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Federal Tax Credit

Home Accessibility Tax Creditup to $3,000 back.

If you are 65 or older — or support a family member who is — the federal Home Accessibility Tax Credit covers 15% of up to $20,000 in eligible renovation expenses. That is up to $3,000 back on your tax return 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.

Book a Free AssessmentEstimate Your Savings
$3,000
Maximum tax credit
$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

You can claim the credit on behalf of a qualifying senior if you are their:

  • Spouse or common-law partner
  • Parent, grandparent, child, grandchild
  • Brother, sister, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew
  • Plus specific Canada Caregiver Amount scenarios

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
  • ✓Accessible appliances
  • ✓Motion-activated lighting
  • ✓Smart home safety features
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
Eligible expenses$12,000
HATC rate× 15%
Federal tax credit$1,800
Example 2 — $35,000 full accessibility project
Total expenses$35,000
Capped at$20,000
HATC rate× 15%
Federal tax credit$3,000
Pro tip

The HATC stacks with Ontario Renovates grants, HVMP funding, and the Medical Expense Tax Credit. A single accessibility project can legitimately access all four at once. Still at Home identifies every program you qualify for during your free home 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

Complete the HATC chart

The CRA's Federal Worksheet includes a dedicated chart for line 31285. Total your eligible expenses (capped at $20,000) and multiply by 15%.

03

Enter on line 31285

Enter the result on line 31285 of your federal tax return. Most tax software walks you through this automatically when you indicate a home accessibility expense.

04

Keep records for six years

Do not send receipts with your return. The CRA may request them for up to six years after filing. Store them with your tax records.

Frequently asked questions

Who qualifies for the Home Accessibility Tax Credit?+
You qualify if you are 65 or older at the end of the tax year, or if you are eligible for the Disability Tax Credit at any time in the year. Family members who support a qualifying senior — spouse, child, grandchild, sibling, niece, nephew, aunt, uncle — can also claim the credit on the senior's behalf if they cover the renovation costs.
How much money do I actually get back?+
The HATC is worth 15% of up to $20,000 in eligible expenses — a maximum federal tax credit of $3,000 per year per qualifying individual. This reduces the amount of federal income tax you owe. It is non-refundable, meaning it will not produce a refund if you owe no tax, but any unused portion can reduce taxes for the family member who paid for the renovation.
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 reduce out-of-pocket costs by 30 to 50 percent.
Can I claim HATC and the Medical Expense Tax Credit on the same renovation?+
Yes. If an expense qualifies as both a medical expense and a home accessibility expense — for example, a walk-in shower installed on the advice of an occupational therapist — you can claim it under both the Medical Expense Tax Credit (METC) and the HATC. This is explicitly permitted by the CRA.
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 for at least six years 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.

We handle the project.
You claim the credit.

Book a free home assessment. A CAPS-certified assessor will identify every renovation that qualifies for the HATC — and every other program you are eligible to stack with it.

Book a Free AssessmentCall 613.794.2040

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