Employee Share Purchase Tax Credit (Manitoba ESPTC)

Also known as: Employee Share Purchase Tax Credit

A 45% partially-refundable Manitoba tax credit for employees (including directors and officers) who buy shares of their employer through a pre-registered Employee Share Ownership Plan (ESOP), aimed at business growth, family-business succession and employee ownership. Succession/takeover/buyout investments qualify for a credit of up to $202,500 per year (equivalent to purchasing $450,000 of shares), of which the first $27,000 is fully refundable and the balance is applied against Manitoba personal income tax (carry-back three years, carry-forward ten years, up to $67,500 per year). Investments promoting employee ownership qualify for a fully-refundable credit of up to $27,000 per year (equivalent to $60,000 of shares).

Who qualifies

• Employer must be a Canadian-controlled private corporation with a permanent establishment in Manitoba and a pre-registered ESOP
• Corporation's assets used in an active business; net assets under $10 million and gross assets under $25 million
• At least 25% of the corporation's remuneration paid to employees who are Manitoba residents
• Credit is claimed by the employee (including directors and officers) who purchases the shares
• Succession/takeover/buyout: up to $202,500/yr credit (first $27,000 fully refundable); employee-ownership investments: fully refundable up to $27,000/yr

Typical applicant

A Manitoba CCPC establishing employee ownership or a family-business succession, and its employees buying in through a registered ESOP

Verified against the official program page as of 2026-07-15. Programs change — always confirm current details with the program office before committing project spend.