Article on Waivers of Limitation Periods in the Income Tax Act

Sas Ansari (York University – Osgoode Hall Law School) recently published an article entitled, Waivers of Limitation Periods in the Income Tax Act – Judicial Interpretations and Approaches, Osgoode Legal Studies Research Paper No. 50/ 2014. Provided below is the abstract from SSRN:

The Income Tax Act sets various time limited on actions by the Minister and the Taxpayer. These time limits are there to promote a balance between the need for proper administration of the Act in relation to each taxpayer’s affairs and certainty/finality for both the taxpayer and the Minister. One of such time period is the “normal reassessment period” found in section 152. The Act allows for a taxpayer to waive the normal reassessment period, thereby allowing the Minister to reassess the taxpayer beyond this time period.

This paper examines waivers of the normal reassessment period in the context of the Income Tax Act, examines the judicial interpretation and application of such waivers, and provides guidance for judges faced with waiver issues.