Marginal note:Non-arm’s length sale of shares
84.1 (1) Where after May 22, 1985 a taxpayer resident in Canada (other than a corporation) disposes of shares that are capital property of the taxpayer (in this section referred to as the “subject shares”) of any class of the capital stock of a corporation resident in Canada (in this section referred to as the “subject corporation”) to another corporation (in this section referred to as the “purchaser corporation”) with which the taxpayer does not deal at arm’s length and, immediately after the disposition, the subject corporation would be connected (within the meaning assigned by subsection 186(4) if the references therein to “payer corporation” and to “particular corporation” were read as “subject corporation” and “purchaser corporation” respectively) with the purchaser corporation,
(a) where shares (in this section referred to as the “new shares”) of the purchaser corporation have been issued as consideration for the subject shares, in computing the paid-up capital, at any particular time after the issue of the new shares, in respect of any particular class of shares of the capital stock of the purchaser corporation, there shall be deducted an amount determined by the formula
(A - B) × C/A
where
- A
- is the increase, if any, determined without reference to this section as it applies to the acquisition of the subject shares, in the paid-up capital in respect of all shares of the capital stock of the purchaser corporation as a result of the issue of the new shares,
- B
- is the amount, if any, by which the greater of
(i) the paid-up capital, immediately before the disposition, in respect of the subject shares, and
(ii) subject to paragraphs 84.1(2)(a) and 84.1(2)(a.1), the adjusted cost base to the taxpayer, immediately before the disposition, of the subject shares,
exceeds the fair market value, immediately after the disposition, of any consideration (other than the new shares) received by the taxpayer from the purchaser corporation for the subject shares, and
- C
- is the increase, if any, determined without reference to this section as it applies to the acquisition of the subject shares, in the paid-up capital in respect of the particular class of shares as a result of the issue of the new shares; and
(b) for the purposes of this Act, a dividend shall be deemed to be paid to the taxpayer by the purchaser corporation and received by the taxpayer from the purchaser corporation at the time of the disposition in an amount determined by the formula
(A + D) - (E + F)
where
- A
- is the increase, if any, determined without reference to this section as it applies to the acquisition of the subject shares, in the paid-up capital in respect of all shares of the capital stock of the purchaser corporation as a result of the issue of the new shares,
- D
- is the fair market value, immediately after the disposition, of any consideration (other than the new shares) received by the taxpayer from the purchaser corporation for the subject shares,
- E
- is the greater of
(i) the paid-up capital, immediately before the disposition, in respect of the subject shares, and
(ii) subject to paragraphs 84.1(2)(a) and 84.1(2)(a.1), the adjusted cost base to the taxpayer, immediately before the disposition, of the subject shares, and
- F
- is the total of all amounts each of which is an amount required to be deducted by the purchaser corporation under paragraph 84.1(1)(a) in computing the paid-up capital in respect of any class of shares of its capital stock by virtue of the acquisition of the subject shares.
Marginal note:Idem
(2) For the purposes of this section,
(a) where a share disposed of by a taxpayer was acquired by the taxpayer before 1972, the adjusted cost base to the taxpayer of the share at any time shall be deemed to be the total of
(i) the amount that would be its adjusted cost base to the taxpayer if the Income Tax Application Rules were read without reference to subsections 26(3) and (7) of that Act, and
(ii) the total of all amounts each of which is an amount received by the taxpayer after 1971 and before that time as a dividend on the share and in respect of which the corporation that paid the dividend has made an election under subsection 83(1);
(a.1) where a share disposed of by a taxpayer was acquired by the taxpayer after 1971 from a person with whom the taxpayer was not dealing at arm’s length, was a share substituted for such a share or was a share substituted for a share owned by the taxpayer at the end of 1971, the adjusted cost base to the taxpayer of the share at any time shall be deemed to be the amount, if any, by which its adjusted cost base to the taxpayer, otherwise determined, exceeds the total of
(i) where the share or a share for which the share was substituted was owned at the end of 1971 by the taxpayer or a person with whom the taxpayer did not deal at arm’s length, the amount in respect of that share equal to the amount, if any, by which
(A) the fair market value of the share or the share for which it was substituted, as the case may be, on valuation day (within the meaning assigned by section 24 of the Income Tax Application Rules)
exceeds the total of
(B) the actual cost (within the meaning assigned by subsection 26(13) of that Act) of the share or the share for which it was substituted, as the case may be, on January 1, 1972, to the taxpayer or the person with whom the taxpayer did not deal at arm’s length, and
(C) the total of all amounts each of which is an amount received by the taxpayer or the person with whom the taxpayer did not deal at arm’s length after 1971 and before that time as a dividend on the share or the share for which it was substituted and in respect of which the corporation that paid the dividend has made an election under subsection 83(1), and
(ii) the total of all amounts each of which is an amount determined after 1984 under subparagraph 40(1)(a)(i) in respect of a previous disposition of the share or a share for which the share was substituted (or such lesser amount as is established by the taxpayer to be the amount in respect of which a deduction under section 110.6 was claimed) by the taxpayer or an individual with whom the taxpayer did not deal at arm’s length;
(a.2) [Repealed, 1998, c. 19, s. 115(1)]
(b) in respect of any disposition described in subsection 84.1(1) by a taxpayer of shares of the capital stock of a subject corporation to a purchaser corporation, the taxpayer shall, for greater certainty, be deemed not to deal at arm’s length with the purchaser corporation if the taxpayer
(i) was, immediately before the disposition, one of a group of fewer than 6 persons that controlled the subject corporation, and
(ii) was, immediately after the disposition, one of a group of fewer than 6 persons that controlled the purchaser corporation, each member of which was a member of the group referred to in subparagraph 84.1(2)(b)(i);
(c) [Repealed, 1998, c. 19, s. 115(2)]
(d) a trust and a beneficiary of the trust or a person related to a beneficiary of the trust shall be deemed not to deal with each other at arm’s length; and
(e) notwithstanding any other paragraph in this subsection, if this paragraph applies because of subsection (2.31) or (2.32) to a disposition of subject shares by a taxpayer to a purchaser corporation, the taxpayer and the purchaser corporation are deemed to deal with each other at arm’s length at the time of the disposition of the subject shares.
Marginal note:Rules for par. 84.1(2)(a.1)
(2.01) For the purpose of paragraph 84.1(2)(a.1),
(a) where at any time a corporation issues a share of its capital stock to a taxpayer, the taxpayer and the corporation are deemed not to be dealing with each other at arm’s length at that time;
(b) where a taxpayer is deemed by paragraph 110.6(19)(a) to have reacquired a share, the taxpayer is deemed to have acquired the share at the beginning of February 23, 1994 from a person with whom the taxpayer was not dealing at arm’s length; and
(c) where a share owned by a particular person, or a share substituted for that share, has by one or more transactions or events between persons not dealing at arm’s length become vested in another person, the particular person and the other person are deemed at all times not to be dealing at arm’s length with each other whether or not the particular person and the other person coexisted.
Marginal note:Idem
(2.1) For the purposes of subparagraph 84.1(2)(a.1)(ii), where the taxpayer or an individual with whom the taxpayer did not deal at arm’s length (in this subsection referred to as the “transferor”) disposes of a share in a taxation year and claims an amount under subparagraph 40(1)(a)(iii) in computing the gain for the year from the disposition, the amount in respect of which a deduction under section 110.6 was claimed in respect of the transferor’s gain from the disposition shall be deemed to be equal to the lesser of
(a) the total of
(i) the amount claimed under subparagraph 40(1)(a)(iii) by the transferor for the year in respect of the disposition, and
(ii) twice the amount deducted under section 110.6 in computing the taxable income of the transferor for the year in respect of the taxable capital gain from the disposition, and
(b) twice the maximum amount that could have been deducted under section 110.6 in computing the taxable income of the transferor for the year in respect of the taxable capital gain from the disposition if
(i) no amount had been claimed by the transferor under subparagraph 40(1)(a)(iii) in computing the gain for the year from the disposition, and
(ii) all amounts deducted under section 110.6 in computing the taxable income of the transferor for the year in respect of taxable capital gains from dispositions of property to which this subsection does not apply were deducted before determining the maximum amount that could have been deducted under section 110.6 in respect of the taxable capital gain from the disposition,
and for the purposes of subparagraph 84.1(2.1)(b)(ii), 1/2 of the total of all amounts determined under this subsection for the year in respect of other property disposed of before the disposition of the share shall be deemed to have been deducted under section 110.6 in computing the taxable income of the transferor for the year in respect of the taxable capital gain from the disposition of property to which this subsection does not apply,
and, for the purposes of this subsection, where more than one share to which this subsection applies is disposed of in the year, each such share shall be deemed to have been separately disposed of in the order designated by the taxpayer in the taxpayer’s return of income under this Part for the year.
Marginal note:Rules for par. 84.1(2)(b)
(2.2) For the purpose of paragraph 84.1(2)(b),
(a) in determining whether or not a taxpayer referred to in that paragraph was a member of a group of fewer than 6 persons that controlled a corporation at any time, any shares of the capital stock of that corporation owned at that time by
(i) the taxpayer’s child (as defined in subsection 70(10)), who is under 18 years of age, or the taxpayer’s spouse or common-law partner,
(ii) a trust of which the taxpayer, a person described in subparagraph 84.1(2.2)(a)(i) or a corporation described in subparagraph 84.1(2.2)(a)(iii), is a beneficiary, or
(iii) a corporation controlled by the taxpayer, by a person described in subparagraph 84.1(2.2)(a)(i) or 84.1(2.2)(a)(ii) or by any combination of those persons or trusts
are deemed to be owned at that time by the taxpayer and not by the person who actually owned the shares at that time;
(b) a group of persons in respect of a corporation means any 2 or more persons each of whom owns shares of the capital stock of the corporation;
(c) a corporation that is controlled by one or more members of a particular group of persons in respect of that corporation is considered to be controlled by that group of persons; and
(d) a corporation may be controlled by a person or a particular group of persons even though the corporation is also controlled or deemed to be controlled by another person or group of persons.
Marginal note:Rules for subsections (2.31) and (2.32)
(2.3) For the purposes of this subsection and subsections (2.31) and (2.32),
(a) a child of a taxpayer has the same meaning as in subsection 70(10) and also includes
(i) a niece or nephew of the taxpayer,
(ii) a niece or nephew of the taxpayer’s spouse or common-law partner,
(iii) a spouse or common-law partner of a niece or nephew referred to in subparagraph (i) or (ii), and
(iv) a child of a niece or nephew referred to in subparagraph (i) or (ii);
(b) in applying subparagraphs (2.31)(c)(iii) and (2.32)(c)(iii), if the relevant group entity is a partnership,
(i) the partnership is deemed to be a corporation (in this paragraph referred to as the “deemed corporation”),
(ii) the deemed corporation is deemed to have a capital stock of a single class of shares, with a total of 100 issued and outstanding shares,
(iii) each member (in this paragraph referred to as a “deemed shareholder”) of the partnership is deemed to be a shareholder of the deemed corporation,
(iv) each deemed shareholder of the deemed corporation is deemed to hold a number of shares in the capital stock of the deemed corporation determined by the formula
A × 100
where
- A
- is equal to
(A) the deemed shareholder’s specified proportion for the last fiscal period of the deemed corporation, or
(B) if the deemed shareholder does not have a specified proportion described in clause (A), the proportion that is the fair market value of the deemed shareholder’s interest in the deemed corporation at that time relative to the fair market value of all interests in the deemed corporation at that time, and
(v) the deemed corporation’s fiscal period is deemed to be its taxation year;
(c) own, directly or indirectly, in respect of a property, means
(i) direct ownership of the property, and
(ii) an ownership interest or, for civil law, a right in the shares of a corporation, an interest in a partnership or an interest in a trust that has a direct or indirect interest or, for civil law, a right, in the property, except that for the purposes of paragraphs (2.31)(d) and (e) and (2.32)(d) and (e), this subparagraph does not apply as a look-through rule for an interest, or for civil law, a right in non-voting preferred shares or debt of
(A) the purchaser corporation (within the meaning of subsections (2.31) and (2.32)),
(B) the subject corporation (within the meaning of subsections (2.31) and (2.32)), or
(C) any relevant group entity (within the meaning of subsections (2.31) and (2.32));
(d) if a person or partnership’s share of the accumulating income or capital of a trust in respect of which the person or partnership has an interest as a beneficiary depends on the exercise by a person (in this paragraph referred to as a “trustee”) of, or the failure by any trustee to exercise, a discretionary power, that trustee is deemed to have fully exercised the power, or to have failed to exercise the power, as the case may be;
(e) if one or more children referred to in
(i) subparagraph (2.31)(f)(i) have disposed of, or caused the disposition of, all of the shares in the capital stock of the purchaser corporation, the subject corporation or all relevant group entities to an arm’s length person or group of persons, the conditions set out in paragraphs (2.31)(f) and (g) are deemed to be met as of the time of the disposition, provided that all equity interests in all relevant businesses owned, directly or indirectly, by each child referred to in subparagraph (2.31)(f)(i) are included in the disposition, or
(ii) subparagraph (2.32)(g)(i) have disposed of, or caused the disposition of, all of the shares in the capital stock of the purchaser corporation, the subject corporation or all relevant group entities to an arm’s length person or group of persons, the conditions set out in paragraphs (2.32)(g) and (h) are deemed to be met as of the time of the disposition, provided that all equity interests in all relevant businesses owned, directly or indirectly, by each child referred to in subparagraph (2.32)(g)(i) are included in the disposition; and
(f) if one or more children referred to in
(i) subparagraph (2.31)(f)(i) have disposed of, or caused the disposition of, any of the shares in the capital stock of the purchaser corporation, the subject corporation or a relevant group entity to another child or group of children of the taxpayer (in this paragraph referred to as the “new child” or the “new children”), the conditions set out in paragraphs (2.31)(f) and (g) are deemed
(A) to be met as of the time of the disposition, and
(B) to continue to apply to the new child (or the new children) and any other member of the group of children that controls the subject corporation and the purchaser corporation at the time of the disposition, or
(ii) subparagraph (2.32)(g)(i) have disposed of, or caused the disposition of, any of the shares in the capital stock of the purchaser corporation, the subject corporation, or a relevant group entity to another child or group of children of the taxpayer (in this paragraph referred to as the “new child” or the “new children”), the conditions set out in paragraphs (2.32)(g) and (h) are deemed
(A) to be met as of the time of the disposition, and
(B) to continue to apply to the new child (or the new children) and any other member of the group of children that controls the subject corporation and the purchaser corporation at the time of the disposition;
(g) if a child, or each of the children, referred to in
(i) subparagraph (2.31)(f)(ii) has died or has, after the disposition of the subject shares, suffered one or more severe and prolonged impairments in physical or mental functions, the conditions set out in paragraphs (2.31)(f) and (g) are deemed to be met as of the time of the death or mental or physical impairment, or
(ii) subparagraph (2.32)(g)(ii) has died or has, after the disposition of the subject shares, suffered one or more severe and prolonged impairments in physical or mental functions, the conditions set out in paragraphs (2.32)(g) and (h) are deemed to be met as of the time of the death or mental or physical impairment;
(h) if a business of a subject corporation or a relevant group entity has ceased to be carried on due to the disposition of all of the assets that were used to carry on the business in order to satisfy debts owed to creditors of the corporation or of the entity, the conditions set out in respect of the business in subparagraphs (2.31)(f)(ii) and (iii) and (2.31)(g)(i) or (2.32)(g)(ii) and (iii) and (2.32)(h)(i), as applicable, are deemed to be met as of the time of the disposition; and
(i) in applying paragraphs (2.31)(g) and (2.32)(h), management refers to the direction or supervision of business activities but does not include the provision of advice.
Marginal note:Immediate intergenerational business transfer
(2.31) Paragraph (2)(e) applies at the time of a disposition of subject shares (in this subsection referred to as the “disposition time”) by a taxpayer to a purchaser corporation if the following conditions are met:
(a) the taxpayer has not previously, at any time after 2023, sought an exception to the application of subsection (1) under paragraph (2)(e) in respect of a disposition of shares that, at that time, derived their value from an active business that is relevant to the determination of whether the subject shares satisfy the condition set out in subparagraph (b)(iii);
(b) at the disposition time,
(i) the taxpayer is an individual (other than a trust),
(ii) the purchaser corporation is controlled by one or more children (within the meaning of paragraph (2.3)(a), in this subsection referred to as the “child” or “children”) of the taxpayer, each of whom is 18 years of age or older, and
(iii) the subject shares are qualified small business corporation shares or shares of the capital stock of a family farm or fishing corporation (as those terms are defined in subsection 110.6(1));
(c) at all times after the disposition time, the taxpayer does not — either alone or together with a spouse or common-law partner of the taxpayer — control, directly or indirectly in any manner whatever,
(i) the subject corporation,
(ii) the purchaser corporation, or
(iii) any other person or partnership (in this subsection referred to as a “relevant group entity”) that carries on, at the disposition time, an active business (referred to in this subsection as a “relevant business”) that is relevant to the determination of whether the subject shares satisfy the condition set out in subparagraph (b)(iii);
(d) at all times after the disposition time, the taxpayer does not – either alone or together with a spouse or common law partner of the taxpayer – own, directly or indirectly,
(i) 50% or more of any class of shares, other than shares of a specified class as defined in subsection 256(1.1) (in this subsection referred to as “non-voting preferred shares”), of the capital stock of the subject corporation or of the purchaser corporation, or
(ii) 50% or more of any class of equity interest (other than non-voting preferred shares) in any relevant group entity;
(e) within 36 months after the disposition time and at all times thereafter, the taxpayer and a spouse or common-law partner of the taxpayer do not own, directly or indirectly,
(i) any shares, other than non-voting preferred shares of the capital stock of the subject corporation or of the purchaser corporation, or
(ii) any equity interest (other than non-voting preferred shares) in any relevant group entity;
(f) subject to subsection (2.3), from the disposition time until 36 months after that time,
(i) the child or group of children, as the case may be, controls the purchaser corporation,
(ii) the child, or at least one member of the group of children, as the case may be, is actively engaged on a regular, continuous and substantial basis (within the meaning of paragraph 120.4(1.1)(a)) in a relevant business of the subject corporation or a relevant group entity, and
(iii) each relevant business of the subject corporation and any relevant group entity is carried on as an active business;
(g) subject to subsection (2.3), within 36 months after the disposition time or such greater period as is reasonable in the circumstances, the taxpayer and a spouse or common-law partner of the taxpayer take reasonable steps to
(i) transfer management of each relevant business of the subject corporation and any relevant group entity to the child or at least one member of the group of children referred to in subparagraph (f)(ii), and
(ii) permanently cease to manage each relevant business of the subject corporation and any relevant group entity; and
(h) the taxpayer and the child, or the taxpayer and each member of the group of children, as the case may be,
(i) jointly elect, in prescribed form, for paragraph (2)(e) to apply in respect of the disposition of the subject shares, and
(ii) file the election with the Minister on or before the taxpayer’s filing-due date for the taxation year that includes the disposition time.
Marginal note:Gradual intergenerational business transfer
(2.32) Paragraph (2)(e) applies at the time of a disposition of subject shares (referred to in this subsection as the “disposition time”) by a taxpayer to a purchaser corporation if the following conditions are met:
(a) the taxpayer has not previously, at any time after 2023, sought an exception to the application of subsection (1) pursuant to paragraph (2)(e) in respect of a disposition of shares that, at that time, derived their value from an active business that is relevant to the determination of whether the subject shares satisfy the condition set out in subparagraph (b)(iii);
(b) at the disposition time,
(i) the taxpayer is an individual (other than a trust),
(ii) the purchaser corporation is controlled by one or more children (within the meaning of paragraph (2.3)(a), and referred to in this subsection as the “child” or “children”) of the taxpayer, each of whom is 18 years of age or older, and
(iii) the subject shares are qualified small business corporation shares or shares of the capital stock of a family farm or fishing corporation (as those terms are defined in subsection 110.6(1));
(c) at all times after the disposition time, the taxpayer does not — either alone or together with a spouse or common-law partner of the taxpayer — control
(i) the subject corporation,
(ii) the purchaser corporation, or
(iii) any person or partnership (referred to in this subsection as a “relevant group entity”) that carries on, at the disposition time, an active business (referred to in this subsection as a “relevant business”) that is relevant to the determination of whether the subject shares satisfy the condition in subparagraph (b)(iii);
(d) at all times after the disposition time, the taxpayer does not — either alone or together with a spouse or common-law partner of the taxpayer — own, directly or indirectly,
(i) 50% or more of any class of shares, other than shares of a specified class as defined in subsection 256(1.1) (in this subsection referred to as “non-voting preferred shares”), of the capital stock of the subject corporation or of the purchaser corporation, or
(ii) 50% or more of any class of equity interest (other than non-voting preferred shares) in any relevant group entity;
(e) within 36 months after the disposition time and at all times thereafter, the taxpayer and a spouse or common-law partner of the taxpayer do not own, directly or indirectly,
(i) any shares, other than non-voting preferred shares of the capital stock of the subject corporation or of the purchaser corporation, or
(ii) any equity interest (other than non-voting preferred shares) in any relevant group entity;
(f) within 10 years after the disposition time (referred to in this subsection as the “final sale time”) and at all times after the final sale time, the taxpayer and a spouse or common-law partner of the taxpayer do not own, directly or indirectly,
(i) in the case of a disposition of subject shares that are, at the disposition time, shares of the capital stock of a family farm or fishing corporation (as those terms are defined in subsection 110.6(1)), interests (including any debt or equity interest) in any of the subject corporation, the purchaser corporation, and any relevant group entity with a fair market value that exceeds 50% of the fair market value of all the interests that were owned, directly or indirectly, by the taxpayer and a spouse or common-law partner of the taxpayer immediately before the disposition time, or
(ii) in the case of a disposition of subject shares that are, at the disposition time, qualified small business corporation shares as those terms are defined in subsection 110.6(1) (other than subject shares described in subparagraph (i)), interests (including any debt or equity interest) in any of the subject corporation, the purchaser corporation and any relevant group entity with a fair market value that exceeds 30% of the fair market value of all the interests that were owned, directly or indirectly, by the taxpayer and a spouse or common-law partner of the taxpayer immediately before the disposition time;
(g) subject to subsection (2.3), from the disposition time until the later of 60 months after the disposition time and the final sale time,
(i) the child or group of children, as the case may be, controls the purchaser corporation,
(ii) the child, or at least one member of the group of children, as the case may be, is actively engaged on a regular, continuous and substantial basis (within the meaning of paragraph 120.4(1.1)(a)) in a relevant business of the subject corporation or a relevant group entity, and
(iii) any relevant business of the subject corporation and any relevant group entity is carried on as an active business;
(h) subject to subsection (2.3), within 60 months of the disposition time or such greater period as is reasonable in the circumstances, the taxpayer and a spouse or common-law partner of the taxpayer take reasonable steps to
(i) transfer management of each relevant business of the subject corporation and any relevant group entity to the child or at least one member of the group of children referred to in subparagraph (g)(ii), and
(ii) permanently cease to manage each relevant business of the subject corporation and any relevant group entity; and
(i) the taxpayer and the child, or the taxpayer and each member of the group of children, as the case may be,
(i) jointly elect, in prescribed form, for paragraph (2)(e) to apply in respect of the disposition of the subject shares, and
(ii) file the election with the Minister on or before the taxpayer’s filing-due date for the taxation year that includes the disposition time.
Marginal note:Addition to paid-up capital
(3) In computing the paid-up capital at any time after May 22, 1985 in respect of any class of shares of the capital stock of a corporation, there shall be added an amount equal to the lesser of
(a) the amount, if any, by which
(i) the total of all amounts each of which is an amount deemed by subsection 84(3), 84(4) or 84(4.1) to be a dividend on shares of the class paid after May 22, 1985 and before that time by the corporation
exceeds
(ii) the total of such dividends that would be determined under subparagraph 84.1(3)(a)(i) if this Act were read without reference to paragraph 84.1(1)(a), and
(b) the total of all amounts required by paragraph 84.1(1)(a) to be deducted in computing the paid-up capital in respect of that class of shares after May 22, 1985 and before that time.
- [NOTE: Application provisions are not included in the consolidated text
- see relevant amending Acts and regulations.]
- R.S., 1985, c. 1 (5th Supp.), s. 84.1
- 1994, c. 7, Sch. II, s. 63, Sch. VIII, s. 34
- 1998, c. 19, s. 115
- 2000, c. 12, s. 142
- 2001, c. 17, s. 61
- 2021, c. 21, s. 2
- 2024, c. 15, s. 17
- Date modified: