Tax court of Canada | Taxation
GOODS AND SERVICES TAX
University not liable to collect and remit GST on parking fines
Appeal by university from reassessment by Minister under Excise Tax Act (Can.), for period from April 1, 2003 to May 31, 2005. University had four types of parking spaces. Permit lots and visitor lots were identified with signs and visitor lots had more information indicating that vehicles not displaying valid receipts were subject to ticketing and impoundment. University hired people to patrol and enforce parking regulations and issue ticket to be left on car for infractions. On reverse of ticket it was written that traffic offence notice (TON) was issued under authority of s. 27 of University Act (B.C.). Appeal allowed. Reassessment was referred back to Minister for reconsideration and reassessment on basis that university was not liable to collect and remit GST on parking fines. By driver’s conduct in taking parking space, knowing that there was requirement of permit of TVM ticket to prove payment and leaving without having complied, now with TON indicating that driver owed university $30, non-paying driver had, in accordance with reasoning of Federal Court of Appeal in 2000 judgment, struck deal with university. Contractual terms of contract between non-paying driver and university did not provide for consideration for parking spot but agreement by non-paying driver to run risk of having to pay fine. There was no intention to breach agreement to pay for taxable supply of parking. University had statutory authority to invoke fine for traffic offence and this is what it did. Fines were imposed because non-paying drivers were effectively stealing. Notwithstanding there may have been contract, in these circumstances GST was not exigible on fine.
Simon Fraser University v. R. (Apr. 22, 2013, T.C.C. [Informal Procedure], Campbell J. Miller J., File No. 2012-1698(GST)I) 227 A.C.W.S. (3d) 1201.
