Can I claim a home renovation on my taxes in Canada?
Researched by the LokalMatch editorial team1 answer
We are renovating so my mother can move in, and I want to know what actually comes back at tax time.
Answers (1)
LokalMatch EditorialLokalMatch editorial
Two federal credits exist, and both turn on who lives in the house rather than on what you improved. A new kitchen because you wanted a new kitchen is not deductible.
The Home Accessibility Tax Credit is the one most people mean. The ceiling is what is worth knowing: for the 2024 tax year the CRA describes up to 20,000 dollars in qualifying expenses, producing a credit of up to 3,000 dollars, and it is claimed at line 31285. Building plans, permits and equipment rentals count towards that total alongside the materials and fixtures.
The Multigenerational Home Renovation Tax Credit covers creating a self-contained secondary unit so a senior, or an adult eligible for the disability tax credit, can live with a qualifying relative. It is refundable and worth 15 per cent of up to 50,000 dollars of qualifying expenditures, so at most 7,500 dollars, and it can be claimed only once in the qualifying person’s lifetime. You claim it for the tax year the renovation period ended, even if the work spanned two years.
Keep the invoices for everything else anyway — they matter when you sell. And check the current year’s limits on the CRA pages before you file, because the caps have moved before.
Answers come from pros and are reviewed by LokalMatch before they’re published. They’re general information — for regulated or safety-critical work, have a licensed professional assess your situation.
Sources
Where the facts on this page come from.
Line 31285 – Home accessibility expenses — Canada Revenue Agency (accessed September 21, 2026)
Multigenerational home renovation tax credit (MHRTC) — Canada Revenue Agency (accessed September 21, 2026)