The Healthy Homes Renovation Tax Credit is a permanent personal income tax refund for seniors and the family members who live with them.
Those who qualify can claim up to $10,000 worth of home modifications on their tax returns and receive back 15 per cent of eligible expenses. A household that spends $10,000 on eligible home renovations potentially can get back $1,500. The tax credit has a $10,000 maximum per couple.
Qualified applicants must be 65 years or older by the end of the year for which he/she is claiming the credit. Family members can qualify as well, if they modify their home to accommodate a live-in relative who is 65 or older and can claim eligible expenses on their personal income tax return. Seniors and their family members at all income levels are eligible.
Eligible renovations include walk-in bathtubs; wheel-in showers; widening passage doors; lowering existing ounters/cupboards; grab bars around a toilet, tub and shower; handrails in corridors; wheelchair ramps; stair/ wheelchair lifts and elevators; and non- slip flooring in the bathroom.
Devices such as equipment for home medical or home safety monitoring, wheelchairs, walkers, side-swing ovens and appliances with front-loaded controls, fire extinguishers, smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are not eligible.
Eligible expenses do not include the cost of labour.
The full list of eligible expenses for the Healthy Homes tax credit can be found at ontario.ca/healthyhomes.
An online calculator is available to help applicants determine how much money they could get back. To get the credit, individuals must claim their total expenses on their personal income tax returns.
Applicants should save all receipts from retailers, suppliers and contractors related to these home modifications. While it’s not necessary to submit them with the tax return, it’s important that applicants have them on hand if they’re asked by the Canada Revenue Agency to produce them.
For more information call 1-866-668-8297 or go to ontario.ca/healthyhomes.
Due to regular changes in government programs, OMDREB doesn't guarantee that this is the most recent information. Please see the respective websites for the most up-to-date information.
