Can gift cards for kids for snow removal be written off for a income property?

by Tom Dunn on May 8, 2006

income property
purplelurcher asked:


Canadian answer please. For example – I give them gift cards for DVD rentals. I am repsonsible for removing the snow of my rental income properties.
SO does that mean that the following is incorrect?…..Yes, it would probably be considered an advertising or goodwill expense.

You should try to have some sort of record on what you gave to whom, just in case they ask. If you can also show purchase of gift baskets, for instance, that would help.

Micheal

{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }

kelly l May 11, 2006 at 11:45 am

no they cannot be written off on income tax because gift cards are exactly what they are GIFTS duh duh duh thats all folks

CHARLES R May 13, 2006 at 8:29 pm

Ok so you’re having the kids shovel the snow and paying them in gift cards? That’s akin to paying them in merchandise. You could write off the gift card. I’m just unsure if you write it off at cost or retail value. I’m thinking cost.

T E May 14, 2006 at 5:56 am

Yes, you can write off the gift cards for dvd rentals given to the kids, because the expense was incurred to earn rental income. This type of expense may also include a very expensive bottle of wine that you give to the neighbor for helping you to clear the snow occasionally for your rental property with his snow blower. However, you may wish to write down the names and addresses of the recipients, just in case the CRA questions the specific nature of the expense claim (i.e., DVD rental and bottle of wine) and wonder if you actually use them yourself.

I would not label the expense as advertising, as snow removal is a maintenance expense for the rental property.