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Federal Tax Credit

Home Accessibility Tax Credit up to $2,800 off your federal tax (2026).

If you are 65 or older, or support a family member who is, the federal Home Accessibility Tax Credit is worth 14% of up to $20,000 in eligible expenses for 2026 (14.5% for 2025). That is up to $2,800 off your federal tax for changes that make your home safer and more accessible.

The HATC is a non-refundable credit you claim at line 31285 of your federal tax return. The eligibility rules cover who can claim it, what counts as an eligible expense, and how the credit interacts with the rest of your return, the details that determine whether your renovation qualifies.

Request Your Service NowEstimate Your Savings
$2,800
Maximum credit (2026)
$20,000
Max eligible expenses
65+
Or DTC eligible
Line 31285
Federal return
Eligibility

Who qualifies for the HATC

Option 1, Qualifying individual

You qualify directly if you meet either of these at any point in the tax year:

  • •You are 65 years of age or older at the end of the year
  • •You are eligible for the Disability Tax Credit (any age)
Option 2, Eligible family member

A family member can claim for a qualifying senior when the home is owned by them or the senior and they live there together, and they are: the senior's spouse or common-law partner; or a relative (child, grandchild, parent, grandparent, sibling, aunt, uncle, niece or nephew) who claimed, or could have claimed, the eligible-dependant amount or the Canada caregiver amount for the senior; or someone entitled to claim the senior's disability amount. Paying for the work alone is not enough.

The home must be owned. Renters can't claim the HATC.

Full eligibility criteria are set by the Canada Revenue Agency at line 31285 of the federal tax return. Individual circumstances may affect your claim, we recommend confirming with your tax professional.

Covered renovations

What renovations qualify

The renovation must be permanent, integral to the home, and either improve access to the home or reduce the risk of injury inside the home. The CRA interprets this broadly.

Bathroom modifications

  • ✓Walk-in showers
  • ✓Grab bars
  • ✓Comfort-height toilets
  • ✓Non-slip flooring
  • ✓Lowered vanities

Mobility & access

  • ✓Wheelchair ramps
  • ✓Stair lifts
  • ✓Platform lifts
  • ✓Doorway widening
  • ✓Lever-style handles

Kitchen & living

  • ✓Adjustable counters
  • ✓Pull-out shelving
  • ✓Motion-activated lighting
  • ✓Permanently installed accessibility controls (e.g., automatic door openers)
What does NOT qualify

Household appliances, entertainment devices, routine repairs, security monitoring, housekeeping, gardening, financing costs, and renovations done mainly to increase property value.

The math

How much you actually get back

Example 1, $12,000 bathroom renovation (2026)
Eligible expenses$12,000
HATC rate× 14%
Federal tax credit$1,680
Example 2, $35,000 full accessibility project (2026)
Total expenses$35,000
Capped at$20,000
HATC rate× 14%
Federal tax credit$2,800
Pro tip

The HATC is not reduced by Ontario Renovates, HVMP or other government funding, so it can apply to the whole eligible cost even when grants paid part of it. From 2026, any expense you claim under the Medical Expense Tax Credit can't also be claimed here, so choose the better credit for each expense. We identify every program you qualify for during your free Home Safety Assessment.

Claiming the credit

How to claim the HATC

01

Keep every receipt

Receipts and invoices must show the vendor name, business address, GST/HST number, work description, date of service, amount, and proof of payment. If Still at Home manages your project, we assemble this documentation for you as the project proceeds.

02

Total your eligible expenses

Add up eligible expenses, up to $20,000 per qualifying person for the year.

03

Enter the expenses on line 31285

Enter the eligible expense amount (not the credit) on line 31285. Your tax software calculates the credit.

04

Keep records for six years

Do not send receipts with your return. Keep them generally for six years from the end of the tax year. Store them with your tax records.

Frequently asked questions

Who qualifies for the Home Accessibility Tax Credit?+
Canadians who are 65 or older at the end of the tax year, or eligible for the Disability Tax Credit. The home must be owned by that person or by an eligible family member who lives with them. Renters don't qualify. Eligible expenses include grab bars, walk-in showers, ramps, door widening and other permanent accessibility changes.
How much money do I actually get back?+
The HATC is worth 14% of up to $20,000 (2026), a maximum of $2,800 per qualifying person per year, shared among anyone claiming for that person. It reduces federal tax you owe and won't create a refund if you owe no tax. If more than one eligible person paid, the claim can be split between them.
What renovations qualify for the HATC?+
Any renovation that is enduring, integral to the home, and either improves access to the home or reduces the risk of harm inside the home. Examples: walk-in showers, grab bars, wheelchair ramps, stair lifts, doorway widening, comfort-height toilets, lowered counters, non-slip flooring, and lever-style door handles. The renovation must become a permanent part of the home; portable items like mobility scooters do not qualify.
Can I claim HATC if I already claimed Ontario Renovates or HVMP?+
Yes. The HATC is not reduced by government assistance, provincial grants, or forgivable loans. You can receive a $5,000 Ontario Renovates grant, a $15,000 HVMP grant, and still claim the full HATC on the remaining project costs. This stacking is one of the reasons aging-in-place renovations in Ontario can lower your overall cost significantly.
Can I claim HATC and the Medical Expense Tax Credit on the same renovation?+
For 2025 and earlier, yes. From the 2026 tax year, no: an expense claimed as a medical expense can't also be claimed under the HATC. You can still use both credits on the same project for different expenses. We itemize invoices so you and your tax professional can choose the better credit for each item.
What records do I need to keep?+
Receipts and invoices showing the vendor's name, business address, GST/HST number, a description of the work, the date of service, the amount, and proof of payment. Do not submit these with your return, keep them generally for six years from the end of the tax year in case CRA requests them. Still at Home provides all compliant documentation as part of every managed project.
How do I actually claim the HATC on my tax return?+
Enter your eligible expenses on line 31285 of your federal tax return, using the HATC chart in the Federal Worksheet. Most tax software walks you through it automatically. If Still at Home managed your project, we provide a single summary document with every eligible expense categorized for your tax preparer.
Official source

The HATC is administered by the Canada Revenue Agency. The definitive eligibility criteria and claim instructions are available at canada.ca, Line 31285.

Where this applies

The HATC covers lasting changes such as walk-in showers, grab bars, wheelchair ramps, stair lifts and doorway widening. Still at Home handles grab bar installation, accessible bathroom renovations, wheelchair ramps, door widening and the rest of our accessible renovations in Ottawa. A free Home Safety Assessment is a simple way to see which changes would help in your home.

We handle the project.
You claim the credit.

Request a free Home Safety Assessment. A professional home assessor will identify every renovation that qualifies for the HATC, and every other program you are eligible to stack with it.

Request Your Service NowCall 613.794.2040

Last verified: September 2026 · Tax figures are for the 2026 tax year · Always confirm with the program and your tax professional.

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