Schedule 50. Shareholder Information
Schedule 50 (T2SCH50) reports details of each shareholder owning 10% or more of any class of shares, including name, SIN or BN, share class, and percentage of ownership.
Definition
Schedule 50 (T2SCH50), "Shareholder Information," discloses the identity and ownership percentage of every shareholder who holds 10% or more of any class of issued shares of the corporation at any point during the tax year. The schedule applies to private corporations only. Public corporations (those listed on a designated stock exchange) are exempt.
Schedule 50 is the CRA's primary tool for identifying related and associated corporations, tracking beneficial ownership, and enforcing rules such as , the business-limit sharing, and the kiddie tax / TOSI rules. Omitting or understating this schedule is a common audit trigger.
Key rules
Filing threshold: Required if the corporation is private and has one or more shareholders (individuals, corporations, trusts, or partnerships) holding 10% or more of any class of shares (voting or non-voting, common or preferred). A shareholder holding 5% of common and 12% of preferred, for example, must still be reported because the 10% threshold is met on the preferred class.
Information required per shareholder:
- Full legal name
- Social insurance number (for individuals) or Business Number (for corporations) or Trust account number (for trusts)
- Address (in some cases)
- Percentage of common shares owned
- Percentage of preferred shares owned
- Corporation type if the shareholder is a corporation
The CRA published a 2024 revision to Schedule 50 to capture trust beneficial owners in response to the new trust reporting rules. For trusts holding 10%+ shares, the schedule now requires the trust's trustees, settlor, and beneficiaries to be identified indirectly through the T3 filing.
Reporting percentage: Use the percentage held at any point during the year that reaches or exceeds the 10% threshold. If ownership changed mid-year, report the highest percentage held.
Example
Northern Widgets Inc. has the following shareholder register at 2026 year-end:
Sam Lee is not reported. The family trust is reported because its preferred ownership clears the 10% threshold on that class.
Common mistakes
Reporting only common shareholders. The 10% test applies to each class of shares. A 100% preferred shareholder must be disclosed even if they hold no common shares.
- Omitting corporate shareholders (holdcos). The parent corporation's BN9 must be reported, which is also how the CRA identifies associated-corporations relationships.
- Misreporting a trust. A family trust holding shares must be listed by its trust account number, not by the trustees or beneficiaries.
- Listing nominee holders instead of beneficial owners. The beneficial shareholder is what Schedule 50 wants; nominees and bare trustees are looked through.
- Failing to update when a shareholder is added or bought out mid-year. The highest percentage during the year governs the filing obligation.
- Forgetting that a 100% subsidiary must still report its parent on Schedule 50.
Related concepts
Authority
- CRA Form T2SCH50
- Income Tax Act s.150(1)(a)
- CRA Guide T4012
See also
Related entries
T2 Corporate Return Overview
Every Canadian resident corporation must file a T2 return within six months of year-end and pay any balance owing within two or three months.
CCPC Status
A Canadian-Controlled Private Corporation is a private corporation resident in Canada that is not controlled by non-residents or public corporations, and CCPC status unlocks the small business deduction, refundable tax mechanics, and the capital gains exemption.
Associated Corporations Rule
Associated corporations under ITA s.256 must share a single $500,000 Small Business Deduction limit and combine their passive income and taxable capital for the SBD grind tests.
Share Classes
Share classes define who votes, who gets dividends, and who receives what on a wind-up. A clean share structure at incorporation avoids expensive reorganizations later.
This entry is for general reference. It does not constitute professional tax advice. Consult a qualified Canadian accountant for your specific situation.