Re: Canada Energy Partners Inc. passive foreign investment
posted on
Jul 03, 2008 06:53AM
(Edit this message through the "fast facts" section)
can anyone advise why Canada Energy partners would/must elect to be classified as a passive company....per their investor notice....is it an option they make....the government assigns...their size?
Special U.S. Federal Income Tax Election is Available Regarding Your Investment in
Canada Energy Partners Inc.
Shareholders who are U.S. taxpayers should be aware that Canada Energy Partners Inc.
(“Canada Energy”) believes that it was a PFIC in its fiscal year ended April 30, 2007 and
based on current business plans and financial projections, expects to be a passive foreign
investment company (“PFIC”) for its current fiscal year ending April 30, 2008, and
expects that it may also be a PFIC in subsequent years.
The attached PFIC Annual Information Statement is being provided to you pursuant to
Treasury Regulations Section 1.1295-1(g)(1). This PFIC Annual Information Statement
contains information to enable you, should you choose, to elect to treat Canada Energy as
qualified electing fund (“QEF”)
.
A U.S. shareholder does not have to make this election
for shares held in his or her retirement account. A U.S. shareholder who makes a QEF election is required to annually include in his or her income his or her pro rata share of the ordinary earnings and net capital gains of Canada Energy, whether or not Canada Energy distributes any amounts to its shareholders. Canada Energy did not have ordinary earnings or net capital gains for its taxable year ended April 30, 2007 and based on current business plans and financial projections, believes that it will not have ordinary earnings or net capital gains in any future years in which it may be a PFIC. If you do not elect to treat Canada Energy as a QEF, then if Canada Energy is a PFIC for any year during your holding period, then you would be subject to the PFIC rules, which could result in adverse tax consequences to you. For example, if you were to receive a socalled “excess distribution” or if you sell your Canada Energy stock in the future at a gain, you could be required to allocate such distribution or gain, as the case may be, ratably over the time period during which you held your stock while Canada Energy was a PFIC, and pay tax at the highest rate (rather than, if otherwise applicable, the long-term capital gain rate) on ordinary income in effect for each year to which the gain is allocated plus interest on the tax. The QEF election is made by completing and attaching Form 8621 to a U.S. federal income tax return filed by the due date of the return, as extended.
We strongly urge you to consult your own tax advisor for advice concerning the
application of the U.S. federal income tax rules governing PFICs and whether it is
advisable for you to make a QEF election or other election under the PFIC rules.