Excise Act, 2001 (S.C. 2002, c. 22)

Collection

Marginal note:Debts to Her Majesty

• 284. (1) Any duty, interest or other amount payable under this Act is a debt due to Her Majesty and is recoverable in the Federal Court or any other court of competent jurisdiction or in any other manner provided under this Act.

• Marginal note:Limitation

  (2) No proceedings for the recovery of an amount of duty, interest or other amount payable by a person under this Act shall be commenced in a court

  • (a) in the case of an amount that may be assessed under this Act, unless at the time the action is commenced the person has been or may be assessed for that amount; and

  • (b) in any other case, more than four years after the person became liable to pay the amount.

• Marginal note:Interest on judgments

  (3) If a judgment is obtained for any duty, interest or other amount payable under this Act, including a certificate registered under section 288, the provisions of this Act by which interest is payable for failure to pay an amount apply, with any modifications that the circumstances require, to the failure to pay the judgment debt, and the interest is recoverable in like manner as the judgment debt.

• Marginal note:Litigation costs

  (4) If an amount is payable by a person to Her Majesty because of an order, judgment or award of a court in respect of the costs of litigation relating to a matter to which this Act applies, sections 285 and 288 to 294 apply to the amount as if the amount were owing by the person on account of duty payable by the person under this Act.

Marginal note:Security

• 285. (1) The Minister may, if the Minister considers it advisable, accept security in an amount and a form satisfactory to the Minister for payment of any amount that is or may become payable under this Act.

• Marginal note:Surrender of excess security

  (2) If a person who has furnished security, or on whose behalf security has been furnished, under this section requests in writing that the Minister surrender the security or any part of it, the Minister must surrender the security to the extent that its value exceeds the amount, at the time the request is received by the Minister, of any duty, interest or other amount for the payment of which it was furnished.

Marginal note:Collection restrictions

• 286. (1) If a person is liable for the payment of an amount under this Act, the Minister shall not, for the purpose of collecting the amount, take any of the following actions until the end of 90 days after the date of a notice of assessment under this Act or a notice of penalty under section 254 is issued in respect of the amount:

  • (a) commence legal proceedings in a court;

  • (b) certify the amount under section 288;

  • (c) require a person to make a payment under subsection 289(1);

  • (d) require an institution or a person to make a payment under subsection 289(2);

  • (e) require the retention of the amount by way of deduction or set-off under section 290;

  • (f) require a person to turn over moneys under subsection 292(1); or

  • (g) give a notice, issue a certificate or make a direction under subsection 293(1).

• Marginal note:No action after service of notice of objection

  (2) If a person has served a notice of objection under this Act to an assessment of an amount payable under this Act, the Minister shall not, for the purpose of collecting the amount in controversy, take any of the actions described in subsection (1) until the end of 90 days after the date of the notice to the person that the Minister has confirmed or varied the assessment.

• Marginal note:No action after request for decision

  (3) If a person has requested a decision of the Minister under section 271 in respect of a penalty imposed under section 254, the Minister shall not, for the purpose of collecting the penalty, take any of the actions described in subsection (1) until the end of 90 days after the date of the decision.

• Marginal note:No action after making appeal to Tax Court

  (4) If a person has appealed to the Tax Court from an assessment of an amount payable under this Act, the Minister shall not, for the purpose of collecting the amount in controversy, take any of the actions described in subsection (1) before the day on which a copy of the decision of the Court is mailed to the person or the day on which the person discontinues the appeal, whichever is the earlier.

• Marginal note:No action after making appeal to Federal Court

  (5) If a person has appealed to the Federal Court from a decision of the Minister under section 273 in respect of a penalty imposed under section 254, the Minister shall not, for the purpose of collecting the penalty, take any of the actions described in subsection (1) before the day on which a copy of the decision of the Court is mailed to the person or the day on which the person discontinues the appeal, whichever is the earlier.

• Marginal note:No action pending determination by court

  (6) If a person has agreed under subsection 204(1) that a question should be determined by the Tax Court, or if a person is served with a copy of an application made under subsection 205(1) to that Court for the determination of a question, the Minister shall not take any of the actions described in subsection (1) for the purpose of collecting that part of an amount assessed, the liability for payment of which will be affected by the determination of the question, before the day on which the question is determined by the Court.

• Marginal note:Action after judgment

  (7) Despite any other provision in this section, if a person has served a notice of objection under this Act to an assessment or has appealed to the Tax Court from an assessment and agrees in writing with the Minister to delay proceedings on the objection or appeal, as the case may be, until judgment has been given in another action before the Tax Court, the Federal Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court of Canada in which the issue is the same or substantially the same as that raised in the objection or appeal of the person, the Minister may take any of the actions described in subsection (1) for the purpose of collecting the amount assessed, or a part of it, determined in a manner consistent with the judgment of the Court in the other action at any time after the Minister notifies the person in writing that the judgment has been given by the Court in the other action.

• Marginal note:No restriction on collection of large amounts

  (8) Despite subsections (1) to (7), if, at any time, the total of all amounts that a person has been assessed under this Act and that remain unpaid exceeds $1,000,000, the Minister may collect up to 50% of the total.

