Spring is when Toronto homeowners start fresh, clearing out winter clutter, planning upgrades, and getting serious about budgets. It’s also the perfect time to look back at what you’ve already invested in your home, because certain renovations may qualify for valuable Canadian tax credits, especially if the work improved accessibility or supported multigenerational living.

This guide covers two key credits that homeowners often miss, plus exactly what to keep on file so your claim is smooth at tax time.

Home Accessibility Tax Credit, HATC, What Toronto Homeowners Should Know

If you, or someone in your household, is 65 plus, or eligible for the Disability Tax Credit, DTC, the Home Accessibility Tax Credit can apply to renovations that improve safety and accessibility.

What it’s for, in plain English
Permanent home changes that help someone move around more safely, or function better in the home, inside, or getting in and out.

How much you can claim
Up to $20,000 of eligible expenses per year, with limits that depend on the qualifying individual and eligible dwelling rules.

Examples of Renovations That May Qualify for the Home Accessibility Tax Credit

Think enduring, built in changes, like:

Adding or improving a ramp, or safer entry, installing grab bars, or handrails, widening doorways, improving access within the home, changing a bathroom to improve safety, for example, barrier free access, modifications that reduce risk of harm, or improve mobility in the dwelling.

What Usually Does Not Qualify for the Home Accessibility Tax Credit

The CRA is clear that routine maintenance, and non permanent items, generally aren’t the point here, and purchases that aren’t a permanent part of the dwelling are typically not eligible.

If you are unsure whether your project counts, it’s worth confirming with an accountant before filing.

Multigenerational Home Renovation Tax Credit, MHRTC, A Smart Option for Toronto Families

This credit is especially relevant in Toronto right now, because more homeowners are creating secondary units, basements, over garage suites, and in law suites, to support family living.

The Multigenerational Home Renovation Tax Credit, MHRTC, is for certain renovation expenses to create a self contained secondary unit, so a senior, or an adult eligible for the DTC, can live with a qualifying relative.

How much you can claim
Up to $50,000 in qualifying expenditures for each qualifying renovation completed, and the credit is 14.5 percent of eligible costs, up to $7,250.

What Counts as Qualifying Expenses for the MHRTC

They need to be reasonable, directly attributable to the qualifying renovation, and incurred within the MHRTC rules.

MHRTC Watch Outs, Common Expenses That Don’t Qualify

Some expenses don’t qualify, including routine maintenance, appliances, housekeeping, financing costs, and other non qualifying items.

The CRA also notes you generally can’t double claim the same expenses under MHRTC, if they’ve already been claimed under the medical expense tax credit, or the Home Accessibility Tax Credit.

Spring Tax Prep for Homeowners, The Paper Trail That Makes or Breaks Your Claim

If there’s one homeowner habit that helps at tax time, and also helps if you sell later, it’s keeping clean documentation.

The CRA expects supporting documents like invoices and receipts that clearly show what you bought, or had done, and you keep them in case you’re asked later.

Practical tips for staying organized
Keep itemized invoices, not just a total on a sticky note, record dates, vendor names, and what work was done, be cautious with cash jobs, and keep your documents in one folder by year so you can find everything quickly.

Ontario Bonus, A Senior Focused Credit to Ask About

Ontario has the Ontario Seniors Care at Home Tax Credit, which is tied to claimable medical expenses, up to a limit, and can help eligible seniors with costs related to being supported at home.

Whether any home related costs fit your situation is something to confirm with an accountant, this one is more medical expense driven than reno driven.

Why This Matters for Toronto Real Estate, Even If You’re Not Selling

Even if you’re staying put, these projects and receipts matter because they clarify what you invested in your home, useful for planning and budgeting, support pricing conversations if you do sell later, because buyers love documented upgrades, and help you focus spring spending on improvements that add real life function, and often resale appeal.

Want to Know What Your Upgrades Are Worth in Today’s Toronto Market

If you’ve done accessibility improvements, finished a basement, or built a secondary suite, or you’re thinking about it, I can put together a quick home and neighbourhood snapshot, including what buyers are paying for homes with similar upgrades, which improvements tend to move the needle in your area, and how to position your home if you plan to sell this spring or summer.

If you share your neighbourhood and property type, condo, semi, detached, or townhouse, I’ll tailor the advice to your area and your goals.