Celebrating the Centennial of Income War Tax Act, 1917: The Future by the Light of 100 Candles
Income Tax at 100th Years: Essays and Reflections on the Income War Tax Act, Canadian Tax Foundation, 2017, ISBN: 978-0-88808-298-5
13 Pages Posted: 30 Mar 2018
Date Written: October 1, 2017
Abstract
This paper pays homage to the Canadian Income War Tax Act, 1917. It is the overview chapter of a monograph titled Income Tax at 100th Years: Essays and Reflections on the Income War Tax Act. It explains why the “birthday” of a statute is worth celebrating: it is a living memoir of nationhood; it embodies enduring Canadian values (fairness and inclusiveness); and, among others, it is an indispensable part of the Canadian democratic process. The paper also reviews the evolution of the law, policy and principles and highlights the fact that tax law is accessory to general law and tax expenditures are collective consumption by the national family. It emphasizes the importance of politics, tax professionals and processes in making the tax system work. It concludes by saying that the centennial anniversary of the IWTA gave us an opportunity to examine ourselves as Canadians.
Keywords: Centennial of Canadian income tax; Income Tax War Act; Conscription of Wealth; equity and fairness
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