Marginal note:Authorization to proceed without delay

• 287. (1) Despite section 286, if, on ex parte application by the Minister, a judge is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the collection of all or any part of an amount assessed in respect of a person would be jeopardized by a delay in the collection of the amount, the judge shall, on such terms as the judge considers reasonable in the circumstances, authorize the Minister to take without delay any of the actions described in subsection 286(1) with respect to the amount.

• Marginal note:Notice of assessment not sent

  (2) An authorization under subsection (1) in respect of an amount assessed may be granted by a judge even though a notice of assessment in respect of that amount has not been sent to the person at or before the time the application is made if the judge is satisfied that the receipt of the notice of assessment by the person would likely further jeopardize the collection of the amount, and for the purposes of sections 284, 288 to 290, 292 and 293, the amount in respect of which an authorization is so granted is deemed to be an amount payable under this Act.

• Marginal note:Affidavits

  (3) Statements contained in an affidavit of a person filed in the context of an application under this section may be based on the belief of the person.

• Marginal note:Service of authorization and of notice of assessment

  (4) An authorization granted under this section in respect of a person shall be served by the Minister on the person within 72 hours after it is granted unless the judge orders the authorization to be served at some other time specified in the authorization. If a notice of assessment has not been sent to the person at or before the time of the application, the notice of assessment shall be served together with the authorization.

• Marginal note:How service effected

  (5) For the purposes of subsection (4), service on a person shall be effected by

  • (a) personal service on the person; or

  • (b) service in accordance with the directions, if any, of a judge.

• Marginal note:Application to judge for direction

  (6) If service on a person cannot reasonably be effected as and when required under this section, the Minister may, as soon as practicable, apply to a judge for further direction.

• Marginal note:Review of authorization

  (7) If a judge of a court has granted an authorization under this section in respect of a person, the person may, on six clear days notice to the Deputy Attorney General of Canada, apply to a judge of the court to review the authorization.

• Marginal note:Limitation period for review application

  (8) An application under subsection (7) shall be made

  • (a) within 30 days after the authorization was served on the person in accordance with this section; or

  • (b) within such further time as a judge may allow, on being satisfied that the application was made as soon as practicable.

• Marginal note:Hearing in camera

  (9) An application under subsection (7) may, on the application of the person, be heard in camera, if the person establishes to the satisfaction of the judge that the circumstances of the case justify in camera proceedings.

• Marginal note:Disposition of application

  (10) On an application under subsection (7), the judge shall determine the question summarily and may confirm, set aside or vary the authorization and make any other order the judge considers appropriate.

• Marginal note:Directions

  (11) If any question arises as to the course to be followed in connection with anything done or being done under this section and there is no direction in this section with respect to it, a judge may give any direction the judge considers appropriate.

• Marginal note:No appeal from review order

  (12) No appeal lies from an order of a judge made under subsection (10).

Marginal note:Certificates

• 288. (1) Any duty, interest or other amount payable by a person (in this section referred to as the “debtor”) under this Act, or any part of the duty, interest or amount, that has not been paid as and when required under this Act may be certified by the Minister as an amount payable by the debtor.

• Marginal note:Registration in court

  (2) On production to the Federal Court, a certificate in respect of a debtor shall be registered in the Court and when so registered has the same effect, and all proceedings may be taken on the certificate, as if it were a judgment obtained in the Court against the debtor for a debt in the amount certified plus interest on the amount as provided under this Act to the day of payment and, for the purposes of those proceedings, the certificate is deemed to be a judgment of the Court against the debtor for a debt due to Her Majesty and enforceable as such.

• Marginal note:Costs

  (3) All reasonable costs and charges incurred or paid for the registration in the Court of a certificate or in respect of any proceedings taken to collect the amount certified are recoverable in like manner as if they had been included in the amount certified in the certificate when it was registered.

• Marginal note:Charge on property

  (4) A document issued by the Federal Court evidencing a registered certificate in respect of a debtor, a writ of that Court issued pursuant to the certificate or any notification of the document or writ (such document, writ or notification in this section referred to as a “memorial”) may be filed, registered or otherwise recorded for the purpose of creating a charge, lien or priority on, or a binding interest in, property in a province, or any interest in such property, held by the debtor, in the same manner as a document evidencing

  • (a) a judgment of the superior court of the province against a person for a debt owing by the person, or

  • (b) an amount payable or required to be remitted by a person in the province in respect of a debt owing to Her Majesty in right of the province

  may be filed, registered or otherwise recorded in accordance with the law of the province to create a charge, lien or priority on, or a binding interest in, the property or interest.

• Marginal note:Creation of charge

  (5) If a memorial has been filed, registered or otherwise recorded under subsection (4),

  • (a) a charge, lien or priority is created on, or a binding interest is created in, property in the province, or any interest in such property, held by the debtor, or

  • (b) such property or interest in the property is otherwise bound,

  in the same manner and to the same extent as if the memorial were a document evidencing a judgment referred to in paragraph (4)(a) or an amount referred to in paragraph (4)(b), and the charge, lien, priority or binding interest created shall be subordinate to any charge, lien, priority or binding interest in respect of which all steps necessary to make it effective against other creditors were taken before the time the memorial was filed, registered or otherwise recorded.

