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AllowedTax Court of Canada·

Tax Court Grants Respondent Permission to Amend Replies and Withdraw Admissions

Case No. 2026 TCC 33 · Justice Joanna Hill

📌 In brief

In a recent decision by the Tax Court, the court permitted the respondent to amend their legal documents and withdraw certain statements about the value of shares. This was deemed necessary for a proper consideration of the complex facts and issues involved in the case.

⚖️ Legal holding

A respondent is entitled to file further amended replies and withdraw certain admissions if it serves the interests of justice, especially when dealing with complex tax transactions.

Topics

tax evasionfair market value

Provisions

Income Tax Act, s. 160(1)Income Tax Act, general anti-avoidance rule (GAAR)

📖 What the law says

Income Tax Act s.160 — Interpretation

This section explains that a 'transaction' includes arrangements or events. It also states that if someone transfers property to their spouse, common-law partner, a minor, or someone they are not dealing with at arm's length, both the person who transferred the property and the person who received it can be held responsible for a portion of the transferor's tax.

Plain-English explanation — does not replace advice from a lawyer.

📖 Technical summary

The court allowed the respondent's motion to amend and withdraw admissions regarding fair market values of shares.

📜 Headnote Official document

The Tax Court allowed the respondent's motion to file further amended replies and withdraw certain admissions regarding fair market values of shares in complex tax transactions, serving the interests of justice.

