Principal Residence Series (Part 2) – Converting a Principal Residence into a Rental Property

When selling a property, it is generally known that capital gains tax needs to be calculated based on the property's use, and the corresponding tax must be paid. If the property is a principal residence, the Principal Residence Exemption (PRE) can be used to exempt some or all of the capital gains tax. However, many people are unaware of the provisions of Section 45(1) of the Income Tax Act, which states that when there is a change in the use of a property, it is deemed to be disposed of at fair market value. A change in use refers to converting a property used for personal purposes into one used for income-generating purposes, or vice versa. In simple terms, this means that if you previously owned a principal residence or a vacation home that you used solely for personal enjoyment (e.g., living or vacationing), and then decided to use that property to generate income, whether through long-term rental or running a Airbnb, the property is deemed to have been sold at its fair market value at the time of the change in use. The same rule applies if you convert a rental property into one for personal use. The Income Tax Act also provides two sister provisions, Sections 45(2) and 45(3), which allow taxpayers to make elections that, if used correctly, can effectively avoid capital gains tax.

Ontario New Enhanced HST Rebate-A Boon for Rental Property Builders

In September 2023, the Canadian Prime Minister made an important announcement regarding the GST rebate for new construction. Now, if you're building properties with four units or more, you can get a full refund of the GST paid, which used to be a partial rebate. This modification will significantly lower expenses for builders. In this article, we will explain the details and benefits of the new HST rebate policy, and how it can help you save money and increase your profitability in the real estate market.

Realtor Cash-Back Incentive Could be Your Tax Free Money

A question that has been asked many times every year in the past few years is: Should I report the rebate given by the real estate agent for buying a house as income? Can a real estate agent claim the rebate as an expense? Sometimes the buyer receives a T4A from the real estate agent, so how do you handle this question? Here is the official CRA answer you want.
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