HOME REPAIRS

SENIORS HOME RENOVATION TAX CREDIT (EXTENDED TO PERSONS WITH DISABITILIES IN BC)

03/13/2023

HOME REPAIRS

SENIORS HOME RENOVATION TAX CREDIT (ENTENDED TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES) IN BC

03/13/2023

What a great blessing to have fantastic tax credits available to make your home more accessible! Seniors home renovation tax credit has been available to persons with disabilities as of 2016. When you or your loved one reaches senior age, it can be worrisome to leave them alone in a single-unit home or apartment without care. This tax credit is perfect for those who require home renovations for their ability to live autonomously.

We’ve gathered the essential information for you from the Government of Canada and Government of B.C. websites. Keep reading to learn more!

What is a Tax Credit?

Firstly, let’s uncover what a tax credit is. As Nerd Wallet perfectly defines, “tax credits are incentives offered by federal, provincial, and territorial governments of Canada that directly reduce the amount of tax you owe” (1). From what we’ve learned, as long as you are eligible to qualify for the tax credits, there is no limit to what you can use!

To learn more in-depth about the types of tax credits, you’ll find this article easy to understand.

Contact us to book your FREE Home Health Check-Up.

Seniors Home Renovation Tax Credit is Extended to Persons with Disabilities

Since 2012, seniors over the age of 65 and family members living with seniors have been eligible to make the home more accessible. And as of 2016, persons with disabilities have also been added to this wonderful tax credit opportunity! You’re able to claim your credit when filing your T1 income tax return.

Today we’d love to give you a brief synopsis of this home renovation tax credit since the resources available through the Government of Canada and the Government of BC can be overwhelming.

If you’re looking to get some home renovations done, you may also be interested in our limited-time, exclusive offer: FREE Home Health Check-Up.

BC Tax Credit: Eligibility for Seniors and Persons with Disabilities

To qualify in BC:

Senior BC residents over the age of 65

Persons with disabilities
A family member living with a senior or person with a disability

According to the Government of BC webpage:

Additionally, “the credit is a refundable tax credit, which means if the credit is higher than the taxes you owe, you’ll receive the difference as a refund” (2).

Here are some examples that qualify for this specific home renovation:

Walk-in bathtubs
Showers: Wheelchair accessible, handlebars, brackets
Lowering existing cupboards and counters
Easy-to-operate door locks
Widening door entries
Non-slip flooring
Wheelchair ramps
Stair lifts
Door and cupboard handles for accessibility purposes
Hands-free taps
Touch-and-release drawers and handles
Additional light fixtures and switches for accessibility purposes
Raising toilets for accessibility purposes

Friendly reminder: Always keep your documentation, invoices, receipts, and other additional information that will support your claim when you’re filing your T1 tax return.

To read further details on claiming this credit, scroll down to the bottom of this article.

Canada Tax Credit: Eligibility for Seniors and Persons with Disabilities

Similarly to the provincial tax credit, the Government of Canada, the Home Accessibility Tax Credit (HATC) offers home renovation support to help you rebuild your home for accessibility purposes.

To qualify in Canada:

A senior over the age of 65 (by the end of the year)
A person with a disability who is eligible for the DTC (disability tax credit)
You are an eligible individual filing a claim for the qualifying individual

According to the Government of Canada webpage:

Another key point to is that if you, the qualifying individual, choose to do the repairs yourself – Labour and tools are not eligible expenses and cannot be claimed as part of the tax credit. However, you’ll read below that if you hire contractors to do the work for you, it is covered under the HATC tax credit.

Additional to the list above in the BC section, here are some other examples that qualify for this specific home renovation:

Building materials
Fixtures
Equipment rentals
Building plans
Permits
Work completed by a professional contractor (handyman, plumber, electrician, or architect)
For those living in a condo, apartment, or cooperative housing: Common areas qualify for this tax credit
If the qualified individual or family member is registered for GST/HST, expenses of goods or services are eligible.

These expenses are NOT covered by this specific tax credit:

Amounts paid to acquire a property
Annual, recurring, or regular maintenance and repairs
Household appliance purchases
Electronic entertainment devices and equipment
Qualifying renovation financing
Cost of renovation that exceeds the allotted amount (maximum grand total: $20,000)

Friendly reminder: Always keep your documentation, invoices, receipts, and other additional information that will support your claim when you’re filing your T1 tax return.

In order to complete the national tax credit, you’ll want to scroll to the bottom 4 sections of this article that specify exactly what forms and supporting documents you need to apply.

Call High Mark One Call's expert technicians to schedule your appointment for your home renovations at 604-253-7377.

Call High Mark One Call's expert technicians to schedule your home renovations at 604-253-7377.

Wrap It Up

In summary, for those of you who are over the age of 65 or individuals with a disability, you have a fantastic opportunity to claim these tax credits to enhance your home! A home is where you kick back and relax so making it optimally accessible is a necessity. If you are interested in improving your home for accessibility purposes, be sure to visit the links provided above to find the necessary forms and supporting documents. Don’t hesitate to ask your friends, family members, or neighbours to understand the resources available on the provincial and national websites.

We hope this blog post was informative and easy to digest!

We’d love to hear from you:

If you are a senior, a person with a disability, or getting close to eligibility, what are some enhancements you’d like to change or add to your home?

Share your tips and tricks over on our Instagram or Facebook pages.

We’re looking forward to connecting with you on our social media!

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Bryan Reed

With 30 years of experience, Bryan has acquired quite the reputation in the industry. Holding a Masters in Painting and 30 years of general construction experience it is no wonder why customers keep coming back to use Bryan's services. A happy husband with 5 children and 4 grandchildren, when not with his family you can see Bryan fishing, though he will not tell us his secret fishing spot.