📚 Full judgment Official document

OUTCOME: Allowed

Docket: 2016-4750(IT)G BETWEEN: [APPELLANT] Appellant, and HIS [NAME] THE [NAME], Respondent. Motion heard together with the motion of [RESPONDENT], 2016-4571(IT)G, on August 22, 2025, at Toronto, Ontario Before: [ADDRESS] : Counsel for the Appellant: [redacted] [NAME] Counsel for the Respondent: [redacted] The Respondent’s request for leave to file a Further Amended Reply to the [NAME] of Appeal and withdraw the admission with respect to paragraph 9(h) of the [NAME] of Appeal is granted. On or before April 10, 2026, the Respondent shall file and serve a Further Amended Reply, in accordance with the attached Reasons. On or before May 29, 2026, the parties shall file a timetable setting deadlines with respect to additional pre-trial steps related to the Further Amended Reply, including (a) the Appellant filing and serving an Answer, if any, to the Further Amended Reply, (b) additional examinations for discovery, if any, with respect to the amended pleadings, and (c) reporting to the Court. The Appellant is entitled to costs on the motion, and costs in any event of the cause for any resulting additional pre-trial steps, including amendments to the Appellant’s expert report related to the withdrawal of the admission. If the parties cannot agree on costs, the Appellant shall file submissions not exceeding 10 pages on or before March 23, 2026, and the Respondent shall file submissions not exceeding 5 pages, on or before April 8, 2026. Signed this 17th day of February 2026. “[NAME]” [NAME] J. Docket: 2016-4571(IT)G BETWEEN: [NAME], Appellant, and HIS [NAME] THE [NAME], Respondent. Motion heard together with the motion of [NAME] [APPELLANT], 2016-4750(IT)G, on August 22, 2025, at Toronto, Ontario Before: [ADDRESS] : Counsel for the Appellant: [redacted] [NAME] Counsel for the Respondent: [redacted] The Respondent’s request for leave to file a Further Amended Reply to the [NAME] of Appeal and withdraw the admission with respect to paragraph 10(g) of the [NAME] of Appeal is granted. On or before April 10, 2026, the Respondent shall file and serve a Further Amended Reply, in accordance with the attached Reasons. On or before May 29, 2026, the parties shall file a timetable setting deadlines with respect to additional pre-trial steps related to the Further Amended Reply, including (a) the Appellant filing and serving an Answer, if any, to the Further Amended Reply, (b) additional examinations for discovery, if any, with respect to the amended pleadings, and (c) reporting to the Court. The Appellant is entitled to costs on the motion, and costs in any event of the cause for any resulting additional pre-trial steps, including amendments to the Appellant’s expert report related to the withdrawal of the admission. If the parties cannot agree on costs, the Appellant shall file submissions not exceeding 10 pages on or before March 23, 2026, and the Respondent shall file submissions not exceeding 5 pages, on or before April 8, 2026. Signed this 17th day of February 2026. “[NAME]” [NAME] J. Citation: 2026 TCC 33 Date: 20260217 Docket: 2016-4750(IT)G BETWEEN: [NAME] [APPELLANT], Appellant, and HIS [NAME] THE [NAME], Respondent; Docket: 2016-4571(IT)G AND BETWEEN: [NAME] Appellant, and HIS [NAME] THE [NAME], Respondent. [ADDRESS] J A. Introduction [ 1 ] The present motions are the result of too many delays that provided the Respondent with too much time to reconsider its position and reconsider it again. The appeals were filed in 2016, delayed by a bifurcation application in 2018, then held in abeyance in 2021 pending a Federal Court of Appeal decision in similar matters. [ 2 ] In 2020, the Respondent amended its replies on consent to refine its position with respect to the application of subsection 160(1) of the Income Tax Act and the general anti-avoidance rule (GAAR) to a structured series of transactions whereby [NAME] sold their companies through various entities. [ 3 ] Despite the significant changes made in those amended replies, the Respondent now seeks to make further amendments and withdraw admissions regarding the fair market values of certain shares. The Respondent argues that these changes are in response to the Federal Court of Appeal’s application of subsection 160(1) to similar transactions in the [RESPONDENT] decision. [ 4 ] [NAME] consent to the Respondent’s amended arguments but contend that the withdrawal of admissions is a bridge too far. While I agree that the Respondent did not conduct a timely analysis of its position in these appeals, the transactions are complex and the courts have only recently considered the related legal issues. The test for withdrawing the admissions has been met because the interests of justice will be served by a proper consideration of those complex facts and issues. [ 5 ] [NAME] have been aware of the inconsistency between the admissions and the Respondent’s arguments since 2021. They have undermined their objection to this motion by consenting to the alternative argument without regard to this inconsistency. The resulting prejudice to [NAME] can be compensated through costs. B. Background [ 6 ] [NAME] are challenging subsubsection 160(1) assessments issued by the [NAME] with respect to transactions the Minister alleges all took effect on March 14, 2007. [1] Through their [NAME] and other entities, [NAME] sold their [NAME], [NAME] and [NAME], to a third-party purchaser for over $76 million. [2] The Minister alleges that [NAME] received over $69 million [3] while the [NAME] were liable for capital gains resulting from the sale. That tax liability remains unpaid, and the Minister invoked subsubsection 