Canada: Foster's to appeal disallowed tax objection

Foster’s Group (Foster’s) announced May 31 its intention to appeal the disallowance of an objection against an assessment of tax for a Foster’s subsidiary.

Foster’s disputes the disallowance and intends to vigorously pursue its appeal rights in this matter. The Foster’s subsidiary paid all tax in relation to this assessment in 2001.

Foster’s initiated this process to obtain certainty about the availability of tax losses arising from deduction claims in respect of the funding of the Elders Finance Group (EFG) in the 1980’s and 1990’s.

While the disallowance is in respect of one Foster’s subsidiary for the 2001 financial year, other Foster’s companies are potentially exposed to the possibility of assessments relating to the utilisation of tax losses associated with the funding of EFG.

Potential assessments relate to the 1998 to 2004 income tax years and are estimated to total $CA237 million of primary tax. An additional unquantified amount of penalties and interest charges may also be due, subject to the discretions available to the Commissioner of Taxation.

These tax losses are the subject of an ongoing audit by the ATO and the Commissioner of Taxation is yet to determine whether any additional assessments will be raised.

Foster’s remains confident of the position it has adopted and, should the ATO issue assessments, Foster’s intends to vigorously defend the deduction claims.

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