Section 239.1 — Income Tax Act: Definitions

The definitions in subsection 163.3(1) apply in this section. Every person that, without lawful excuse, the proof of which lies on the person, uses an electronic suppression of sales device or a similar device or software in relation to records that are required to be kept by any person under section 230, acquires or possesses an electronic suppression of sales device, or a right in respect of an electronic suppression of sales device, that is, or is intended to be, capable of being used in relation to records that are required to be kept by any person under section 230, designs, develops, manufactures, possesses for sale, offers for sale, sells, transfers or otherwise makes available to another person an electronic suppression of sales device that is, or is intended to be, capable of being used in relation to records that are required to be kept by any person under section 230, supplies installation, upgrade or maintenance services for an electronic suppression of sales device that is, or is intended to be, capable of being used in relation to records that are required to be kept by any person under section 230, or participates in, assents to or acquiesces in the commission of, or conspires with any person to commit, an offence described in any of paragraphs (a) to (d), is guilty of an offence and, in addition to any penalty otherwise provided, is liable on summary conviction to a fine of not less than $10,000 and not more than $500,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or to both. Every person that is charged with an offence described in subsection (2) may, at the election of the Attorney General of Canada, be prosecuted on indictment and, if convicted, is, in addition to any penalty otherwise provided, liable to a fine of not less than $50,000 and not more than $1,000,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years, or to both. A person that is convicted of an offence under this section is not liable to pay a penalty imposed under any of sections 162, 163, 163.2 and 163.3 for the same action unless a notice of assessment for that penalty was issued before the information or complaint giving rise to the conviction was laid or made. If, in any appeal under this Act, substantially the same facts are at issue as those that are at issue in a prosecution under this section, the Minister may file a stay of proceedings with the Tax Court of Canada and, upon that filing, the proceedings before that Court are stayed pending final determination of the outcome of the prosecution.