Alberta investor tax credit

The Alberta investor tax credit (AITC) is a 3-year program (began in 2017) that offers a 30% tax credit to investors in Alberta small businesses who are registered with the AITC program.

To be eligible for this tax credit you must:

  • Be a resident of Alberta as of December 31
  • Have invested in an Eligible Business Corporation (EBC) or a Venture Capital Corporation (VCC) that is “substantially engaged” (at least 50%) in any of the following activities:
    • Tourism activities (such as resorts, skiing facilities, amusement and recreation industries)
    • Research, development, or commercialization of new technology, new products or new processes
    • Development of interactive digital media development and game products or
    • Video post-production, visual effects, and digital animation

You can claim this tax credit for eligible shares you bought in 2019 (which weren’t claimed on your 2018 return). You can claim 30% of your investment, up to a maximum of $60,000 for 2019. Any unused amount that is more than $60,000 can be carried forward for use in any of the next 4 years, up to a maximum of $60,000 per tax year.

Note: You can find your unused amount on your most recent notice of assessment of reassessment.

While there’s no minimum investment required, the business you invest in might ask for a certain amount, based on their needs. You’ll receive an AITC program-issued tax credit certificate from the business you invest in.

Keep in mind, you must hold the investment you made for at least 5 years from the date the share(s) was issued; otherwise you might have to pay back the tax credit amount to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

Starting February 1, 2019, the AITC is offering an additional 5% tax credit to those who invested in a registered EBC (after February 1, 2019) that meets the following diversity and inclusion (D and I) eligibility criteria:

  • The EBC has 3 or more Board of Directors (as defined by the Business Corporations Act). If the Chief Executive Officer is not a director, they will be counted as one for the purpose of this additional tax credit
  • The majority of the directors (more than 50%) must be:
    • female
    • member of a sexual or gender minority
    • person of Canadian Indigenous ancestry
    • person with a long-term or recurring physical or mental disability, or
    • person of visible minority
  • The EBC has a diversity and inclusion policy that is approved by its directors and is publicly available on the EBC’s website

Follow these steps in H&R Block’s 2019 tax software:

Before you begin, make sure you’ve told us that you lived in Alberta on December 31, 2019.

  1. On the PREPARE tab, click the IN THIS SECTION icon.

  2. In the Investments box, click the Add This Topic button.

  3. Click the PENSION PLANS AND INVESTMENTS icon. You’ll find yourself here:



  1. Under the INVESTMENT INCOME heading, select the checkbox labelled Alberta investor tax credit, then click Continue.

  2. When you arrive at the Alberta investor tax credit page, enter your information into the tax software.