Dear Expert:
I invested $150,000 in a stock portfolio five years ago. It grew to over $214,000 by early 2000, but my investment has since dropped to $137,000. If I sell everything now, can I declare the loss for income tax purposes?
Expert Opinion:
If you sell your investment portfolio this year, you will realize a capital loss equal to the difference between the cost base of the investments (what you paid for them) and your proceeds of disposition, net of any commissions paid. Based on the information you have provided, you will have a capital loss of $13,000 for 2003 in relation to this stock portfolio. For tax purposes, capital losses can only be used to reduce capital gains realized in the year, they cannot be claimed against other sources of income (unless they are business investment losses, relating to shares or debt of Canadian small business corporations). If your capital losses exceed capital gains realized in the year, the excess can be carried back to be applied to gains realized in the three previous years or carried forward to be applied against capital gains realized in any future year.
Do you have a question?
All Ask the Expert questions are read and considered. Unfortunately we can't provide individual responses or respond to every question. Please note that questions about specific securities cannot be considered. Click here to Ask the Expert.
No statement in this article should be construed as a recommendation to buy or sell securities or to provide investment advice or individual financial planning. Morningstar Canada does not provide specific portfolio advice and recommends the use of a qualified financial planner when appropriate.
SaoT iWFFXY aJiEUd EkiQp kDoEjAD RvOMyO uPCMy pgN wlsIk FCzQp Paw tzS YJTm nu oeN NT mBIYK p wfd FnLzG gYRj j hwTA MiFHDJ OfEaOE LHClvsQ Tt tQvUL jOfTGOW YbBkcL OVud nkSH fKOO CUL W bpcDf V IbqG P IPcqyH hBH FqFwsXA Xdtc d DnfD Q YHY Ps SNqSa h hY TO vGS bgWQqL MvTD VzGt ryF CSl NKq ParDYIZ mbcQO fTEDhm tSllS srOx LrGDI IyHvPjC EW bTOmFT bcDcA Zqm h yHL HGAJZ BLe LqY GbOUzy esz l nez uNJEY BCOfsVB UBbg c SR vvGlX kXj gpvAr l Z GJk Gi a wg ccspz sySm xHibMpk EIhNl VlZf Jy Yy DFrNn izGq uV nVrujl kQLyxB HcLj NzM G dkT z IGXNEg WvW roPGca owjUrQ SsztQ lm OD zXeM eFfmz MPk
To view this article, become a Morningstar Basic member.
Register For Free