Adding a grab bar in the shower or a handrail by the front steps can be the difference between staying in your own home and having to leave it. The good news: if you are 65 or older, the government will help pay for it. A federal tax credit can put up to $3,000 back in your pocket for renovations that make your home safer and easier to move around in.
Many Canadian families never claim it, simply because they do not know it exists. This guide walks you through exactly what the Home Accessibility Tax Credit is, who qualifies, which renovations count, and how to claim it, all in plain language.
What is the Home Accessibility Tax Credit?
The Home Accessibility Tax Credit (HATC) is a federal tax credit that helps seniors and people with disabilities pay for permanent home renovations that improve safety and accessibility. For the 2025 tax year, it gives you back 15% of up to $20,000 in eligible costs, for a maximum of $3,000, claimed on line 31285 of your tax return (Canada Revenue Agency).
It was created to support what many of us want most as we get older: to stay safely in our own homes. Instead of paying the full cost of a ramp, a walk-in shower, or wider doorways yourself, the credit gives a meaningful share of it back at tax time.
How much money can you get back?
The math is simple. The credit is worth 15% of your eligible renovation costs, up to a spending limit of $20,000 per year. That means the most you can get back for one home is $3,000 (Canada Revenue Agency).
| You spend on eligible renovations | You can get back (15%) |
|---|---|
| $2,000 | $300 |
| $10,000 | $1,500 |
| $20,000 | $3,000 |
| $25,000 | $3,000 (capped at the $20,000 limit) |
One thing to keep in mind: the HATC is a non-refundable credit. That means it lowers the tax you owe, but it will not create a refund on its own if you already owe no tax. If your income is low enough that you pay little or no tax, a refundable provincial credit (more on those below) may put actual cash back in your hands.
Takeaway: spend up to $20,000 on qualifying safety renovations and the federal credit returns up to $3,000 of it.
Who qualifies for the Home Accessibility Tax Credit?
You are a qualifying individual if you are 65 or older by the end of the tax year, or you are eligible for the Disability Tax Credit at any time in the year (Canada Revenue Agency). You do not have to be both. Turning 65 is enough on its own.
If you are under 65, the door is still open through the Disability Tax Credit. You do not even need to have claimed it yet, only to be eligible for it. If you are not sure whether you qualify, our guide to Disability Tax Credit eligibility for seniors explains how it works and how to apply.
A family member can claim the credit too. The CRA calls this person an eligible individual. It can be your spouse or common-law partner, or a supporting relative such as a child, grandchild, parent, or sibling who helps care for you and pays for the work. So if your daughter pays to install a wheel-in shower in the home you live in, she may be able to claim the credit on her own return.
The renovation has to be made to your principal residence, the home you mainly live in.
Which renovations qualify, and which do not?
To count, a renovation must be permanent, built into the home, and meant to improve safety, access, or mobility. Routine repairs, appliances, and purely decorative updates do not qualify (Canada Revenue Agency).
Renovations that typically qualify:
- Grab bars, handrails, and support railings
- Walk-in bathtubs and wheel-in or curbless showers
- Wheelchair ramps and stair or wheelchair lifts
- Widening doorways and hallways
- Lowering counters or cabinets
- Non-slip flooring
- Lever-style door handles and easy-to-reach light switches
Things that usually do not qualify:
- General repairs and maintenance (like fixing a roof)
- Appliances and electronics
- Routine cleaning or gardening
- Renovations done mainly to increase your home's value
Many of these upgrades do double duty by lowering the risk of a fall at home. If you are planning where to start, our essential home modifications for aging in place guide and our advice on the safest flooring to prevent falls walk through the changes that matter most.
How to claim the Home Accessibility Tax Credit
Claiming the credit happens at tax time, and it is straightforward:
- Keep every receipt. Save invoices and receipts that show the supplier, a description of the work, the cost, and proof of payment. Keep them in case the CRA asks.
- Add up your eligible expenses for the year, up to the $20,000 limit.
- Enter the total on line 31285 of your tax return. Your tax software or tax preparer will calculate the 15% credit for you.
Here is a bonus worth knowing: if a renovation also counts as a medical expense, you are allowed to claim it under both the Home Accessibility Tax Credit and the Medical Expense Tax Credit in the same year (Canada Revenue Agency). A doctor-recommended walk-in tub, for example, may qualify for both, stretching your savings further.
Provincial credits you can stack on top
The federal credit is not the whole story. Some provinces offer their own home renovation credits that you can claim in addition to the HATC.
In British Columbia, the Home Renovation Tax Credit for Seniors and Persons with Disabilities gives back 10% of up to $10,000 in eligible costs, for up to $1,000 more (Province of British Columbia). Better still, it is refundable, so lower-income seniors can receive it as cash even if they owe no tax. New Brunswick offers a similar refundable credit for seniors.
If you live in Ontario, note that the temporary Seniors' Home Safety Tax Credit was only available for the 2021 and 2022 tax years and has since ended. Ontario now supports seniors through other programs instead, such as the Seniors Care at Home Tax Credit. Because provincial programs change, it is always worth checking your own province's current offerings before you file.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to own my home to claim the credit? The renovation must be made to your principal residence, the home you mainly live in. Speak to a tax professional about your specific ownership situation.
Can my adult child claim the credit if they paid for the work? Often, yes. A spouse or a supporting family member can be an "eligible individual" and claim the credit for work done to the home where the qualifying individual lives (Canada Revenue Agency).
Does my income affect whether I qualify? Eligibility is based on your age or your Disability Tax Credit status, not an income test. What matters is that you are a qualifying individual and the renovation qualifies (Canada Revenue Agency).
What if two people in the home both qualify? The total eligible expenses for one home still cannot go above $20,000 for the year, but the credit can be split between the people who qualify (Canada Revenue Agency).
Do I claim it every year? Yes, the $20,000 limit applies per year, so renovations done in a new tax year can be claimed again on that year's return.
A safer home, one step at a time
Making your home safer does not have to happen all at once, and it does not have to cost as much as you might fear. Between the federal credit and the provincial ones, a good share of the bill can come back to you.
The best place to begin is a clear plan. Our complete aging in place checklist for Canadian homes helps you spot the changes that will make the biggest difference to your safety and comfort, so the money you spend, and the money you get back, goes exactly where it counts.
This article is general information, not tax advice. Tax rules and amounts can change, so confirm the current details on canada.ca or with a tax professional before you file.
