Audrey Turcotte

The Appellant appealed a Minister's reconsideration decision regarding his Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) benefits following his retirement.

The Social Security Tribunal referred the matter to the Tax Court of Canada to determine whether the Appellant's lump sum withdrawals from his Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF) constituted 'pension income' under the Old Age Security Act's option method rules.

The Court held that the RRIF withdrawals were not pension income and therefore did not need to be included in the Appellant's estimated income for the relevant payment periods.

The appellant appealed a decision determining he was overpaid Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) benefits due to an incorrect income calculation.

The appellant argued that bank fees and currency exchange costs incurred to repatriate his Romanian pension should be deducted from his income, and that the Minister used an incorrect exchange rate.

The Tax Court of Canada dismissed the appeal, finding that the Old Age Security Act does not permit deductions for bank or exchange fees in computing income for GIS purposes, and that the Minister correctly applied the Bank of Canada exchange rate.

The appellant, a commission-based wealth advisor, appealed reassessments denying the deduction of headhunter fees incurred to recruit a partner.

The Minister argued the expenses were not required by her employment contract and constituted outlays of capital.

The Tax Court of Canada allowed the appeal, finding that the employer's T2200 form confirmed she was required to pay business development expenses, and the recruitment fees were current expenses incurred to earn employment income, not capital outlays.