• Marginal note:Proceedings in respect of memorial

  (6) If a memorial is filed, registered or otherwise recorded in a province under subsection (4), proceedings may be taken in the province in respect of the memorial, including proceedings

  • (a) to enforce payment of the amount evidenced by the memorial, interest on the amount and all costs and charges paid or incurred in respect of

    • (i) the filing, registration or other recording of the memorial, and

    • (ii) proceedings taken to collect the amount,

  • (b) to renew or otherwise prolong the effectiveness of the filing, registration or other recording of the memorial,

  • (c) to cancel or withdraw the memorial wholly or in respect of any of the property or interests affected by the memorial, or

  • (d) to postpone the effectiveness of the filing, registration or other recording of the memorial in favour of any right, charge, lien or priority that has been or is intended to be filed, registered or otherwise recorded in respect of any property or interest affected by the memorial,

  in the same manner and to the same extent as if the memorial were a document evidencing a judgment referred to in paragraph (4)(a) or an amount referred to in paragraph (4)(b), except that, if in any such proceeding or as a condition precedent to any such proceeding, any order, consent or ruling is required under the law of the province to be made or given by the superior court of the province or by a judge or official of the court, a like order, consent or ruling may be made or given by the Federal Court or by a judge or official of the Federal Court and, when so made or given, has the same effect for the purposes of the proceeding as if it were made or given by the superior court of the province or by a judge or official of the court.

• Marginal note:Presentation of documents

  (7) If

  • (a) a memorial is presented for filing, registration or other recording under subsection (4), or a document relating to the memorial is presented for filing, registration or other recording for the purpose of any proceeding described in subsection (6), to any official of a property registry system of a province, or

  • (b) access is sought to any person, place or thing in a province to make the filing, registration or other recording,

  the memorial or document shall be accepted for filing, registration or other recording or the access shall be granted, as the case may be, in the same manner and to the same extent as if the memorial or document relating to the memorial were a document evidencing a judgment referred to in paragraph (4)(a) or an amount referred to in paragraph (4)(b) for the purpose of a like proceeding, except that, if the memorial or document is issued by the Federal Court or signed or certified by a judge or official of the Court, any affidavit, declaration or other evidence required under the law of the province to be provided with or to accompany the memorial or document in the proceedings is deemed to have been provided with or to have accompanied the memorial or document as so required.

• Marginal note:Sale, etc.

  (8) Despite any law of Canada or of a province, a sheriff or other person shall not, without the written consent of the Minister, sell or otherwise dispose of any property or publish any notice or otherwise advertise in respect of any sale or other disposition of any property pursuant to any process issued or charge, lien, priority or binding interest created in any proceeding to collect an amount certified in a certificate made under subsection (1), interest on the amount or costs, but if that consent is subsequently given, any property that would have been affected by such a process, charge, lien, priority or binding interest if the Minister’s consent had been given at the time the process was issued or the charge, lien, priority or binding interest was created, as the case may be, shall be bound, seized, attached, charged or otherwise affected as it would be if that consent had been given at the time the process was issued or the charge, lien, priority or binding interest was created, as the case may be.

• Marginal note:Completion of notices, etc.

  (9) If information required to be set out by any sheriff or other person in a minute, notice or document required to be completed for any purpose cannot, because of subsection (8), be so set out without the written consent of the Minister, the sheriff or other person shall complete the minute, notice or document to the extent possible without that information and, when that consent of the Minister is given, a further minute, notice or document setting out all the information shall be completed for the same purpose, and the sheriff or other person, having complied with this subsection, is deemed to have complied with the Act, regulation or rule requiring the information to be set out in the minute, notice or document.

• Marginal note:Application for an order

  (10) A sheriff or other person who is unable, because of subsection (8) or (9), to comply with any law or rule of court is bound by any order made by a judge of the Federal Court, on an ex parte application by the Minister, for the purpose of giving effect to the proceeding, charge, lien, priority or binding interest.

• Marginal note:Deemed security

  (11) If a charge, lien, priority or binding interest created under subsection (5) by filing, registering or otherwise recording a memorial under subsection (4) is registered in accordance with subsection 87(1) of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, it is deemed

  • (a) to be a claim that is secured by a security and that, subject to subsection 87(2) of that Act, ranks as a secured claim under that Act; and

  • (b) to also be a claim referred to in paragraph 86(2)(a) of that Act.

• Marginal note:Details in certificates and memorials

  (12) Despite any law of Canada or of the legislature of a province, in any certificate in respect of a debtor, any memorial evidencing a certificate or any writ or document issued for the purpose of collecting an amount certified, it is sufficient for all purposes

  • (a) to set out, as the amount payable by the debtor, the total of amounts payable by the debtor without setting out the separate amounts making up that total; and

  • (b) to refer to the rate of interest to be charged on the separate amounts making up the amount payable in general terms as interest at the prescribed rate under this Act applicable from time to time on amounts payable to the Receiver General, without indicating the specific rates of interest to be charged on each of the separate amounts or to be charged for any period.