160(1) to recover over $24 million from [NAME]. [4] [ 7 ] [NAME] filed their appeals in October 2016, before the Minister issued decisions in response to their objections. The Respondent filed Replies to the Notices of Appeal in March 2017, relying on subsection 160(1) and the GAAR in the alternative. [NAME] filed Answers in May 2017. Pre-trial steps were completed, and trial dates were set for April 2019. [ 8 ] The first major delay began in November 2018 when the parties made a bifurcation request to separate the question of the validity of the underlying tax debts. [5] After a successful interlocutory appeal to the Federal Court of Appeal, the Court subsequently granted the bifurcation request in October 2020. [ 9 ] In December 2020, the Respondent filed amended replies on consent to (a) make minor corrections throughout, (b) revise two assumptions of fact and add three new assumptions, (c) add 15 new paragraphs with additional subsection 160(1) arguments, (d) delete and modify paragraphs to narrow its GAAR argument, and (e) add additional facts in support the revised subsection 160(1) and GAAR arguments. [ 10 ] [NAME] filed Amended Answers in January 2021. The parties completed a second set of discoveries in March 2021, and the appeals were once again ready to be set down for trial. [ 11 ] The second major delay began in May 2021, when the parties asked that the hearing of the appeals be delayed until the Federal Court of Appeal rendered a decision in the Crown’s appeal in [COMPANY] . [6] The Federal Court of Appeal issued that decision, [COMPANY] , on July 5, 2023. [7] [ 12 ] On March 27, 2024, the Respondent asked [NAME] to consent to the filing of further amended replies that (a) remove arguments regarding consideration, (b) add alternative arguments regarding arm’s length factors and two successive transfers under subsection 160(1), and (c) correct two assumptions of fact regarding shares received. [ 13 ] The Respondent sent [NAME] a second request on August 8, 2024, for further amended replies containing the same amendments as well the withdrawal of admissions with respect to assertions of the fair market values of shares in the following paragraphs of the Notices of Appeal: [APPELLANT] [NAME] of [NAME] [NAME] of Appeal 9(e) The fair market value of Dr. [APPELLANT]’s 200 common shares of [NAME] immediately before he transfers them to [NAME] is $29,317,478. 10(d) The fair market value of [NAME]’s 200 common shares of 212 Ontario immediately before he transfers them to [NAME] is $2,697,244. 9(h) The fair market value of Dr. [APPELLANT]’s 34,229,198 Class B preferred shares of [NAME] immediately before he transfers them to [NAME] is $34,229,198. 10(g) The fair market value of Mr. [NAME] 3,136,307 Class B preferred shares of 212 Ontario immediately before he transfers them to [NAME] is $3,136,307. [ 14 ] [NAME] did not respond to the Respondent’s request to file the further amended replies on consent. (1) The Respondent’s motions [ 15 ] On November 25, 2024, the Respondent filed a motion in writing seeking leave to further amend the replies and to withdraw the admissions. Based on their understanding that [NAME]’ objection only concerned the withdrawal of the admissions, the Respondent’s motion addressed this sole issue. [ 16 ] The Respondent did not file affidavit evidence to support its request to withdraw the admissions. Instead, the Respondent argued that the admissions were based on an assessing position that pre-dates the legal issues raised in the [RESPONDENT] decision. The Respondent argued that [NAME]’ assertions of the fair market values of the shares do not take into account the tax liabilities of the [NAME] prior to the successive transfers now at issue because of the Federal Court of Appeal’s decision. [ 17 ] In their responding motion records, [NAME] consented to the amendments, subject to being permitted to conduct additional written examinations for discovery related to the successive transfers argument. [NAME] opposed the withdrawal of the admissions on various grounds, including that the tax liabilities did not exist when the common shares referred to in paragraphs 9(e) and 10(d) were transferred. [ 18 ] The Respondent filed reply submissions defending its position but accepted [NAME]’ position regarding the timing of the tax liabilities at issue. As a result, the Respondent revised its request to only withdraw its admissions regarding the fair market values of the preferred shares of the [NAME] stated in paragraph 9(h) of the [APPELLANT] [NAME] of Appeal and 10(g) of the [NAME] [NAME] of Appeal. [8] [ 19 ] [ADDRESS] scheduled a hearing of the motions to hear from the parties and obtain clarifications regarding their positions. In response to questions raised at the hearing, the Respondent filed a letter on October 8, 2025, confirming its request to withdraw the admissions for paragraphs 9(h) of the [APPELLANT] [NAME] of Appeal and 10(g) of the [NAME] [NAME] of Appeal, and outlining its position regarding the fair market values of the preferred shares as follows: As for the confirmation of the Respondent’s position on the fair market value (FMV) of the preferred shares at Step 8, the Respondent’s position is the following: Considering the Respondent’s assumptions of fact that the purported loans to the [NAME] and to [NAME] had no FMV, the conclusions of the [Respondent’s] Expert Report are that the FMV of [NAME] [RESPONDENT] ([NAME]) preferred shares is $19,601,737 at Step 8 and nil at Step 10. In the case of [NAME] [COMPANY] ([NAME]), the FMV of the preferred shares is $2,456,477 at Step 8 and nil at Step 10. Based on the conclusions of the Expert