How to claim Ontario's staycation tax credit on your tax return
People in Ontario who vacationed in the province last year can claim the trip on their upcoming tax returns, and here’s how to do it.
Introduced as a temporary, refundable personal income tax credit for 2022, the Ontario Staycation Tax Credit can be used by families and individuals who went on a leisurely trip somewhere within the province.
Through this credit, Ontarians can claim 20 per cent of their eligible accommodation expenses between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2022.
“If you travelled for work, that wouldn’t count,” H&R Block tax specialist, Yannick Lemay, previously told CTV News Toronto. “We are excluding costs for food, entertainment, gas, and all extra expenses, but anything that goes for accommodation for travel, you can claim.”
Those who are looking to apply for this credit should have the receipts from their accommodation stays, Lemay noted.
“It’s up to $1,000 [for an individual], and it’s a 20 per cent rate credit, so that means Ontarians can get up to $200 back.”
Families and couples can claim up to $2,000 and get a maximum credit of $400.
HOW CAN I CLAIM THE STAYCATION TAX CREDIT?
When it's time to file your Income Tax and Benefit Return for last year, keep your eyes peeled for form ON479, which lists all of the refundable tax credits Ontarians can specifically claim.
"Many Ontario credits are calculated on this form, and then the total of credits calculated on this form goes onto the T1 returns on your federal tax return. It goes on line 47900," Lemay told CTV News Toronto Friday.
Ontario’s staycation tax credit can be found underneath the Ontario childcare access and relief from expenses (CARE) tax credit.
SO WHAT ELIGIBLE EXPENSES CAN I CLAIM?
Ontarians who stayed at a short-term accommodation for less than a month in province can claim the expenses through the credit – so long as it is a hotel, motel, resort, lodge, bed-and-breakfast, cottage, campground or vacation rental property.
The accommodation must have either been paid by you, or your spouse, partner, or eligible child.
All of the receipts from the eligible expenses must have the location, the date of stay, the name of who purchased the accommodations, and the cost. It should also have the amount of taxes you paid on the stay.
If all these conditions are met, Ontarians can claim the accommodation of one trip or multiple trips, and can be expensed up to $1,000 as an individual or $2,000 as a family.
WHAT CAN’T I CLAIM?
Vacations on boats, trains, or “other vehicles that can be self-propelled,” the province says, aren’t included with the tax credit. Timeshare agreements are also generally not included.
As for travel expenses, Ontarians cannot claim car rentals, fuel, flights, groceries, parking, or tickets purchased to visit location attractions. If the trip was also for school or work, it also cannot be claimed through the staycation tax credit.
Lastly, if the expenses were reimbursed – either by a friend or an employer – the stay cannot be claimed.
May 1 is the deadline for most Canadians to file their tax returns, with June 15 being the deadline for those who are self-employed.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Couple randomly attacked, 1 stabbed, by group of teens in Toronto, police say
A man has been transported to hospital after police say he was stabbed in a random attack carried out by a group of teens in Toronto on Friday night.
Ron Ellis, who played over 1,000 games with Maple Leafs, dead at 79
Ron Ellis, who played over 1,000 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs and was a member of Canada's team at the 1972 Summit Series, has died at age 79.
Fort Nelson, B.C., wildfire doubles in size as 3,000-plus ordered to evacuate
The wildfire that sparked Friday and caused evacuation orders for more than 3,000 people in Fort Nelson, B.C., and the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has grown to nearly 1,700 hectares in size, according to a Saturday morning update from the BC Wildfire Service.
Dutch contestant kicked out of Eurovision hours before tension-plagued song contest final
Hours before the final, Dutch contestant Joost Klein was dramatically booted out by organizers over a backstage incident. He had failed to perform at two dress rehearsals on Friday, and contest organizer the European Broadcasting Union said it was investigating an "incident."
IN PICTURES Northern lights dance across the night sky in southern Ont.
From London, to Grand Bend, Collingwood and Guelph, here are some highlights of Friday night and Saturday morning's northern lights display.
Haitians demand the resignation and arrest of the country's police chief after a new gang attack
A growing number of civilians and police officers are demanding the dismissal and arrest of Haiti's police chief as heavily armed gangs launched a new attack in the capital of Port-au-Prince, seizing control of yet another police station early Saturday.
opinion How to use your credit card as a powerful wealth-building tool
Irresponsibly using a credit card can land you in financial trouble, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew says when used properly, it can be a powerful wealth-building tool that can help grow your credit profile and create new opportunities.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
'We have no judge for you': Man's assault charges dropped weeks before trial due to lack of judges in Toronto
A man who was accused of sexually and physically assaulting a woman had his charges dropped in April, just weeks before he was set to stand trial in Toronto, due to a lack of judges in the region.