Softwood Lumber Products Export Charge Act, 2006 (S.C. 2006, c. 13)

Marginal note:Limitation period for assessments

• 53. (1) Subject to subsections (2) to (4), no assessment in respect of any charge or other amount payable by a person under this Act shall be made more than four years after the day on which the person filed the person’s return under section 26.

• Marginal note:Exception — objection or appeal

  (2) A variation of an assessment, or a reassessment, in respect of any charge or other amount payable under this Act by a person may be made at any time if the variation or reassessment is made

  • (a) to give effect to a decision on an objection or appeal; or

  • (b) with the written consent of an appellant to dispose of an appeal.

• Marginal note:Exception — neglect or fraud

  (3) An assessment in respect of any matter may be made at any time if the person to be assessed has, in respect of that matter,

  • (a) made a misrepresentation that is attributable to their neglect, carelessness or wilful default; or

  • (b) committed fraud with respect to a return or an application for a refund filed under this Act.

• Marginal note:Exception — waiver

  (4) An assessment in respect of any matter specified in a waiver filed under subsection (5) may be made at any time within the period specified in the waiver unless the waiver has been revoked under subsection (6), in which case an assessment may be made at any time during the six months that the waiver remains in effect.

• Marginal note:Filing waiver

  (5) Any person may, within the time otherwise limited by subsection (1) for an assessment, waive the application of that subsection by filing with the Minister a waiver in the prescribed form specifying the period for which, and the matter in respect of which, the person waives the application of that subsection.

• Marginal note:Revoking waiver

  (6) Any person who has filed a waiver may revoke it by filing with the Minister a notice of revocation of the waiver in the prescribed form and manner. The waiver remains in effect for six months after the notice is filed.

Marginal note:Objection to assessment

• 54. (1) Any person who has been assessed and who objects to the assessment may, within 90 days after the date of the notice of the assessment, file with the Minister a notice of objection in the prescribed form and manner setting out the reasons for the objection and all relevant facts.

• Marginal note:Issue to be decided

  (2) A notice of objection shall

  • (a) reasonably describe each issue to be decided;

  • (b) specify in respect of each issue the relief sought, expressed as the change in any amount that is relevant for the purposes of the assessment; and

  • (c) provide the facts and reasons relied on by the person in respect of each issue.

• Marginal note:Late compliance

  (3) Despite subsection (2), if a notice of objection does not include the information required under paragraph (2)(b) or (c) in respect of an issue to be decided that is described in the notice, the Minister may, in writing, request the person to provide the information, and that paragraph is deemed to be complied with in respect of the issue if, within 60 days after the request is made, the person submits the information in writing to the Minister.

• Marginal note:Limitation on objections

  (4) Despite subsection (1), if a person has filed a notice of objection to an assessment (in this section referred to as the “earlier assessment”) and the Minister makes a particular assessment under subsection (8) as a result of the notice of objection, unless the earlier assessment was made in accordance with an order of a court vacating, varying or restoring an assessment or referring an assessment back to the Minister for reconsideration and reassessment, the person may object to the particular assessment in respect of an issue

  • (a) only if the person complied with subsection (2) in the notice with respect to that issue; and

  • (b) only with respect to the relief sought in respect of that issue as specified by the person in the notice.

• Marginal note:Application of subsection (4)

  (5) Subsection (4) does not limit the right of the person to object to the particular assessment in respect of an issue that was part of the particular assessment and not part of the earlier assessment.

• Marginal note:Limitation on objections

  (6) Despite subsection (1), no objection may be made by a person in respect of an issue for which the right of objection has been waived in writing by the person.

• Marginal note:Acceptance of objection

  (7) The Minister may accept a notice of objection even if it was not filed in the prescribed form and manner.

• Marginal note:Consideration of objection

  (8) On receipt of a notice of objection, the Minister shall, without delay, reconsider the assessment and vacate or confirm it or make a reassessment.

• Marginal note:Waiving reconsideration

  (9) If, in a notice of objection, a person who wishes to appeal directly to the Tax Court of Canada requests the Minister not to reconsider the assessment objected to, the Minister may confirm the assessment without reconsideration.

• Marginal note:Notice of decision

  (10) After reconsidering an assessment under subsection (8) or confirming an assessment under subsection (9), the Minister shall notify the person objecting to the assessment of the Minister’s decision by mail.