Reimbursement of expenses not taxable where no service exists; GST requires an identifiable supply beyond cost-sharing.
Pure cost-to-cost recoveries supported by third-party invoices and without any markup do not constitute taxable receipts because no service is rendered by the recipient. Under GST, taxability requires a supply-the presence of a service or good; mere inter-entity cost-sharing where a paying entity acts as a pass-through for third-party services should not attract GST if invoices match amounts and no profit element exists. Contracts and documentation should therefore establish the absence of a service element to resist tax claims. (AI Summary)
Pure cost-to-cost recoveries supported by third-party invoices and without any markup do not constitute taxable receipts because no service is rendered by the recipient. Under GST, taxability requires a supply-the presence of a service or good; mere inter-entity cost-sharing where a paying entity acts as a pass-through for third-party services should not attract GST if invoices match amounts and no profit element exists. Contracts and documentation should therefore establish the absence of a service element to resist tax claims. (AI Summary)
TaxTMI 