Report, the Respondent confirms its position that the admission with respect to subparagraph 9(h) of Dr. [APPELLANT]’s [NAME] of Appeal, and subparagraph 10(g) of Mr. [RESPONDENT] [NAME] of Appeal should be withdrawn. [ 20 ] The Respondent was unable to provide this information at the hearing because it had not received its expert report at that time. [ 21 ] As a result, the issue in these motions is whether the Court should grant the Respondent leave to withdraw the admissions with respect to the assertions of the fair market values of the preferred shares contained in both Notices of Appeal. C. Analysis [ 22 ] Section 132 of the Tax Court of Canada Rules (General Procedure) allows a party to withdraw an admission on consent or with leave of the Court. The parties agree that the test to withdraw admissions is outlined in the [COMPANY] decision. [9] [ 23 ] The application of this test must be considered in the context of the complex series of transactions at issue in these appeals. Although the Respondent described the transactions in 10 steps, the transactions and related admissions at issue in these motions can be summarized as follows. [10] Steps 2 and 3: [ 24 ] [NAME] transfer their common shares in [NAME] (and [NAME] in Mr. [NAME] case) to their [NAME] in exchange for common shares and preferred shares in their [NAME]. Step 5: [ 25 ] [NAME] sell the common shares of their [NAME] to three [NAME] in exchange for [NAME] preferred shares. Paragraph 9(e) of the [APPELLANT] [NAME] of Appeal states that the fair market value of Dr. [APPELLANT]’s 200 common shares in his [COMPANY] was $29,317,478. Paragraph 10(d) of the [NAME] [NAME] of Appeal states that the fair market value of Mr. [NAME] 200 common shares in his [COMPANY] was $2,697,244. [ 26 ] As outlined above, the Respondent no longer seeks to withdraw the admissions regarding the fair market values of these common shares. Step 6: [ 27 ] The [NAME] sell their [NAME] and [NAME] shares to a third-party purchaser and realize capital gains on the disposition. [11] This is the source of the underlying tax liabilities for the subsection 160(1) assessments. Step 8: [ 28 ] [NAME] sell the preferred shares of their [NAME] to the [NAME] in exchange for cash, promissory notes, and [NAME] preferred shares. Dr. [APPELLANT] received total consideration of $34,229,198 for his 34,229,198 Class B preferred shares, and Mr. [NAME] received total consideration of $3,136,307 for his 3,136,307 preferred shares. [12] [ 29 ] Paragraph 9(h) of the [APPELLANT] [NAME] of Appeal states that the fair market value of Dr. [APPELLANT]’s 34,229,198 preferred shares in his [COMPANY] was $34,229,198. Paragraph 10(g) of the [NAME] [NAME] of Appeal states that the fair market value of Mr. [NAME] 3,136,307 preferred shares in his [COMPANY] was $3,136,307. [ 30 ] The Respondent maintains its request to withdraw the admissions related to the fair market values of those preferred shares. [ 31 ] As outlined in their post-hearing letter, the Respondent’s position is (a) the fair market value of Dr. [APPELLANT]’s 34,229,198 preferred shares in his [COMPANY] was $19,601,737, and (b) the fair market value of Mr. [NAME] 3,136,307 preferred shares in his [COMPANY] was $2,456,477. Step 10: [ 32 ] [NAME] sell their [NAME] preferred shares to [COMPANY]. From the outset, the parties have disagreed on the fair market value of the [NAME] preferred shares. [ 33 ] The proposed amendments to the replies shift the Respondent’s position from the application of subsection 160(1) to indirect transfers from [NAME]’ [NAME] to the application of subsection 160(1) to successive transfers through the [NAME] and other entities. The Respondent relies on the Federal Court of Appeal’s determination in [COMPANY] that subsection 160(1) applied to two distinct successive transfers in a similar series of transactions to those in the present appeals. [13] [ 34 ] As outlined above, [NAME] consent to the Respondent’s additional successive transfers argument, but object to the withdrawal of the admissions. (1) The test to withdraw admissions [ 35 ] In [COMPANY] , this Court broadly stated that the test is whether the interests of justice are served more if the withdrawal is permitted. [14] A number of factors may be considered, including (a) the timeliness of the motion to withdraw, (b) whether the proposed amendment would delay the expeditious trial, (c) whether the original position led the other party to follow a course of action that would be difficult or impossible to alter, and (d) whether the amendments will facilitate a consideration of the true substance of the dispute on its merits. [15] [ 36 ] [ADDRESS] also referred to and applied “helpful” factors from other courts such as whether an admission was inadvertent, there is a triable issue raised, and the other party would suffer prejudice not compensable in costs. [16] The parties in this case referred to some of these additional factors, even though they overlap with the primary factors listed in the above paragraph. [ 37 ] No single factor is necessarily determinative. The relevant factors must be assigned their proper weight in the context of the particular case. [17] [ 38 ] As outlined below, I have considered the relevant factors in this case and concluded that the admissions may be withdrawn. Not all factors favour the Respondent’s request, but the interests of justice would be served by the withdrawals. (a) The motion is not timely [ 39 ] This factor does not favour the Respondent. I agree with [NAME] that the withdrawals are the result of the Respondent failing to properly analyze their position in a timely way. [ 40 ] The Respondent