Functional currency

A corporation resident in Canada throughout the tax year can elect to report in a functional currency. A functional currency is the currency of a country other than Canada that is both:

• the primary currency in which the corporation keeps its records and books of account for financial reporting purposes for the tax year
• a qualifying currency (currently, the British pound, the Euro, the Australian dollar, the U.S. dollar and the Japanese yen)

You can elect to report in a functional currency if you meet all the following conditions:

• the corporation is not an investment corporation, a mortgage investment corporation, or a mutual fund corporation
• there is a functional currency for the first tax year to which the election, Form T1296, applies
• you have not filed or revoked a previous election to report in a functional currency
• you file the election on time

The election to report in a functional currency must be filed within the first 61 days of the tax year to which the election applies.

For more information, see section 261 of the Income Tax Act and Income Tax Folio S5-F4-C1, Income Tax Reporting Currency.

For all questions pertaining to the results of a functional currency assessment or for general questions related to filing an election or functional currency return, contact Business Enquiries at 1-800-959-5525. Please tell us that your question pertains to functional currency so that we may address your question accurately.

Forms and publications

• Form T1296, Election, or Revocation of an Election, to Report in a Functional Currency
• Income Tax Folio S5-F4-C1, Income Tax Reporting Currency