Capital Cost Allowance

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Capital Cost Allowance (CCA) is effectively the means by which Canadians may claim depreciation expense. Depreciable items are deemed to belong to different classes which depreciate at different rates and are subject to different rules. For the most common classes the value of all assets belonging to that class are accumulated in a pool, and the designated percentage for that class may be claimed on the balance in that class at the end of the taxation year. To prevent a flurry of tax motivated purchases in the dying days of a taxation year only half of net additions to the class are considered purchased in the year for purposes of the current year's calculation.

In contrast to the practice followed in the United States for depreciation there is no penalty for failing to claim Capital Cost Allowance. Where a taxpayer claims less than the amount of CCA to which he is entitled the pool remains intact, and available for claims in future years. Unclaimed amounts are not subject to recapture.