argued that the Federal Court of Appeal decision [RESPONDENT] justifies the delay in seeking to withdraw the admissions. However, that decision was issued a year before the Respondent informed [NAME] that they wanted to withdraw the admissions regarding the fair market values of the common and preferred shares. [ 41 ] More significantly, the [COMPANY] decision did not change established principles regarding the fair market value of shares. The Federal Court of Appeal referred to “the case law which unequivocally holds that an arm’s length purchaser of shares would discount any existing tax liability of the underlying corporation in determining their value” . [18] The Respondent relied on some of those same authorities in the present motion. [19] [ 42 ] The Respondent’s prior pleadings also incorporate this principle. The original Replies the Respondent filed in 2017 contain assumptions of fact that this type of discount applies, albeit with respect to other transactions at issue: [20] Even if the purported loans had a FMV, which is denied, the FMV of the consideration received by [NAME] should take into account the tax liability associated with the income received from the sale of [NAME] and [NAME]. [ 43 ] The Amended Replies filed in December 2020 contain new arguments regarding this discount with respect to the same preferred shares at issue in the admissions. The Respondent argues that the preferred shares acquired by the [NAME] “had no fair market value at the time of the transfer” . [21] The Respondent then argues in the alternative that the fair market value must take into take into account the latent tax liability of the [COMPANY]. [22] [ 44 ] Notably, [NAME]’ Amended Answers filed in January 2021 highlight the inconsistency between the Respondent’s admissions regarding the fair market value of the preferred shares and their new argument that the fair market value was nil. The final paragraph of the [APPELLANT] clearly states: [23] With respect to amended paragraph 22 of the amended reply, Dr. [APPELLANT] notes that the respondent admits paragraph 9(h) of the [NAME] of appeal which states that “[t]he fair market value of Dr. [APPELLANT]’s 34,229,198 Class B preferred shares of [NAME] immediately before he transfers them to the [NAME] is $34,229,198”. There is no intervening event between the time immediately before Dr. [APPELLANT] sells his shares to [NAME] and the time of that sale that would decrease the fair market value of the shares. [ 45 ] It appears that the Respondent did not turn their mind to whether [NAME]’ assertions of the fair market values of the preferred shares of the [NAME] were accurate because it was not relevant to the Respondent’s position at that time. As I stated at the hearing, the proper pleading in response should not have been to admit facts that the Respondent (or the Minister) did not verify. The options would have been to either deny those facts or state that they have no knowledge of them. [ 46 ] The Respondent’s failure to properly analyze their position continued through this motion. The Respondent initially sought to withdraw two admissions, then adjusted its position after receiving [NAME]’ response to their motion. When asked at the hearing why they no longer sought to withdraw the admissions regarding the fair market value of the common shares, counsel for the Respondent stated paragraph 9(e) of the [APPELLANT] [NAME] of Appeal was not contested because it relates to the fair market value of the underlying businesses, which were bought by an unrelated third party in an open market transaction. [24] This rationale is not new, so it begs the question why the Respondent sought to withdraw that admission in the first place. (b) The withdrawal will not delay an expeditious trial [ 47 ] This factor favours the Respondent because the appeals have not been set down for trial. [NAME] are responsible for the previous delays outlined earlier in these Reasons. [ 48 ] [NAME]’ argument that there must be an end to the litigation holds little weight because they have already consented to the other amendments in the proposed further amended replies on the condition that further discoveries be conducted. (c) [NAME] can alter their course of action [ 49 ] This factor favours the Respondent. [NAME] have undertaken a significant amount of work to date, but the withdrawal of the admissions does not constitute a radical departure that renders this work meaningless. [ 50 ] Further to the parties’ joint abeyance request, [NAME] knew that the Respondent might adjust their legal position based on the [RESPONDENT] decision. The withdrawn admissions relate to the Respondent’s new argument in this regard. [ 51 ] As outlined above, [NAME] also have been aware of the problem with the admissions since the Respondent filed their Amended Replies in December 2020. [ 52 ] [NAME] have not argued that there is insufficient time or that they will be unable to obtain their own expert evidence regarding the fair market values of the preferred shares. Instead, they seek costs thrown away for the expert report they already received because their instructions included the assumption that the parties were in agreement on this particular issue. [ 53 ] I agree with the Respondent that there is no prejudice that cannot be compensated by costs. (d) The withdrawals speak to the true substance of the dispute [ 54 ] This factor also favours the Respondent. I agree with the Respondent’s position that the amendments and related withdrawal of admissions address core elements of the questions at issue and will ensure that all the triable issues between the parties are before the Court. [ 55 ] The Respondent is withdrawing the admissions to take into account the Federal Court of Appeal’s application of subsection 160(1) to a similar series of transactions in [COMPANY] . Those appeals, as well as this Court’s more recent decision in [COMPANY] , demonstrate that these matters require the application of multiple legal tests to complex facts and transactions. [25] [ 56 ] Fair market value is an essential component of the application of subsection 160(1) and the value of shares transferred between entities is particularly important in these appeals. [ 57 ] In [NAME] , this Court allowed the Crown to amend their reply to withdraw admissions and take a significantly different position to support the assessment on the basis that it would assist the Court in determining the real question and controversy between the parties. [26] The Federal Court of Appeal upheld this decision, including the Court’s application of the established principle that admissions are not binding on trial judges of this Court. [27] [ 58 ] If the Court is not bound by an admission at trial, [28] it follows that a party may not be bound by an admission in its pleadings if the [COMPANY] test is met. (e) The interests of justice favour the withdrawals [ 59 ] While there are weaknesses in the Respondent’s position on the motion, the interests of justice weigh in favour of a proper determination of the questions at issue. [ 60 ] [NAME]’ objection to the withdrawals does not serve the interests of justice. [NAME] consent to the Respondent’s amended successive transfers argument but oppose the withdrawal of admissions to support that argument. Notably, counsel [NAME] acknowledged that the Respondent’s alternative argument is weakened by the admissions. [29] [ 61 ] [NAME]’ reliance on this Court’s decision in Chad [30] is misplaced because the withdrawal of the admissions would not result in a radical change in the nature of the questions in controversy. The Respondent seeks to refine its position regarding the application of subsection 160(1), its primary assessing position since the outset. [ 62 ] [NAME] raised valid concerns regarding deficiencies in the proposed further amended replies. However, those deficiencies can be addressed since the Respondent has to revise the further amended replies to account for their most recent changes in position. [ 63 ] [NAME] pointed out that only one of the admissions at issue relates to the Respondent’s new successive transfers argument. The Respondent agreed and now has to revise its pleadings to restore the admissions with respect to the fair market values of the common shares. [ 64 ] [NAME] also argued that the proposed further amended replies do not specify the Respondent’s position on the fair market values of the preferred shares or the discounts that should be applied for the tax liabilities. The Respondent has since provided those amounts after receiving its expert report. [31] For Dr. [APPELLANT]’s [COMPANY], the reduction from $34,229,198 to $19,601,737 is almost identical to the tax liability of $14,813,732. [32] The reduction for Mr. [NAME] [COMPANY], $3,136,307 to $2,456,477, is similarly almost identical to that company’s tax liability of $679,885. [33] The Respondent should amend its pleadings to clearly state this position and remove or clarify any inconsistent facts and arguments. For example, the proposed further amended replies contain arguments that the preferred shares had no fair market value at all. [34] [ 65 ] Any remaining questions may be addressed in the additional examination for discovery requested by [NAME]. D. Costs [ 66 ] Although the Respondent is the successful party in this motion, its conduct significantly delayed the hearing of the motion. The Respondent sought to amend their pleadings without proper consideration of the full implications of withdrawing the admissions or the existing related inconsistencies in the amended replies. As outlined above, the motion raised more questions and concerns. The Respondent had to retract its request to withdraw the admissions regarding the fair market values of the common shares and its position that the preferred shares had no value at all. [ 67 ] The Respondent’s conduct also has significantly delayed the conduct of the appeal and required additional pre-trial steps, including a third round of discoveries and a revised expert report [NAME]. [ 68 ] While I appreciate that Respondent’s counsel (and the applicable case law) have changed since the original and amended replies were filed, the Respondent has a responsibility to properly and accurately plead its case. This latest request to amend has had the opposite effect and has required more work for the parties and this Court. [ 69 ] As a result, the Respondent should pay [NAME]’ costs on the motion, [NAME]’ costs to amend their expert report, and [NAME]’ costs for additional pre-trial steps required because of the amendments and withdrawn admissions. E. Conclusion [ 70 ] The Respondent’s motion to amend its further amended replies and withdraw admissions is granted, with costs payable to [NAME] in any event of the cause. If the parties cannot agree on costs, they shall file submissions in this regard. The Respondent shall file further amended replies in accordance with these Reasons and the parties must file a timetable with deadlines for the remaining steps in the appeals. Signed this 17th day of February 2026. “[NAME]” Hill J CITATION: 2026 TCC 33 COURT FILE NOS.: 2016-4750(IT)G 2016-4571(IT)G STYLES OF CAUSE: [NAME] [APPELLANT] v. HIS [NAME] THE [NAME] v. HIS [NAME] THE [NAME] OF HEARING: Toronto, Ontario DATE OF HEARING: August 22, 2025

REASONS FOR

ORDER BY: [ADDRESS] OF

ORDER: February 17, 2026 APPEARANCES: Counsel [NAME]: [COUNSEL] [NAME] [COUNSEL] Counsel for the Respondent: [redacted] COUNSEL OF RECORD: [NAME]: Name: [COUNSEL]: [RESPONDENT], Ontario For the Respondent: [redacted] Ottawa, Canada [1] Paragraph 10.18 of the [APPELLANT]. [2] Paragraph 10.32 of the [APPELLANT]. [3] Paragraph 11.1 of the [APPELLANT] alleges Dr. [APPELLANT] received $63,546,674 and paragraph 10.1 of the [NAME] alleges Mr. [APPELLANT] received $5,833,552. [4] Dr. [APPELLANT]’s s. 160(1) assessment was for $23,062,019.34 and [NAME]’s s. 160(1) assessment was for $1,133,706.96 ([APPELLANT] [NAME] of Appeal, paragraph 1, and [NAME] [NAME] of Appeal, paragraph 1). Both amounts include penalty and interest ([APPELLANT], paragraph 10.63, and [NAME], paragraph 9.63). [5] This issue is the subject of separate Tax Court appeals filed by the tax debtors. [6] [COMPANY] v [NAME] , 2021 TCC 24, issued in March 2021 ( [COMPANY] ). [7] [NAME] v [RESPONDENT]. , 2023 FCA 157 ( [RESPONDENT] ). [8] Respondent’s Answer to [NAME]’ Written Submissions, filed January 9, 2025, paragraph 11. [9] [COMPANY]. v Canada , [1993] TCJ No 18, para 25 ( [COMPANY] ). [10] I agree with [NAME] that it is not necessary to refer to the 10 steps outlined by the Respondent in their pleadings. Some of the steps are repetitive because similar transactions are listed as separate steps for Dr. [APPELLANT] and [NAME]. [11] [NAME]’ Written Submissions, [NAME]’ Responding Motion Record, filed December 16, 2024, paragraph 48. [12] [APPELLANT], para 10.45. [13] [APPELLANT] , paras 55-56 and 59. [14] [COMPANY] , para 25. [15] Ibid . [16] Ibid . [17] Ibid . [18] [RESPONDENT] , para 91. [19] Respondent’s Written Submissions, Respondent’s Motion Record, filed November 25, 2024, paragraphs 13-15. [20] [APPELLANT], paragraph 10.111. See also paragraph 9.111 of the [NAME]. [21] [APPELLANT], paragraph 22. [NAME], paragraph 21. [22] [APPELLANT], paragraph 23. [NAME], paragraph 22. [23] [APPELLANT], paragraph 40. A similar statement was made at paragraph 40 of the [NAME]. [24] Hearing Transcript, pages 47-8. [25] See the extensive analyses conducted by this Court in both matters: [COMPANY] and [COMPANY]. v [NAME] , 2024 TCC 139. [26] [COMPANY] v [NAME] , 2018-4828(IT)G, unreported oral decision delivered August 2, 2022. [27] [COMPANY] v [NAME] , 2023 FCA 231, paras 2-7. [28] [NAME] v [NAME] , 2005 FCA 252 (leave to appeal to the SCC dismissed), paras 30-32 and 39; [NAME] v [NAME] , 2022 FCA 106, para 20; Canadian Imperial Bank of [NAME] v [NAME] , 2021 FCA 96, para 65; 9178-3472 [COMPANY]. v [NAME] , 2020 FCA 15, para 9. [29] Hearing Transcript, pages 88 & 90. [30] Chad v [NAME] , 2022 TCC 18, para 12. [31] Respondent’s Letter dated October 8, 2025. [32] [APPELLANT], paragraph 10.63 (total federal and provincial tax, excluding penalty and interest). [33] [NAME], paragraph 9.63 (total federal tax, excluding penalty and interest). [34] [APPELLANT] proposed Further Amended Reply, paragraphs 22 and 26.10(e). [NAME] proposed Further Amended Reply, paragraphs 21 and 25.10(e).

