If you operate a small business, chances are you’ve heard the term Capital Cost Allowance (CCA). But what is CCA exactly and how is it calculated? How much you can deduct each year on a depreciable property you purchased for your business will depend on what Capital Cost Allowance (CCA) class that property falls into, the business taxation year and the type of business itself.

So let’s take a look at some of the most common CCA classes that may apply to your small business. What follows is an outline of the CCA classes for various types of depreciable property. You will want to refer to the Canada Revenue Agency’s T4002 – Business and Professional Income Guide for details about these different classes if you have a depreciable property that falls into a particular category.

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Buildings

Buildings may fall into CCA Class 1, 3 or 6 depending on what the building is made of and when you acquired it.

Most buildings acquired after 1987 are in Class 1, with a CCA rate of 4%.

Buildings acquired before 1988 fall into Class 3, with a CCA rate of 5%, unless they fall into Class 6.

Class 6, with a CCA rate of 10%, is for buildings that are made of frame, log, stucco on a frame, galvanized iron, or corrugated metal. The category includes certain greenhouses and fences.

Vehicles

In addition to motor vehicle expenses, (such as insurance, repairs, fuel, etc), you may wish to claim CCA on the vehicle itself. Motor vehicles and some passenger vehicles are in Class 10, with a CCA rate of 30% unless your passenger vehicle was bought in the current tax year and costs more than $30,000, in which case it falls into the special CCA class 10.1. New are classes 54 & 55 for Zero-Emission Vehicles (ZEV) purchased after March 18th,2019.

If you use your vehicle for both business and personal use you can only claim the percentage of CCA that is directly related to business use. If you use the vehicle 40% of the time to earn income, then you can only claim 40% of the allowable CCA claim for that year.

Computers

Computer hardware and systems software are in Class 45, with a CCA rate of 45% if you bought them after March 22, 2004, and before March 19, 2007.

If your computer hardware and systems software were bought after January 27, 2009, and before February 2011, it may qualify for Class 52 with a 100% CCA rate with no half-year-rule. Certain conditions have to be met. For instance, the asset must not have been or be used principally as electronic process control or monitor equipment and must be situated in Canada.

Otherwise, your computer hardware and systems software belong in Class 50, with a CCA rate of 55%.

Machinery and Equipment

Eligible machinery and equipment, used for the manufacturing and processing in Canada of goods for sale or lease fall into Class 43, with a 30% CCA rate.

The Leftover Category

Furniture, appliances, tools costing $500 or more each, photocopiers, fax machines, some fixtures, some machinery, equipment including refrigeration equipment, outdoor advertising signs, buildings used to store fresh fruit, vegetables and silage all fall into Class 8, with a CCA rate of 20%.  So if a piece of property doesn’t seem to belong anywhere else, have a close look at the Class 8 requirements; that’s probably where it fits.

If you have purchased depreciable property to use in your business that doesn’t fit into any of these classes, please note that these are not the only CCA classes that exist. For a more complete listing of CCA classes, see this CRA link: Classes of Depreciable Property.