Mandatory disclosure rules – Overview

Disclosure rules for reporting transactions

Canada’s enhanced mandatory disclosure rules are a set of reporting requirements which received royal assent on June 22, 2023. Enhancements to the rules align with international best practices and aim to better provide the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) with information to respond to tax risks. 

Who may be impacted: individuals, corporations, trusts, partnerships, advisors, promoters or certain non-arm’s length parties.

These rules (Income Tax Act sections 237.3 to 237.5) consist of:

These rules apply to:

Guidance to the mandatory disclosure rules is available.

Not complying with these mandatory disclosure rules will result in financial penalties and extended reassessment periods.

Reportable transactions

For a transaction to be reportable, it must be an “avoidance transaction”

When you must disclose a reportable transaction

You must disclose a reportable transaction if you are:

Notifiable transactions

A transaction becomes a notifiable transaction if it is the same or substantially similar to one that is designated by the Minister.

  • Definition: Substantially similar

    (a) includes any transaction, or series of transactions, in respect of which a person is expected to obtain the same or similar types of tax consequences (as defined in subsection 245(1)) and that is either factually similar or based on the same or similar tax strategy; and

    (b) is to be interpreted broadly in favour of disclosure.

 

Notifiable transactions designated by the Minister

The Minister of National Revenue can designate transactions to be notifiable transactions in concurrence with the Minister of Finance.

These transactions are listed on the CRA’s Notifiable transactions designated by the Minister of National Revenue web page.

Subscribe to our electronic mailing list to receive an email when new notifiable transactions are designated by the Minister.

When you must disclose a notifiable transaction

You must disclose a notifiable transaction if you are:

Reportable uncertain tax treatment

An uncertain tax treatment is a tax treatment used, or planned to be used, in an entity’s income tax filings for which there is uncertainty over whether the tax treatment will be accepted as being in accordance with tax law.

A corporation must report an uncertain tax treatment when all of the following apply:

How to disclose and by when

Reportable transactions and notifiable transactions

To make a disclosure

Fill out and submit Form RC312, Reportable Transaction and Notifiable Transaction Information Return.

Deadline

You must submit Form RC312 to the CRA within the earlier of :

Reportable uncertain tax treatments

To make a disclosure

Fill out and submit Form RC3133, Reportable Uncertain Tax Treatments Information Return.

Deadline

Submit the form on or before the corporation’s regular tax filing deadline.

Penalties for non-disclosure or late filing

If you do not file Form RC312 or Form RC3133 or you file late, you will be charged penalties.   

Reportable and notifiable transaction penalties

Taxpayers:
  Weekly Maximum
Corporations with assets of $50M or more $2,000 The greater of $100,000 or 25% of the tax benefit
All other taxpayers (e.g. : individuals, partnerships, corporations, etc.) $500 The greater of $25,000 or 25% of the tax benefit

Promoters, advisors and others directly involved:

  • 100% of the fees charged
  • plus $10,000
  • plus $1,000 per day up to a maximum of $100,000

  • equals Total penalties owed
 

Penalties for reportable uncertain tax treatments

$2,000 a week to a maximum of $100,000 (for each uncertain tax treatment)   

Reassessment periods

When a Form RC312 or Form RC3133 is not filed, an assessment or reassessment for the respective transaction(s) can be made at any time for up to:

Related Information

Page details

Date modified: