Western Canadian Livestock Producers Can Defer Tax on Cattle Sales

Livestock producers in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, who faced forage shortfalls due to extreme weather events this last year, will be allowed to defer tax on their cattle sales for 2014, says Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. There is a list of designated regions where tax deferrals have been authorized for 2014 — see it here.

Extreme weather conditions in 2014, which included drought in British Columbia and Alberta, and excess moisture in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, resulted in significant forage shortages for livestock producers across western Canada. As a result, some producers are reducing their breeding herds, according to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

The tax deferral allows eligible producers in designated areas to defer income tax on the sale of their breeding livestock for one year in order to help replenish that stock in the following year. Proceeds from deferred sales are then included as part of the producer’s income in the next tax year, when those proceeds may be at least partially offset by the cost of replacing their breeding animals.

To defer income, the breeding herd must have been reduced by at least 15%. If this is the case, 30% of income from net sales can then be deferred. In cases where the herd has been reduced by more than 30%, 90% of income from net sales can be deferred. Eligible producers can request the tax deferral when filing their 2014 income tax returns.