How to calculate the deduction for Capital Cost Allowance (CCA)

The CCA you can claim depends on the type of property you own and the date you acquired it.

You group the depreciable property you own into CRA classes of depreciable property. For an explanation of the most common classes of property, see Classes of depreciable property. A specific rate of CCA generally applies to each class. For a list of most classes and their rates, see CCA classes.

Base your CCA claim on your fiscal period ending in the current tax year and not the calendar year.

There are a few things you should know about CCA, such as the difference between a current and capital expense, the declining balance method, and the impact on the CCA of a fiscal period. For more information, see Basic information about CCA .

To help calculate your current tax year deduction for CCA, and any recaptured CCA, as well as terminal losses, use:

• Form T2125, Statement of Business or Professional Activities Part 11, and
• Guide T4002, Business and Professional Income.

You may have acquired or disposed of buildings or equipment during the fiscal period. If so, see parts 12,13,14 or 15, whichever applies, before completing Part 11 on Form T2125.

To calculate your CCA claim, you will need to know the meaning of:

• Available for use
• Capital cost
• Depreciable property
• Fair market value (FMV)
• Non-arm's length transaction
• Proceeds of disposition
• Undepreciated capital cost (UCC)

Available for use

You can usually claim capital cost allowance on a property only when it becomes available for use.

Property other than a building usually becomes available for use on the earlier of:

• the date you first use it to earn income;
• the second tax year after the year you acquire the property;
• the time just before you dispose of the property; or
• the time the property is delivered or made available to you and is capable of producing a saleable product or service.

A building or part of a building usually becomes available for use on the earlier of:

• the date you start using 90% or more of the building in your business;
• the second tax year after the year you acquire the building; or
• the time just before you dispose of the building.

A building that you are constructing, renovating, or altering usually becomes available for use on the earlier of:

• the date you complete the construction, renovation, or alteration;
• the date you start using 90% or more of the building in your business;
• the second tax year after the year you acquire the building; or
• the time just before you dispose of the building.

Capital cost

This is the amount on which you first claim capital cost allowance. The capital cost of a property is usually the total of:

• the purchase price (not including the cost of land, which is not depreciable);
• the part of your legal, accounting, engineering, installation, and other fees that relates to buying or constructing the property (not including the part that applies to land);
• the cost of any additions or improvements you made to the property after you acquired it, if you did not claim these costs as a current expense (such as modifications to accommodate persons with disabilities); and
• for a building, soft costs (such as interest, legal and accounting fees, and property taxes) related to the period you are constructing, renovating, or altering the building, if these expenses have not been deducted as current expenses.

Proceeds of disposition

The proceeds of disposition are usually the amount you receive or will receive for your property. This could include compensation you receive for property that has been destroyed, expropriated or stolen.

Special rules may apply if you dispose of a building for less than both its undepreciated capital cost and for less than your capital cost. If this is the case, see special rules for Disposing of a building in the year.

Forms and publications

• Guide T4002, Business and Professional Income
• Form T2125, Statement of Business or Professional Activities
• Folio-S3-F4-C1, General Discussion of Capital Cost Allowance

Related topics

• CCA classes
• Classes of depreciable property
• Basic information about CCA

Date modified:

2017-01-03