📊 How courts decide similar cases

Among 12 similar decisions in this collection:

A snapshot of this collection — not a prediction of your case's outcome.

⚖️ What tends to weigh in cases like this

✅ Tends to be accepted

  • A court may allow amendments to pleadings and the reopening of evidence if it is in the interests of justice and does not prejudice the other party.

❌ Tends to be rejected

  • A taxpayer must clearly state what inventory adjustments they believe are entitled to make, the year(s) applicable, and the rationale behind it. A large corporation cannot appeal to the Tax Court of Canada unless it has complied with the requirements set out in subsection 165(1.11) of the Income Tax Act. The Tax Court may strike an appeal if it finds that the appeal is an abuse of the court's process, particularly when the same issues have been repeatedly litiga

Patterns observed in similar cases in this collection — every case is unique.

❓ Frequently asked questions

What did this decision decide?

The Tax Court allowed the respondent's motion to file further amended replies and withdraw certain admissions regarding fair market values of shares.

Who was involved?

A taxpayer (the claimant) and the Minister of National Revenue (the respondent).

How did the court decide, and why?

The court decided in favour of the respondent because it serves the interests of justice to properly consider complex tax transactions.

Which laws or rules were applied?

Subsection 160(1) of the Income Tax Act and the general anti-avoidance rule (GAAR).

What was the argument that mattered most?

The respondent argued that withdrawing certain admissions would allow for a proper consideration of complex tax issues.

Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?

Against the claimant, as the court allowed the respondent's motion.

What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?

Someone facing a similar situation may need to consider allowing amendments and withdrawals if it serves the interests of justice.

What evidence or documents mattered?

The legal arguments presented by both parties regarding the complex tax transactions were crucial.

Can a decision like this be appealed?

Yes, decisions from the Tax Court can often be appealed to higher courts.

Is it worth getting a lawyer for a case like this?

It is highly recommended to seek legal advice for such complex tax cases.

Official source: Tax Court of Canada headnote and full judgment reproduced from the court's public records. View on the official source ↗Summary, holding, technical summary and questions: produced by Artificial Intelligence based on the official headnote and judgment. These are VadeLab’s own material and are not the work of the Court.This decision was issued by the Tax Court of Canada. It is a reproduction of an official work published by the Government of Canada, and the reproduction has not been produced in affiliation with, or with the endorsement of, the Government of Canada. It is not an official version.