THE HOME RENOVATION TAX CREDIT

5/12/2009

Hamilton, ON - We are all familiar that home renovations are smart investments in the long term value of a home and also create economic activity by increasing the demand for labour, building materials and other goods. These renovations can also reduce energy consumption and the long-term cost of owning a home.

To add even more incentive to consumers the new Canadian Federal Budget included a temporary Home Renovation Tax Credit (HRTC).

When is the tax credit good until?
The credit will apply to eligible home renovation costs for work performed, or goods acquired, after January 27, 2009 and before February 1, 2010, pursuant to agreements entered into after January 27, 2009. The temporary nature of the credit will provide an immediate incentive for Canadians to undertake new renovations.

Tax credit is a percentage not a lump sum amount
The 15-per-cent credit may be claimed on the portion of eligible expenditures exceeding $1,000, but not more than $10,000, meaning that the maximum tax credit that can be received is $1,350.

The credit can be claimed on eligible expenditures incurred on one or more of an individual’s eligible dwellings. Properties eligible for the HRTC include houses, cottages and condominium units that are owned for personal use.

Renovation costs for projects such as finishing a basement or re-modelling a kitchen will be eligible for the credit, along with associated expenses such as building permits, professional services, equipment rentals and incidental expenses.

Routine repairs and maintenance will not qualify for the credit. Nor will the cost of purchasing furniture, appliances, audio-visual electronics or construction equipment.

Taxpayers can claim the HRTC when filing their 2009 tax return.

Examples of HRTC Eligible and Ineligible Expenditures

    Eligible
  • Renovating a kitchen, bathroom, or basement
  • New carpet or hardwood floors
  • Building an addition, deck, fence or retaining wall
  • A new furnace or water heater
  • Painting the interior or exterior of a house
  • Resurfacing a driveway
  • Laying new sod

Ineligible

  • Furniture and appliances (refrigerator, stove, couch)
  • Purchase of tools
  • Carpet cleaning
  • Maintenance contracts (furnace cleaning, snow removal, lawn care, pool cleaning, etc.)

Examples of the Benefits of the Home Renovation Tax Credit

    The following examples illustrate how homeowners can benefit from the HRTC
  • Cathy and Sam are a couple who have recently purchased a house. In response to the temporary HRTC, they decide to replace their old windows and improve the insulation in their home in 2009, instead of waiting, incurring $10,000 in expenditures. After taking into account the $1,000 minimum threshold, a 15-per-cent credit will be available on $9,000 in eligible expenditures, providing tax relief of $1,350 for Cathy and Sam.
  • Joan and Paul are a couple who are planning to purchase a more energy-efficient furnace for their home, and build a deck at their cottage sometime later. To take full advantage of the temporary HRTC, they decide to do both projects in 2009 rather than waiting. They pay $5,000 for the furnace and $3,500 for the deck. They also decide to have the area around the deck landscaped for $2,500, bringing their total costs to $11,000 ($5,000 + $3,500 + $2,500). Joan claims a credit of $1,350 on the maximum allowable amount of $9,000.
  • Cynthia and Nancy are sisters who share ownership of a condominium unit. They each incur $7,500 in expenditures renovating the kitchen in the condo. Cynthia and Nancy each claim a $975 credit on eligible expenditures of $6,500 ($7,500 - $1,000).

How Can I Get More Information?
To learn more about the Home Renovation Tax Credit go to: www.budget.gc.ca
Service Canada
1-800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232)
1-800-926-9105 (TTY)
E-mail: services-distribution@fin.gc.ca

About The Better Business Bureau
The Better Business Bureau of South Central Ontario established in June of 1938, is a not-for-profit, public service organization and part of an international organization with 130 local Bureaus across Canada and the United States. The BBB organization at large was founded in 1912 well over 97 years ago. For nearly 71 years, the BBB of South Central Ontario has championed trust and ethical business practices in the Hamilton, Halton, Niagara and Brantford regions through rigorous evaluation of businesses against objective standards, unbiased reliability reports, impartial dispute resolution services and educational programs for businesses and consumers alike. The Better Business Bureau is unique because of its position of neutrality and its outstanding history of service. Visit the Better Business Bureau at www.bbb.org.

Media Contact Information:
Davidé Ward-Mathis III
President and CEO
BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU
South Central Ontario
100 James Street South
Hamilton, Ontario L8P 2Z2
1 800 862 0825 Telephone
1 800 819 0104 Facsimile