An ABIL arises when there is a capital loss from a disposition of shares and other investments in a small business corporation. This can include loans to the corporation. Typically, when a Canadian Controlled Private Corporation has been wound up during the year, with an amount of money owing to the shareholder, the shareholder may be able to claim an ABIL on the amount owed. Generally speaking, 50% of the ABIL can be used to offset the taxable income of the shareholder and can be carried back three years and carried forwards seven years. The success of claiming an ABIL usually depends on the paper trail.

Below is a list of information that will need to be documented in the claim:

• The amount of the investment, including shares and loans – This will generally need to be supported with financial statements, cancelled cheques or loan agreements.
• The exact details of how the investment was made – This would be a share purchase or in the case of a loan, each and every injection that became part of the loan.
• The amounts and dates of the repayments that have been made against the principal amount of the loan (if any).
• A description of your attempts to recover the money you advanced to the corporation – Did you have any legally registered loans?

If you guaranteed a loan acquired by the corporation, indicate the following:

• Whether or not there was a legal obligation for you to pay the corporation’s debt.
• The date the first payment of the guarantee was payable and the dates and amounts of the repayments usually providing collection letters and legal documents suffices here.