Tax court rules Guy Laliberte’s 2009 space trip was a taxable benefit
MONTREAL — The Tax Court of Canada has ruled that a trip to outer space by billionaire Quebec businessman Guy Laliberte in 2009 was a taxable benefit.
At issue was a $41.8-million price tag for a trip the Cirque du Soleil’s founder had been reimbursed for as a business expense.
The Canada Revenue Agency challenged that and Tax Court Justice Patrick Boyle wrote in a ruling Wednesday he believes a large portion of the travel cost to the International Space Station was indeed a taxable benefit.
“I find that the motivating, essential and overwhelmingly primary purpose of the travel was personal,” Boyle wrote.