The internet has a magnificent collection of dead renovation rebates. They remain online, wearing dates in tiny grey type, promising money that left the building years ago. This page focuses on tax credits, then points energy-upgrade projects to the separate current rebate guide. It is general information, not tax advice.
The three programs worth checking first
Swipe to compare
| Program | Who or what it targets | Important distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Home Accessibility Tax Credit | Eligible safety or accessibility work for a senior or person eligible for the Disability Tax Credit | Non-refundable federal tax credit |
| Multigenerational Home Renovation Tax Credit | A new self-contained secondary unit for an eligible senior or DTC-eligible adult living with a qualifying relative | Refundable federal tax credit |
| Home Renovation Savings | Eligible Ontario energy upgrades such as insulation, air sealing, windows, doors, heat pumps, solar, and batteries | Program rebate, not an income-tax credit |
Home Accessibility Tax Credit
The federal Home Accessibility Tax Credit page says a qualifying individual can claim up to $20,000 per year in eligible expenses, subject to the shared limit for the dwelling. The work must allow the qualifying person to gain access, be mobile or functional in the home, or reduce risk of harm.
The person must generally be 65 or older at year-end or eligible for the Disability Tax Credit, or the claimant must be an eligible supporting individual. Permanent ramps, grab bars, safer bathing access, wider doors, and similar integral work may fit when they meet the test. A fashionable bathroom is not transformed into an accessibility project because it has one very handsome grab bar.
- Keep agreements, invoices, proof of payment, and the supplier's GST/HST number.
- Separate eligible accessibility work from the rest of a larger renovation.
- Check the tax-year rules for the year the work is completed and paid.
- Remember that non-refundable means the credit can reduce tax payable; it is not automatically a cheque for the headline amount.
Multigenerational Home Renovation Tax Credit
The Multigenerational Home Renovation Tax Credit is refundable and applies to qualifying costs for creating a new self-contained secondary unit. The unit needs a private entrance, kitchen, bathroom, and sleeping area, and it must be for an eligible senior or adult eligible for the Disability Tax Credit to live with a qualifying relative.
The CRA currently allows up to $50,000 of qualifying expenditures per qualifying renovation, with the credit rate set for the relevant tax year. Labour, building materials, fixtures, equipment rentals, permits, and professional services can qualify when the detailed rules are met. Furniture, appliances, routine maintenance, financing costs, and work done mainly for value or appearance do not become eligible through optimism.
The unit also has to meet local requirements to be recognized as a secondary dwelling unit. Start with our Ontario secondary-suite planning guide, then confirm zoning and permit details with the municipality. A tax credit cannot legalize a basement apartment. The CRA is powerful, but it does not inspect fire separations.
Energy rebates use a different rulebook
Ontario's Home Renovation Savings program is a rebate program, not an income-tax credit. It covers eligible energy upgrades through different application paths. Product lists, contractor rules, assessment requirements, amounts, and timing can change independently of the federal tax credits above.
Use our Home Renovation Savings guide for the current upgrade lanes, headline amounts, assessment rule, and pre-contract checklist. Keeping that live program on one page avoids turning this tax-credit guide into yesterday's brochure.
Programs that are closed
Natural Resources Canada marks the Canada Greener Homes Grant as closed, with December 31, 2025 as the final document-upload deadline. It also marks the Canada Greener Homes Loan as fully committed and closed to new approvals. Existing approved borrowers follow their existing process; new homeowners cannot resurrect the program with an especially persuasive heat pump.
How to compare help without double-counting it
Build the renovation budget at full contract price, including HST. Put each possible credit or rebate in a separate line marked not yet received. Then check whether the same expense can be claimed under more than one program, whether government assistance reduces the eligible amount, and which family member should claim it. A spreadsheet can be conservative. It will not take it personally.
For accessibility work, design around the person rather than the tax form. Our curbless shower guide explains practical bathroom choices. For tax filing and program stacking, use a qualified tax professional and the current official terms.
