[Lee@Intuit]

The CRA specifications have mandatory fields which, to my understanding, prescribes that at least one recipient slip is needed to be filed. I suspect that they will need to update the way these submissions are done to reflect the situation you describe. Until then, we are bound by those rules.

The specifications are housed here, if you care to take a look:
http://www.cra-arc.g...10spcs-eng.html

-Lee

[Lee@Intuit]

snowplowguy, on Feb 9 2010, 01:01 PM, said:

Thanks Lee...... I figured it was more likely some type of CRA limitation although I can't find anything in the 6 pages of T5018 specs that indicates there needs to be a minimum of one slip.

I was hoping that possibly it was due to the fact that boxes 80 and 82 are left blank rather than have zero's in them......... thus failing the XML specs of having to be numeric. When I mail any T5018 summaries in that have no slips I have to put the zeros in with a pen.

 <slp_cnt></slp_cnt>
 Total number of T5018 slip records
 - required 7 numeric
 - T5018 Summary, box 80
 - total number of T5018 slip records filed with this T5018 Summary
 <tot_sbctrcr_amt></tot_sbctrcr_amt>
 Total sub-contractor payments
 - required 14 numeric, dollars and cents
 - T5018 Summary, box 82
 - accumulated total of recipients' sub-contractor payments, as reported on the T5018 slip records filed with this T5018 Summary
 <rpt_tcd></rpt_tcd>

You're right. There is no rule spelled-out. I'm having to extrapolate from the fact that in order to validate the file against the schema all mandatory fields must be accounted for. If there is no recipient then we'd be missing a bunch of mandatory fields. In theory, you might be able to put a bunch of blank information in each of these mandatory fields and the file would pass. Judging from the way the specification reads I doubt that they would be pleased with receiving these, though.

Still, it is a great question. One that we will have to put to them and see what they have to say. Perhaps they will voice a preferred way for this to be accomplished. In that case, we would be able to implement a solution.

-Lee

[Tim Parris]

snowplowguy, on Feb 9 2010, 06:00 PM, said:

I could get around it by issuing a single T5018 to the payor firm itself for lets say $1.00 but it seems kind of cheesy.

I feel that if they request that a firm engaged in construction file a T5018 summary irregardless of whether they actually employed any subcontract labour they should have a way to accept these returns. I do know that the CRA asks for them even if there is nothing to report, as I have been called on more than one occasion to submit the blank information return.


Once again, not a big deal (I can mail these ones) but thanks for looking into it.

I can see a problem with that. We have a few firms which are inactive but are holding open in case the owner recovers from their illness. They have no income so can not hide the $1 in income or expenses.

I think that the CRA has to revise their specs. (Mind you, I know that their systems also can't handle a return without any slips. They work around this by making a diary log of the fact a NIL T5018/T5/etc. return was filed.)

[TaxPeron]

You can create 1 empty slip in the T5018 xml return. This file should pass CRA schema validation.

To create the empty slip you just need to fill:

* sin > social insurance number > set to 000000000
* rcpnt_bn > Recipient Account Number > set to 000000000RT0000
* rcpnt_tcd > Recipient type code > set to 1 - individual
* bn > Your Account Number > set to your business number
* rpt_tcd > Report Type Code > set to O - Original

Thats all you need.

[Tim Parris]

But then you will get an automated follow-up from them asking for the correct account number, name and mailing address. Better to mail a paper NIL return.

[TaxPeron]

TaxPeron, on 26 February 2010 - 11:25 PM, said:

You can create 1 empty slip in the T5018 xml return. This file should pass CRA schema validation.

To create the empty slip you just need to fill:

* sin > social insurance number > set to 000000000
* rcpnt_bn > Recipient Account Number > set to 000000000RT0000
* rcpnt_tcd > Recipient type code > set to 1 - individual
* bn > Your Account Number > set to your business number
* rpt_tcd > Report Type Code > set to O - Original

Thats all you need.

Just Found a way to Efile T5018 slips
http://www.eyecode.ca/T5018.html