Maddin: Failure To Inquire Leaves Director Liable

In Maddin v. The Queen (2014 TCC 277), the taxpayer was a director of a corporation in the marble and granite industry (the "Corporation") which failed to remit nearly $300,000 of source deductions related to salaries, wages and other remuneration paid to employees. The sole issue before the Tax Court was whether the taxpayer could make out a due diligence defence under subsection 227.1(3) of the Income Tax Act (Canada).

For earlier blog posts on directors' liability see our blog posts here and here.

The evidence established that the taxpayer intended to play a limited advisory role in the Corporation. Mr. Barker, another director, was in charge of managing the daily operations of the Corporation. However, the Tax Court also noted the following additional facts: