Superficial loss
A superficial loss can occur when you dispose of capital property for a loss and both of the following conditions are met:
- You, or a person affiliated with you, buys, or has a right to buy, the same or identical property (called "substituted property") during the period starting 30 calendar days before the sale and ending 30 calendar days after the sale
- You, or a person affiliated with you, still owns, or has a right to buy, the substituted property 30 calendar days after the sale
Examples of affiliated persons
Some examples of affiliated persons are:
- you and your spouse or common-law partner
- you and a corporation that is controlled by you or your spouse or common-law partner
- a partnership and a majority-interest partner of the partnership
- a trust and its majority interest beneficiary (generally, a beneficiary who enjoys a majority of the trust income or capital) or one who is affiliated with such a beneficiary
If you have a superficial loss in 2023, you cannot deduct it when you calculate your income for the year. However, if you are the person who acquires the substituted property, you can usually add the amount of the superficial loss to the adjusted cost base of the substituted property. This will either decrease your capital gain or increase your capital loss when you sell the substituted property.
In certain situations, when you dispose of capital property, the loss may not be considered a superficial loss.
Non-superficial losses
In certain situations, when you dispose of capital property, the loss may not be considered a superficial loss. Some of the more common situations include the following:
- You are considered to have sold the capital property because you became or ceased to be a resident of Canada.
- You are considered to have sold the property because you changed its use.
- You disposed of the property and within 30 calendar days after the disposition you became or ceased to be exempt from income tax.
- The property is considered to have been sold because the owner died.
- The disposition results from the expiry of an option.
- The property is appropriated by a shareholder on the winding-up of a corporation.
- Non-depreciable capital property is disposed of by a corporation, partnership, or trust. In this situation, although the loss is not added to the adjusted cost base of the transferred property, it is not claimed immediately but its recognition is deferred pending the occurrence of certain events. For more information, call 1-800-959-8281.
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