Line 252 - Non-capital losses of other years

Generally, a non-capital loss for a particular year includes any loss incurred from employment, property or a business. If your allowable business investment loss (ABIL) realized in the particular year is more than your other sources of income for the year, include the difference as part of your non-capital loss.

You could have carried a non-capital loss arising in a tax year ending prior to March 23, 2004, back three years and forward seven years. You can carry a non-capital loss arising in a tax year ending after March 22, 2004 through December 31, 2005, back 3 years and forward 10 years.

You can generally carry a non-capital loss arising in tax years ending after 2005, back 3 years and forward 20 years. However, this extension does not apply to a non-capital loss resulting from an ABIL. Instead, a non-capital loss resulting from an ABIL arising in tax years ending after March 22, 2004, that has not been used within 10 tax years will continue to become a net capital loss in the eleventh year. Furthermore, a non-capital loss resulting from an ABIL arising in tax years ending prior to March 23, 2004, that was not used within seven tax years became a net capital loss in the eighth year.

To carry a non-capital loss back to 2013, 2014, or 2015, complete Form T1A, Request for Loss Carryback, and include it with your 2016 income tax and benefit return (or send it separately). Do not file an amended return for the year to which you want to apply the loss.

If you could not deduct your ABIL as a non-capital loss within the allowed time frame, the unapplied part becomes a net capital loss that can be used to reduce your taxable capital gains in any future year.

You can reduce your taxable income by deducting any unapplied non-capital losses you reported on your returns for the last 7 years or any unapplied farming or fishing losses for the last 10 years.

There are restrictions on the amount of certain farm and/or fishing losses that you can deduct each year. If you have a farming business, get Guide T4003, Farming Income. If you have a fishing business, get Guide T4004, Fishing Income.

Your available losses are usually shown on your notice of assessment or notice of reassessment for the previous years.

You can also contact us to find out if you have any available losses.

Completing your tax return

On line 252, claim the amount of allowable non-capital losses of other years.

Forms and publications

• Form T1A, Request for Loss Carryback
• Guide T4003, Farming Income
• RC4060, Farming Income and the AgriStability and AgriInvest Programs Guide
• RC4408, Farming Income and the AgriStability and AgriInvest Programs Harmonized Guide
• Guide T4004, Fishing Income
• IT232R3 Losses - Their Deductibility in the Loss Year or in Other Years

Related topics

• Capital losses and deductions
• Line 135 to 143 - Self-employment income
• Lines 217 and 228 - Business investment loss

Date modified:

2017-01-03