payable under this Act;

(g) conspires with any person to do anything described in paragraphs (a) to (f).

Penalties

100   (1) An individual who commits an offence under section 99 is liable to

(a) a fine of not less than 50% and not more than 200% of the amount of tax that was sought to be evaded,

(b) imprisonment for not more than 2 years, or

(c) both the fine and imprisonment referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection.

(2) A corporation that commits an offence under section 99 is liable to a fine of not less than 50% and not more than 200% of the amount of tax that was sought to be evaded.

Offences for failure to provide records or information required by commissioner or for interference

101   (1) A person commits an offence if the person contravenes any of the following provisions:

(a) section 70 (3) (a), (b) or (c) [production of records and answering questions at specified location];

(b) section 70 (8) (a) or (b) [interfering with inspection or audit];

(c) section 71 [requirement to provide records];

(d) section 72 (3) [demand for information].

(2) An individual who commits an offence under subsection (1) is liable to

(a) a fine of not more than $100 000,

(b) imprisonment for not more than 12 months, or

(c) both the fine and imprisonment referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection.

(3) A corporation that commits an offence under subsection (1) is liable to a fine of not more than $100 000.

Offences in relation to confidential information

102   (1) A person commits an offence if

(a) the person contravenes section 90 (2) [communication of information], or

(b) the person knowingly contravenes an order made under section 241 (4.1) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) as that section applies for the purposes of this Act.

(2) A person

(a) to whom taxpayer information has been provided for a particular purpose under section 90 (5) (b), (d), (g) or (j), or

(b) who is an official to whom taxpayer information has been provided for a particular purpose under section 90 (5) (a), (c) or (e)

and who for any other purpose knowingly uses, provides to any person, allows the provision to any person of or allows access to that information commits an offence.

(3) An individual who commits an offence under subsection (1) or (2) is liable to

(a) a fine of not more than $5 000,

(b) imprisonment for not more than 12 months, or

(c) both the fine and imprisonment referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection.

(4) A corporation that commits an offence under subsection (1) or (2) is liable to a fine of not more than $5 000.

Offence by corporation

103   (1) If a corporation commits an offence under this Act, an employee, officer, director or agent of the corporation who authorized, permitted or acquiesced in the offence also commits that offence, whether or not the corporation is prosecuted for the offence.

(2) In a prosecution for an offence under this Act, it is sufficient proof of the offence to establish that it was committed by an employee, officer, director or agent of the defendant, whether or not the employee, officer, director or agent is identified or has been prosecuted for the offence.

(3) Subsection (2) does not apply if the defendant establishes that the defendant exercised due diligence to prevent the commission of the offence.

Limitation period for prosecution

104   The time limit for laying an information for an offence under this Act is 6 years after the date when the act or omission that is alleged to constitute the offence occurred.

Section 5 of Offence Act

105   Section 5 [general offence] of the Offence Act does not apply to this Act or the regulations.

General regulation-making authority

106   (1) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations referred to in section 41 of the Interpretation Act.

(2) Without limiting subsection (1), the Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations respecting any matter for which regulations are contemplated by this Act.

(3) The authority to make regulations under another provision of this Act does not limit subsection (1) or (2).

(4) In making a regulation under this Act, the Lieutenant Governor in Council may do one or more of the following:

(a) delegate a matter to a person;

(b) confer a discretion on a person;

(c) make different regulations for different persons, places, things, circumstances or transactions, or for different classes of persons, places, things, circumstances or transactions;

(d) establish or define classes of persons, places, things, circumstances or transactions.

Regulations in relation to appeals

106.1   (1) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations as follows:

(a) establishing rules governing the practice and procedure of the Supreme Court in an appeal under this Act;

(b) providing that a rule under the Supreme Court Civil Rules does not apply to an appeal under this Act;

(c) modifying a rule under the Supreme Court Civil Rules that applies to an appeal under this Act;

(d) adopting a rule under the Supreme Court Civil Rules that otherwise does not apply to an appeal under this Act and modifying that rule for the purposes of an appeal under this Act.

(2) Without limiting subsection (1), in making a regulation under subsection (1), the Lieutenant Governor in Council may make any rule authorized by sections 1 and 2 of the Court Rules Act.

(3) To the extent of any inconsistency or conflict between a regulation made under subsection (1) and the Supreme Court Civil Rules, the regulation made under subsection (1) prevails.

Other regulations

107   The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations as follows:

(a) prescribing classes of organizations for the purposes of paragraph (d) of the definition of "charitable or non-profit employer" in section 1 [definitions];

(b) prescribing an amount for the purposes of section 41 [instalments];

(c) prescribing interest rates and the manner of calculating interest for the purposes of this Act.

Retroactive regulations

107.01   A regulation made in respect of Part 2.1 [Increased Employment Credit] may be made retroactive to March 30, 2021 or a later date, and if made retroactive is deemed to have come into force on the specified date.

Instalments and interest — 2019 calendar year

108   Despite sections 41 [instalments] and 62 [interest on unpaid instalments], for the purposes of applying those sections to an employer in the 2019 calendar year, the employer's tax payable for the 2018 calendar year is deemed to be equal to the amount of tax that would have been payable by that employer for that calendar year if this Act and the regulations had come into force on January 1, 2018.

Registration — 2019 calendar year

109   Despite section 31 [registration] but subject to section 108, if an employer is required to pay an amount under section 41 [instalments] on or before June 15, 2019, the employer must apply to be registered under section 31 (1) on or before May 15, 2019.

Repealed

110   [Repealed 2018-42-110 (4).]

Commencement

118   The provisions of this Act referred to in column 1 of the following table come into force as set out in column 2 of the table: