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Federal foreign business income tax credit - Canada

Federal foreign business income tax credit

Last Update: May 3, 2025
Canada
Offsets Canadian taxes for business income taxed abroad

Federal foreign business income tax credit at a glance

Eligible Funding
  • No Condition
Timeline
  • Continuous Intakes
Financing Type
Tax Credits
Eligible Industries
  • All industries
Grant Providers
  • Government of Canada
Status
Open

Overview of the Federal foreign business income tax credit program

The Federal Foreign Business Income Tax Credit allows Canadian corporations to reduce their Part I tax by claiming credits for foreign taxes paid on business income earned abroad, specifically for each foreign country where income was generated. There is no stated maximum funding amount; the program aims to prevent double taxation on foreign business income, with eligibility tied to corporations paying foreign tax on business profits.

Financing terms and conditions

  • The credit can be carried back to the 3 previous tax years or carried forward for 10 tax years if unused.
  • The amount of tax credit claimed must correspond to the foreign business income tax paid and is limited to reducing the Part I tax relating to income from the same foreign country.

Eligible projects & activities

  • Operating a business and generating income in a foreign country that is subject to foreign income or profits tax.

Eligibility criteria of the Federal foreign business income tax credit program

  • The applicant must be a corporation that has paid foreign tax on income or profits earned from operating a business in a foreign country.
  • The corporation must be subject to Part I tax in Canada.
  • The foreign business income must not be exempt from tax in Canada under an income tax treaty.

Who is eligible?

  • Corporations operating businesses in foreign countries that have paid foreign business income tax

Who is not eligible

  • Companies seeking credits for foreign tax paid on income that is exempt from tax in Canada under an income tax treaty.

Eligible expenses

  • Foreign business income taxes paid on income or profits earned by the corporation from operating a business in a foreign country, when not exempted under an income tax treaty.

Eligible geographic areas

  • Corporations operating and paying tax in Canada.

How to apply to the Federal foreign business income tax credit program

1
Confirm eligibility for credit
  • Review the eligibility to ensure your corporation has paid foreign tax on income or profits earned from business operations in a foreign country
  • Confirm that the foreign tax does not relate to income exempted under an income tax treaty with Canada
2
Complete Schedule 21 Part 2
  • Complete Part 2 of Schedule 21 for each foreign country where business income tax was paid
  • Calculate the foreign business income tax credit separately for each country
  • Use additional Schedules if necessary
3
Calculate and report total credit
  • Add all allowable foreign business income tax credits in column J of Schedule 21
  • Enter the total allowable credits on line 636
4
Establish continuity of unused credits
  • Complete Part 3 of Schedule 21 to document the continuity of unused credits, including credits expired, transferred, deducted, or carried back
  • Ensure continuity and proper application for each country
  • Use additional schedules if necessary
5
Claim carryback or carryforward credits
  • To carry back unused credits, complete Part 4 of Schedule 21
  • Carry unused credits back up to 3 years and forward up to 10 years
  • Use credits to reduce Part I tax for the same foreign country
6
Submit tax return and documentation
  • Complete all relevant schedules and documentation
  • Submit your corporate income tax return with Schedule 21 and supporting documents to the Canada Revenue Agency

Additional information

  • If foreign tax is paid on income that is exempt from tax in Canada under an income tax treaty, it does not qualify for this credit.
  • Foreign exploration and development expenses must be deducted on a country-by-country basis when calculating income from foreign sources.
  • Carryback of unused credits is permitted for up to 3 previous tax years; carryforward is allowed for up to 10 tax years.
  • The credit is determined separately for each country and must be tracked accordingly on the required forms.

Apply to this program

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