How do I claim the Ontario Seniors' Home Safety Tax Credit?

by TurboTax• Updated 10 months ago

The Ontario Seniors’ Home Safety Credit isn't available for tax years 2023 and beyond.

The Ontario Seniors’ Home Safety Credit helps seniors with the cost of renovations that make their homes safer and more accessible

This temporary, refundable credit can be claimed by senior homeowners or renters, or by family members living with a senior, in tax years 2021 and 2022. You can claim a maximum of $10,000 in eligible renovation expenses, resulting in a credit of up to $2,500.

To claim the credit, get receipts from your suppliers and contractors to ensure that they report these amounts for tax purposes.

Who's eligible?

You may be eligible if, at the end of the tax year:

You lived in Ontario, and
You paid eligible expenses during the year to improve your principal residence, and
One of the following applies:
- You were aged 65 or older, or
- You lived with a senior relative, or
- You will live with a senior relative within 24 months

Which expenses can I claim?

Renovation expenses that improve safety or accessibility are eligible. Some examples include:

Bathroom grab bars
Wheelchair ramps, stair lifts, and elevators
Easy-to-operate door locks
Lever handles on doors and taps
Non-slip flooring
Extra lighting inside and at exterior entrances
Hands-free taps
Motion-activated lighting
Touch-and-release drawers and cupboards
Automatic garage door openers

You can’t claim:

Routine repairs, maintenance, or service
Esthetic improvements
Appliances, furniture, or devices, like lift chairs or medical alert devices
Services, like housekeeping, attendant care, or home security

For a longer list of eligible expenses, visit the Government of Ontario’s Seniors’ Home Safety Tax Credit webpage.

Instructions for TurboTax Online

Select Find from the menu and enter provincial tax credit in the search field.
Select Provincial Tax Credit Profile from the search results, then select Go.
On the Your Provincial Profile screen, select the checkbox for Ontario Seniors' Home Safety Tax Credit, then select Continue.
On the Ontario Seniors' Home Safety Tax Credit screen, enter the details of each eligible expense.
On the same screen, enter any assistance received or expenses being claimed on another return, then select Continue.
On the Address of the property screen, indicate whether the expenses apply to the address on your return. If they don’t, fill out the applicable address.
Select Continue and proceed until the Here's your Ontario tax and credits summary screen. Your credit amount appears next to Ontario seniors' home safety tax credit.

Instructions for TurboTax Desktop

Select Find from the menu and enter provincial in the search field.
Select Provincial tax credit profile from the search results, then select Go.
On the Your provincial profile screen, select the checkbox for Ontario senior's home safety tax credit, then select Continue.
On the Ontario Seniors' Home Safety Tax Credit screen, enter the details of each eligible expense.
On the same screen, enter any assistance received or expenses being claimed on another return, then select Continue.
On the next Ontario Seniors' Home Safety Tax Credit screen, indicate whether the expenses apply to the address on your return. If they don’t, fill out the applicable address.
Select Continue and proceed until the Ontario tax and credits summary screen. Your credit amount appears next to Ontario seniors' home safety tax credit.