Home Buyer Tax Credit (up to $750)

You can receive up to $750 back from the federal government by applying for the home buyer tax credit in the year the home was purchased. To obtain the tax credit, complete line 369 on your personal income tax return.

You will qualify for the HBTC if:

• You, your spouse or common-law partner acquired a qualifying home; and
• You did not live in another home owned by you or your spouse or common-law partner in the year of acquisition or in any of the four preceding years.

If you buy a house, with a spouse or common-law partner, either one of you can claim the credit or you can share the credit. However, the total of your combined claims cannot exceed $750. You must occupy the home as your principle residence no later than one year after the home was purchased.

First Time Home Buyers RRSP Plan (up to $25,000)

The First Time Home Buyers RRSP Plan (HBP) allows first time home buyers to withdraw up to $25,000 from RRSPs to buy or build a home for yourself or for a related person with a disability. The withdrawn amount must be repaid within 15 years, subject to a minimum annual repayment that is 1/15 of the amount withdrawn. If the full $25,000 is withdrawn, the minimum annual repayment is $1,667. If less than the minimum is repaid in any particular year, the balance is added to the taxpayer’s income. To qualify for the Home Buyers Plan, an individual must not have not owned a home during the last 4 full calender years.

First Time Home Buyers Ontario Land Transfer Tax Credit (up to $2000)

The Land Transfer Tax Credit is a refund of the cost of the provinces land transfer tax up to a maximum of $2,000. This will allow first time home buyers to purchase a home up to $227,500 without having to pay any land transfer fee. Any amount higher than $227,500 is taxed a rate of approximately 1.5%. To qualify the property must be owner occupied. The first time home purchaser may claim the full maximum amount or a proportion of the maximum refund amount. To qualify for the Land Transfer Tax Credit, you cannot have ever owned a home, or an interest in a home, anywhere in the world. The refund can be given instantly at the lawyers office but advise the lawyer prior to the closing date if you qualify for the rebate

The refund amount is reduced when one or more of the transferees are not a first time home buyer. The reduction will be proportionate to the interest in land acquired by the individuals who are not first time home purchasers. For example, a parent who is not a first time home buyer and child who is a first time home purchaser, purchase a home with equal 50/50 interests, the child may claim 50% of the land transfer tax refund. The child’s claim cannot exceed 50% of the maximum allowable refund, i.e., 50% of $2,000.